LIT1 - AIC - Full quote analysis Flashcards
nice little promising life…nasty mess
emotive language to create sympathy in audience for Eva
(massively) Public men…have responsibilities as well as privileges
-Inspector reminds him of his duties towards others, belittling B.’s power
-massively - I. is showing omnipotence
(very deliberately) this girl was going to have a child
-creates remorse for Eva’s death
-information revealed quite late, I. strategically placed it to get a feeling of suspense and astonishment, similar to the photo, showing his omniscience
I shall do my duty (He looks at his watch)
-I. expects Eric to return, showing omniscience
-cleverly doesn’t reveal that he will be questioning and publicly shaming Eric, since Sybil doesn’t know this yet
(taking charge, masterfully) Stop! //they are suddenly quiet, staring at him//
-I. has a strong effect on the family, showing his omnipotence
-Mr Birling’s power pales in comparison
He belittles Mr Birling’s power
you can’t even say “I’m sorry, Eva Smith”
-I. attempts to induce the feeling of guilt
-shows them how their abuse of power affects other people, further enhancing the tension
their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness
-triplet of emotive nouns emphasises that all of the “millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths” have emotions regardless of their class/status
-Priestley’s message of how we should be mindful of each other, and treat others equally
We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other
-repetition of first person plural pronouns to highlight the idea of social responsibility
-reminds the Birlings of the need to support the wider community
if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish
-distances himself from “men” by using third person plural pronouns, idea of supernatural
-extreme triplet of nouns is a reference to war for post-WW2 audience, to say that they should reform before another war breaks out
just a knighthood, of course
B. boasts about status to impress Gerald and act like an aristocrat, in order to hide his provincial background
(rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business
sharp dismissal, as the death of a lower class girl doesn’t concern him
if you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth
-disrespect and sweeping generalisation of the proletariats
-shows his belief in class division and justifies his actions according to it
I’m not defending him. But you must understand…
-B. tries to defend Gerald’s unfaithful actions towards Eva
-this is for his own benefit, as he wants them to get engaged so he can merge his business with Crofts Ltd.
he was in one of his excitable queer moods, and even though we don’t need him here–
-rude to his own son, shows no remorse
-proves that he is a bad father, as said by Eric
you’ve been spoilt
B. can’t take responsibility of what he’s done to Eric, and simply blames it on not being grateful for his money
a socialist or some sort of crank
unpopular view, as B.’s views are usually associated with negative connotations
downright public scandal
only concerned about his status
they can’t even take a joke
-B. has not learnt his lesson, and neither has Sybil/Gerald
-considers the whole thing a “lot of moonshine”
when you’re married…you’ll have to get used to that, just as I had
-Sybil has accepted the gender stereotypes and inequality in Edwardian society, and is determined to not let them be undermined as it threatens her comfortable lifestyle
-emphasises how the older gen. were recalcitrant
-doesn’t try to defy it like Sheila
the things you girls pick up these days
-Sybil infantilises Sheila
-criticises her for saying “squiffy”, but not Eric’s guffaw - reference to gender stereotypes of women having to be polite all the time
I don’t know what you’re talking about, Sheila
Sybil talks in a superior tone to Sheila, showing her blatant ignorance and further infantilising of her
absurd business
Sybil continues to disregard the magnitude of the situation
she had only herself to blame
-clearly shows her lack of acceptance of social responsibility, or even sympathy for what happened to Eva
-she justifies her beliefs because of their class difference
claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position
-advanced vocabulary in order to disguise her discrimination as being genuine and justified, as she is upper class
-sibilance used to imply Sybil’s evil intent
-deems the lower classes as untrustworthy and not genuine
