Inspector Calls Flashcards
Mr Birling socially concerned:
“Your father and I have been friendly rivals “
“You’re just the kind of son in law I’ve always wanted”
Mr Birling: boastful
“Well when she comes back you might drop a hint to her”- talking to Gerald about his knighthood
“It’s exactly the same your father gets”
“Just a knighthood of course”
“I was an alderman for years”
This is mr Gerald croft, we’ve been modestly celebrating his engagement to MY daughter”
Me Birling: Money concerned
“One of the happiest nights of his life”… “For lower costs and higher prices”
“Hard headed practical man of business”
Bathos is often used throughout his speech.
The underlying focus on money is placed at the climax of the speech to show that it is the underlying reason for his excitement.
When Eric is discovered to have stolen money, his fury seems appropriate until he reveals that the reason is because he is worried how difficult it will be to “cover up”
He seems to agree with Sheila that mrs Birling was wrong to throw out Eva smith, but then it is discovered that he is concerned because he fears the press will take it up”
At the end of the novel, he isn’t regretful for what has happened and only thinks that what they have done is wrong if it affects their wealth or status, as is shown by his concern for his knighthood.
Mr Birling: has to be in control
“Sit down inspector” “I thought you must be” “ perhaps I ought to explain first that this is mr Gerald croft”
Mr Birling- has to be right
“Hard headed practical man of business, and I say there isn’t a chance of war” “you’ve a lot to learn yet”
Mr Birling: ignorance
Repeats himself- “hard headed practical man of business”“we hard headed practical business men”
He speaks with a lot of interrupted dictation, dots and dashes, for example when referring to Gerald’s parents “sir george and - er- lady croft” this suggests he is socially out of his depth and lacks intellectual certainty, as he cannot say the names with confidence.
His speech about war is also full if hesitation to show that he is wrong and the broken dictation shows lack of logic and reasoning. The juxtaposition of the stumbling manner of his speech and the fluidity of the inspectors makes him seem less trustworthy and respectable to the audience.
Mr Birling- what does he represent
He is made a comical figure through priestly using bathos but he also represents those at the top of the social hierarchy who have the power to influence the lives of million and not care. And how they can be completely ignorant and wrong and still do so. Birling is the antagonist to the inspectors protagonist as his authority is based on money and wealth whereas the inspectors is based on morality and justice. The fact that the inspector ranks underneath mr Birling as mayor of Bromley shows the class structures of the time and the unfairness that priestly is conveying.
Sheila: imagery
“Pretty girl in her early twenties”
Suggests she is young, but because she is described as pretty instead of graceful or beautiful she is depicted as more immature and naive, especially when she is said to be “very pleased with life and rather excited”
Sheila: change throughout the novel
She is the one who feels the worst about what happened to Eva Amin and understands the message of the inspector and how is about the harm their actions could cause rather than the social changes it makes.
Her language to her parents changes
