Inspector calls Flashcards
How does Sheila develop/change?
points
-superficial -> in depth
(“oh its wonderful look mummy!”)-.(“these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people”)
-“mummy sent me in” –> “why should you? he’s finished with you.” (obedient>assertive in control”)
-used as a didactic tool to tell people to change after ww2
How is Sheila presented at the start of the play?
points
- “very pleased with life”- naïve as they are on the brink of war-not thinking about others
- self centred
- passive
- obedient “mummy sent me in”
- materialistic
How is Sheila presented at the end of the play?
points
-undergoes a sharp development
-becomes more assertive and out speaking
-“why should you?”
didactic tool used to show how the audience needs to start questioning why your social class regulates your future and gender equality
-more understanding of other people “these girls aren’t cheap labour-they’re people”
-represents the generational gap
-more socialist represents Priestley’s view on how the world should be
How does Priestley explore responsibility?
points
- Mr birling-responsible for passing on his aristocratic old fashioned views to the younger generation- no change–conventional business man-cause of England not progressing socially
- Priestly wrote the play shortly after ww2 when there was a need for change
- aristocratic class to blame for England not changing
- inspector blames the birlings “there are hundreds of eva smiths” “We don’t live alone…we are responsible for each other”
- threat of another world war if they don’t change “be taught it in fire blood and anguish”
- Aristocratic ignorance “ the Germans don’t want war, nobody wants war”
How does the context of when the play was written affect the play? (extended response)
Being written in 1945, WW2 had just finished and many people were desperate for change.
In AIC, priestly highlights the flaws of the time (1912) and why change is needed. For example he shows the ignorance of the upper class “nobody wants war” and how responsibility needs to be taken for themselves and look after others.
What are the four main themes in inspector calls?
points
- Responsibility
- Age gap
- Gender class
- class
What did priestly want to achieve with his play?
To share his views to the world that he wants change in Britain, for equal pay between genders, for a more socialist country and a modern Britain.
How is Mr birling presented in the opening of the play?
“a heavy looking rather portentous man in his middle fifties”
What impression do we get of the inspector from his initial description? (extended response)
-“need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness”
Juxtaposition creates an appearance of control and power.
Priestly might have done this to get the audience to trust in everything the inspector says so that when he has his final speech, the audience will believe what he is saying and therefore believe in Priestley’s own thoughts and beliefs.
How doe Priestley introduce the theme of responsibility in the opening of the play? (points)
Mr birling
-handing down his old fashioned thoughts
-“ keep the cost low and prices high”
- Dramatic irony - ignorance - “the titanic…unsinkable”
“Germans don’t want war, nobody wants war”
-responsible for the younger generation - imperatives (“just let me finish, Eric”)
Miss Birling
-Wont take responsibility for her own actions
- Responsible for people coming to her charity
- “I Blame the young man who was the further”
Both Mr and miss birling, both occupy positions of power, being owner of a large business and head of a charity
How is Mr birling presented as self important?
quote
“rather portentous man”
“now you three young people listen to this”
“I speak as a hard headed business man” (repeated)
“community and all that nonsense”
How does is dramatic irony used to affect the readers view of Mr birling? (extended response)
The use of dramatic irony makes Mr birling seem ignorant and short sighted. For example, “the Germans don’t want war… nobody wants war” shows how naïve he is as the war started two years later. This leads the audience to distrust and dislike the character. Priestley might have done this to represent the rest of the upper class who cant see the need for change, being wrong and naïve. On the other hand it could be to make the audience distrust all his capitalist views so that eventually the audience will distrust the beliefs that the capitalist aristocrats of the time held as Priestley used Mr birling as a representative of the upper class.
How does Priestley introduce the theme of responsibility?
Priestley introduces the theme of responsibility primarily through the short sighted Arthur birling. When directing his monologue at Sheila and Eric, imperative verbs are used: "just let me finish, Eric". He seems to feel responsible to make them believe in the same capitalist ideologies as him. He thinks as a "hard headed business man" he is responsible to denounce socialist cranks and their nonsense". Although this is what Mr birling feels his own responsibility is, Priestley might feel that this responsibility that the upper class hold is stopping the country from develop into more equal, fair and just country.
what quote is used to show Mr birling being self centred an obsessed by status?
- “I was lord mayor here two years ago…there’s a very good chance of a knighthood”
- “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself”
What are Mr Birling’s views on Sheila’s marriage?
He is pleased by it, not due to his daughter being happy but us a business partner ship between their businesses.
“crofts limited are both older and bigger” “work together for lower costs and higher prices “
