Inspector quotes Flashcards
1)
“(The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder)”
stage directions - shows how the inspector’s arrival changes the mood of the play from the beginning
2)
“(has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at a person he addresses before actually speaking)”
stage directions - adjective “disconcerting” convey how the inspector’s presence creates an uneasy feel/atmosphere
3)
“(But the inspector interposes himself between them and the photograph)”
stage directions - creates mystery and suspense
4)
Mrs Birling - “Though naturally I don’t know anything about this girl”
Inspector - “(gravely) We’ll see, Mrs Birling”
stage directions and short sentence - show the inspector’s intimidating character/ omnipotence
5)
“(Turning on [Mr Birling] sharply) Why should you do any protesting? It was you who turned the girl out in the first place”
stage directions and r. question - used to question Mr Birling and to emphasise the inspector’s authority.
6)
“You’re not telling me the truth”
short/simple sentence - convey inspector’s “no-nonsense” mindset.
7)
“We are all members of one body. We are responsible for each other”
repetition of “we are” - creates a sense of unity and is used by the playwright to convey the moral message (socialism).
8)
“Her position now is that she lies with a burnt-out inside on a slab”
emotive language - used by the inspector to evoke emotion in the reader (grim imagery) as well as allowing the reader to see what the characters have caused.
9)
“Yes, she was in great agony”
short sentence and adjective “great” - conveys the pain and discomfort that Eva Smith was experiencing which allows the reader to symphathise with her.
10)
“It’s the way I like to go to work. One person and one line of inquiry at a time”
repetition of “one”- shows how organised and prepared the inspector is and highlights his authorititave figure/character.
11)
(Rather savagely, to Birling) “You started it”.
stage directions - relay the anger of the inspector as he listens to Birling’s hypocrisy.
12)
(massively) “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”
stage directions/abstract nouns: “responsibilities” and “privileges” - once again highlights his presence and is used to challenge Birling’s view on society/his upper class status.
13)
[the last line of act one] “Well”?
one word r.question - creates suspense and once again portrays the inspector’s supernatural presence, as well as his omnipotent view.
