Key Quotes - An Inspector Calls

Question 1

“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body.”

Answer 1

• Inspector Goole
• Reminds Birlings of their responsibility to wider society, and shows Priestley’s views
• Short sentences help to emphasise the importance of the message
• A clear stern message about social responsibility

Question 2

” … a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and –”

Answer 2

• Mr Birling
• Mr Birling is interrupted by in the Inspector ringing the doorbell, almost as if to stop him saying anything more ignorant
• Interruption foreshadows how Inspector is going to stop and warn the Birlings for the future
• Follows the theme of Mr Birling being arrogant, ignorant and selfish

Question 3

“…the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”

Answer 3

• The Inspector
• Warning the audience as well as the Birlings
• Priestley’s socialist views being spoken through the Inspector
• Said right at the end of the play
• ‘Fire and blood and anguish’ has biblical connotations and also has connotations of war, death and suffering

Question 4

“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the inspector will just break it down.”

Answer 4

• Sheila says this
• The wall represents the division between the lower class and the middle to upper class
• Also the wall being ‘built up’ by the Birlings might be representing how they and the middle to upper class don’t want to take responsibility for their actions
• Links to the theme of social responsibility

Question 5

“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”

Answer 5

• Mr Birling says this
• ## Referring to when he denied to raise the factory workers wages