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
he ought to be dealt with very severely
-dramatic irony as Sybil doesn’t know it is her own son
-further emphasises her blatant ignorance
But I didn’t know it was you…you don’t get drunk
-blatant ignorance/neglect towards her own son
-shows how she defends him only because it is Eric - she had assumed that the man was from a lower class due to his unfaithful nature, denoting her prejudice
(shocked) You stole money?
-more shocked at him stealing money than the whole situation with Eva
-highlights her disregard for the lower classes, and her shallow personality
(Mrs Birling has collapsed into a chair)
Priestley uses this to show the defeat of the older generation and the weakness of capitalist views
in the morning they’ll be as amused as we are
-Priestley makes Sybil look ignorant, as she feels that others will treat the situation as a joke
-makes the recalcitrant older generation seem ignorant
(politely) Absolutely first class
polite and flattering manner towards Birling
They’d be all broke - if I know them
-ignorance and class prejudice
-assumes that the proletariats are irresponsible with money
we’re respectable citizens and not criminals
-class complacent
-he has heard a confession already (Mr B.) but still considers the upper class to be morally good, showing his ignorance
-ironic as everyone has a role to play in Eva’s death
[I: young women ought to be protected from unpleasant and disturbing things?]
G: If possible - yes
[I: Well, we know one young woman who wasn’t, don’t we?]
-suggests that Gerald believes women are incapable of dealing with unpleasant issues
-Inspector points out his class hypocrisy towards Eva, showing how Gerald is only saying this to make his supposed rescue of Eva seem heroic
(breaks off) My God!…she’s dead
-lied initially, but now shows genuine distress
-shows that he has the potential to change
nothing less than a cry for help
-makes himself seem heroic so that it is clear that his intentions were of good nature
-reiterates gender stereotypes (damsel in distress situation)
nearly any man would’ve done
tries to defend his affair with Eva by saying it was because he is male, and not selfish, showing how he refuses to take responsibility for his actions
(slowly) That man wasn’t a police officer
-purposefully tries to create tension, acts heroic again
-attempts to disprove the Inspector’s claims, showing how he hasn’t changed for the better
[Sheila: you haven’t to know the rest of our crimes and idiocies]
G: That’s alright, I don’t want to
-short syntax, quick dismissal afterwards
-sums up the upper class attitude to the problems of the proletariats - they don’t care
Everything’s all right now, Sheila
-implies that everything is back to normal and no one has done anything wrong
-he has not recognised his social responsibility
(involuntarily) My God!
-innately moral actions show that he has genuine concerns for Eva
-the only one to show emotion, highlighting that he is the odd one out in the family
Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?
-Priestley is keen to show Eric’s socialist views, and is liked by the audience
-infrequent questioning showing his wavering confidence, reflecting his initial presentation of being “half shy, half assertive”
in that state when a chap easily turns nasty…threatened to make a row
-blames his state on the alcohol
-generalises his actions by saying “chap”, and struggles to take responsibility
-abuses his power as a man and his money to threaten Eva
you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble
shows the neglect Eric receives, and reiterates the fact that B. is a bad father
(nearly at breaking point)…you killed them both
-repetition of “you” creates accusatory tone
-furious at his ignorant mother for not helping Eva, and how it led to her killing a family member
-reminiscent of Mr B.’s advice - “to look after himself – and his family too.”
(shouting) The girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her - and that’s what matters
-massively increased confidence, showing how much the Inspector has influenced him and his views
-he reminds his family what was most important about the interrogation
You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t
-Eric accepts full responsibility for his actions, presenting him an an innately moral character
-shows a strong character development as he is not the same person who sat down for dinner that evening
(puts ring on admiringly) Now I really feel engaged
-materialistic person at the start of the play (shows her capitalist side)
-when she returns the ring in Act 2, it shows her development and highlights the impact the Inspector had on her
these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people
-socialist views
-pause used in order to focus on the second part, emphasising it to the audience
it was my own fault
Sheila recognises her responsibility for her actions, showing her growing maturity
(she looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed)
-connotes the crushing of capitalism towards the end of the play, and the growing power of the suffrage movement
-irregular situation due to the imbalance of the typical gender stereotypes of men being superior to women
you mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall…Inspector will break it down
-metaphor shows how Sheila is aware of the social barrier between classes
-insightful and matured, as she understands the Inspector’s methods - shows how much he has had an impact on her
[I: going to have a child]
S: (horrified) Oh - horrible - horrible!
-extremely distressed
-shows her genuine concern for Eva
(bitterly) I suppose we’re all nice people now
adverb “bitterly” shows how he is no longer naïve, but transformed to be awake to the evils of Edwardian society
between us we drove that girl to commit suicide
reminds the family of their actions, acting as Priestley’s second mouthpiece
