Inspector calls quotes Flashcards
Birling
- ‘Hard-headed business man’ … ‘for lower costs and higher prices’
o Malapropism — unfortunate use of language creates an inadvertent double entendre:
Mr B attempts to frame himself as good at business
BUT ‘hard-headed’ creates an impression that he is arrogant and ignorant
Birling
Titanic … unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’
o Repetition of “unsinkable” is almost ominous, giving the impression that the Titanic is almost bound to sink, which of course it does in its maiden voyage
This is conspicuous to the audience
o Moreover, Titanic almost a representation/ microcosm of society
Upper classes were allocated life boats (only half full for fear of sinking), while second and third classes were locked — an awful scandal which delineates the inequality prevalent in society
Birling
Wanted the rates raised so that they could average about twenty-five shillings a week. I refused of course’
- Eva fired for asking for a slight increase in pay = unjust
- ‘of course’ - as if it is a natural response
- Ironic, as Mr B is not a member of the aristocracy, but the nouveau riche
Birling
You must give me a list of those accounts. Ive got to cover this up as soon as i can. You damned fool’
- Public perception more important than the death of Eva Smith — he attempts to ‘cover up’ and deceive the public
Eric
- E: “you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”
o Family dynamic framed as distant
o Eric is not solely responsible for his actions — parents also to blame
- a telling quote - pointing to why he was not honest — poor parental relationship the reason for his thievery
Birling
Your trouble is - you’ve been spoilt — … (later) You’re the one I blame for this.
(to Eric)
o Ironic as Mr + Mrs B have spoilt Eric — he has failed in his paternal responsibility which leads to a vicious cycle as youth continue to beget the sins of their parents
o Ignorance of the capitalist upper classes
Birling
By Jingo! A fake!
o Paramountly important statement as represents that ultimately Mr B has not changed — did not take the inspectors lifeline of a genuine change
o Priestley effectively creates an unsatisfying ending leaving the audience frustrated as it appears that the Birling’s will get away with their crimes
Birling
- ‘the famous younger generation who know it all. And they cant even take a joke — (The Telephone rings sharply)’
COME BACK AND ADD GENERATION GRID QUOTES!
o “telephone” mimetic of the doorbell ringing in Act 1 — prophetic and supernatural — the inspector game a choice of reformation which was not taken — pomposity of Mr B
Birling
- ‘a police Inspector is on his way here’ … ‘(SD) As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls’
o ‘looks on your faces’
o Ambiguous ending hints that perhaps another choice or action would have lead to a different outcome
OUSPENSKY’s theory of time
Eric
- ‘Eric downstage’, ‘Half shy, half assertive’ - stage directions
- Down = lack of importance
- He is ‘half assertive’ as he lacks in self cofindience, so excessively drinks to gain confidence - a false front
Eric suddenly guffaws’ SD,
‘Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh’,
S: ‘You’re squiffy’,
- lack of control due to alcohol - foreshadowing,
Mr B: ‘Want another glass of port
- Birling (subtly) encourages Eric’s alcoholism - failure as a father
- ‘— well, i was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty — and I threatened to make a row’
Eric
- Euphemism -
DEADLY SIN OF LUST
o Not used to being rejected by women of lower classes/prostitute o Admission of sexual assault = lack of self awareness o Utilised his power as a male upper class figure - ‘ that state’ is socially recognisable - normalised
- Evaluative: worst, most abhorrent/ detestable/ despicable/ abominable/ reprehensible of the actions of each character
It was all very vague’
Eric
- Memory loss due to alcohol -
we can speculate why he drinks - feelings of insecurity/ lack of self esteem / a coping mechanism - alcoholism stems from father’s influence
Eric
wasn’t in love with her or anything’
- just know the quote xx
Eric
I hate these fat old yards round the town - the ones I see some of your respectable friends with’
- soliciting prostitutes is common amongst upper classes
Eric
(nearly at breaking point) SD; ‘you killed her’, ‘— Damn you, damn you’, ‘almost threatening her’
- Rightfully indignant, sense of righteous anger
- hasn’t quite grasped inspector’s message of shared responsibility
- dashes fracture the dialogue, emotions overwhelmed
- at ‘breaking point’ - we can deduce as a result of excessive drinking — physical violence is out of place with upper class
- manners lost
- family bordering on / on the verge of physical violence - absolute climax of the play - relationships are most fractured
Eric
He was our police inspector all right
- in a moral sense, whether Inspector is genuine or not does not matter
- he is depicted as their collective conscience
Eric
- ‘The moneys not the important thing’, ‘we all helped to kill her’
- accepts collective responsibility
- socialist outlook
Eva
name ‘Eva Smith’
- biblical ‘eve’, ‘smith’ common
o Eva Smith is aptly named — common name represents the ubiquity of the suffering of the lower classes
Inspector (on Eva):
Burnt her inside out
o Graphic gruesome image intentionally created as a shock tactic used to evoke a reaction — Also implies that he is compelled to speak the truth and aims to instil a sense of guilt into the family o Inspector is plain spoken and will not use euphemisms or withdraw statements simply due to the class difference
Inspector, on Eva
One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us
hyperbolic syndetic triadic creates broad overview of society to emphasise the extent/ubiquity of suffering
o Double entendre:
Suffering of the lower classes
Represents the millions that die in the two world wars — dramatic irony
o Almost an admission that there never was an Eva Smith — anecdotal approach used to raise awareness of the tragedy of the working class — reference to ‘when one person dies, it’s a tragedy, when millions die, it’s a statistic’
Inspector,
And i tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn there lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.
Good night
DUNNES THEORY OF TIME - a portent of the future, supernatural
o Religious imagery of Hell
o Warning of war if no change takes place
o Anticlimactic — only a guilty conscience as a result of the families actions
o Reference to 2 wold wars (containing nuclear bombs and mustard gas0
o DRAMATIC irony as war is a direct result of capitalism
o Powerful and deeply haunting image
o “Good night” = intentional anticlimax creates an unsatisfying ending — lack of catharsis
Inspector,
And i tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn there lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.
Good night
DUNNES THEORY OF TIME - a portent of the future, supernatural
o Religious imagery of Hell
o Warning of war if no change takes place
o Anticlimactic — only a guilty conscience as a result of the families actions
o Reference to 2 wold wars (containing nuclear bombs and mustard gas)
o DRAMATIC irony as war is a direct result of capitalism
o Powerful and deeply haunting image
o “Good night” = intentional anticlimax creates an unsatisfying ending — lack of catharsis
Inspector,
And i tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn there lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.
Good night
DUNNES THEORY OF TIME - a portent of the future, supernatural
o Religious imagery of Hell
o Warning of war if no change takes place
o Anticlimactic — only a guilty conscience as a result of the families actions
o Reference to 2 wold wars (containing nuclear bombs and mustard gas)
o DRAMATIC irony as war is a direct result of capitalism
o Powerful and deeply haunting image
o “Good night” = intentional anticlimax creates an unsatisfying ending — lack of catharsis
Sheila:
- ‘ring’ ‘is it the one you wanted me to have?’
as upon receiving a “ring” from Gerald, she responds with “is it the one you wanted me to have?”. Through this highly unusual use of syntax, stark gender roles are immediately established, as Sheila’s primary focus is on whether or not her fiancé “wanted” her to “have” this specific ring, rather that if she truly likes it. As a result, Priestley creates the rather concerning impression that Sheila’s emotions are disregarded, and, instead, it is the feelings of the male characters which are valued higher – a notion which would shock a modern audience, but may have been more customary to Priestley’s contemporaries. Consequently, this almost serves to raise awareness of the vices of a male-oriented society, as Priestley espouses that the opinions of all should be valued equally, regardless of gender. On further analysis, it could be argued that the ring itself functions as a symbol for materialism, as well as Gerald’s almost ownership over Sheila.
Sheila: ring
- ‘Wonderful’ … ‘a beauty’
By obsessing over this material gift, describing it as “wonderful” and “a beauty”, it is evident that Sheila has fallen victim to social elitism as she acts in a somewhat performative manner, showing off her ring.
Sheila
- (About Eva) Pretty?
This superficial outlook that she possesses is amplified by her asking if the departed Eva Smith was “Pretty”, highlighting the deeply flawed idea that only outward appearance is of concern. Therefore, at this point in the play, Priestley exposes to his audience the superficiality which has been ingrained into society, using Sheila as vehicle in an attempt to convert the mindset of his audience, away from materialism, instead focussing on core human values, such as morality and gender equality.
Sheila
- ‘Pretty girl too - with big dark eyes’ ‘I suppose if shed been some miserable plain little creature, i don’t suppose id have done it’
- superficiality that sheila possesses
- beauty almost a privilege of the upper class
Sheila
jealous of her
- deadly sin of envy
