Key Quotes-Act 3 Flashcards
who said, ‘One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us… We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for one another’.
inspector goole
‘One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us… We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for one another’. analysis
Priestley uses Inspector Goole as the socialist conscience (sense of wrong and right) in the play.
Here, he expresses how people should look after one another, and suggests that everyone is equally as important as everyone else.
This statement directly contrasts with Mr Birlings comment in Act 1 that everyone should look after themselves.
who said ‘Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it’
inspector goole
‘Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it’ analysis
Inspector Goole speaks very plainly to the family – he does not soften the blow for them. He wants them to have learnt something from this experience, so he tells them that each one of them killed Eva.
He urges them to always remember what they have done – because he wants them to rethink their actions in the future to make sure they start to think about other people and how their words and activities can hurt others.
who said ‘There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, for you all to adjust your family relationships’.
inspector goole
‘There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, for you all to adjust your family relationships’. analysis
Inspector Goole recognises that his interrogations have changed the dynamics (how they get along) of the Birling family.
He tells them that they will have to change their relationships as they get to know one another again.
Sheila, for example, has developed a very different (less subservient) attitude towards her father – they will all need time to figure out how their family works once they show each other their true selves.
who said, ‘You don’t seem to have learnt anything’
sheila birling
‘You don’t seem to have learnt anything’ analysis
Although she’s heard about the horrible consequences of their actions, Sheila is annoyed that Mr and Mrs Birling do not seem to have learnt anything about themselves and how they should live their lives.
They continue to dodge any responsibility for Eva’s death and push the blame at each other.
who said, ‘Everything we said had happened really happened. If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But it might have done’.
sheila birling
‘Everything we said had happened really happened. If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But it might have done’. analysis
Sheila’s emotional maturity and intelligence develops.
Here, Sheila shows how she has learnt a valuable lesson from this whole experience – she accepts blame and responsibility.
She knows that her actions will have consequences for other people – the story of Eva Smith has made this much more realistic for her.
Mr Birling exclaims that young people think they know everything but they’re wrong – ironically, it is the young Birlings who have learnt from their mistakes here.
who said, ‘but I didn’t know it was you’
mrs birling
‘but I didn’t know it was you’ analysis
Mrs Birling only regrets her nasty comments about the mystery man who got Eva Smith pregnant when she realises it was her own son – she was more than happy for the man to receive swift and severe punishments because she did not know him.
This reflects social pre-war capitalist attitudes. People looked after themselves and their families. Mrs Birling felt that punishment was necessary for this man – until the man is revealed to be Eric, and then she changes her attitude.
who said ‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’
mr birling
‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’ analysis
Mr Birling, as is consistent (stays the same) with his character throughout the play, only cares about covering up this story so it doesn’t affect their reputations, social status, or his chance at receiving a knighthood.
He consistently shows a selfish, self-centred attitude. He obsesses over his reputation. He is not very concerned with the consequences of his actions.
who said, ‘This makes a difference, y’know. In fact, it makes all the difference’.
Mr birling
