Old vs Young

Answer 1

Generations: Young vs. Old The idea of age and generational identity runs throughout the play. The Birling family is split into two generations: the parents and the children. The generational divide doesn’t just refer to the relationship between a parent and their child in a familial context. Priestley examines how your life experiences and the era you grow up in affects your morals and political identity. There is a clear distinction between how the children react to the Inspector’s visit and how the parents react. The way each generation views the other is also a key aspect of the family’s dynamic. ❖ Gerald is an outlier as he belongs to an older, landed family which makes him ultimately sympathise with the parents.

Answer 2

Context Generational divide The generational divide in Britain in 1945 was possibly the most severe it had ever been. ● There were those who had fought in either of the World Wars, those who had been too young to fight, and those who had been too old to fight. ● There were those who had known life before war (as they had reached adulthood before 1914) and those who had only known war. ● Priestley was born in 1894, making him a member of this latter generation - often called the Lost Generation.

Answer 3

The Lost Generation The Lost Generation refers, widely, to those born between 1883 and 1900, meaning they reached adulthood during or just after the end of the First World War. Many had fought in the Great War and found living in the new postwar era difficult. In the early postwar years, the war’s survivors felt confused and aimless. The values they had inherited from their elders were no longer relevant and as others tried to return to ‘normalcy’ many members of the Lost Generation found everyday life materialistic and emotionally meaningless. Eric and Sheila would also be members of the Lost Generation, but it’s important to note that when the play is set the War hadn’t happened yet.

Answer 4

How Priestley portrays the generations It is within these drastic variations in experience and generational identity that Priestley explores through the parents and children of the play. ➔ He presents the older generation as being stuck in their old ways, used to their comforts and conservative values. The parents refuse to be self-aware or accept responsibility, caring only for themselves. ➔ In contrast, the younger generation are curious and compassionate, and quick to rectify their ignorance. He suggests the younger generations should learn from the mistakes of their elders in order to create a more peaceful and progressive future for Britain.

Answer 5

Development of the Theme Structure and form are important to this theme because of how Priestley uses them to emphasise the divide between the generations. The way the dialogue is organised, the scenes where either the parents or children dominate conversation and how each character reacts differently to the Inspector’s visit means the theme goes beyond Mr and Mrs Birling’s age-based insults. This theme is also a good example of how characters are constructs which are used by Priestly to serve a particular purpose. Priestley makes each generation a symbol of a different outlook and political orientation.

Answer 6

Beginning of the play At the beginning of the play, the family appears to be a unified front. There are small disputes and disagreements, but overall they are all on the same page. They all occupy the same role in society as ignorant, complacent, upper class people. The younger generation seem to be curious and inquisitive, but they don’t want to challenge their parents’ authority. Instead, they want to emulate (imitate) them. However, the profound effect of the Inspector is to split the family permanently down generational lines. The two sides and their respective ideologies can’t be reconciled. This may mimic the drastic impact the World Wars had on society. Priestley suggests society is at a crossroads or tipping point, where change has to happen and a choice has to be made.

Answer 7

Character development Both Eric and Sheila undergo character arcs, starting with an immature desire to follow their parents and ending with a mature understanding of the real world. They are out from under their parents’ shadows, capable of independent thought. Their incredible transformations are contrasted with the stasis of the older generations. As Sheila notes, Mr Birling, Mrs Birling, and Gerald are all prepared to continue in the same way once the Inspector has left. Gerald even offers Sheila her ring back, as if he never cheated on her and broke her trust. Considering how dramatic and shocking the Inspector’s revelations about the family were, the older generations’ determination to return to the way things were before suggests an incredible level of delusion. Morality and integrity mean nothing to them. They would rather have the appearance of a happy, successful family than actually trust each other.

Answer 8

Ending The play ends how it started - the family gathering is interrupted by a phone call to say an Inspector is coming to the house. On the surface the mirroring suggests that nothing much has changed, however the audience knows that the family has divided and changed since the first act. Furthermore, the cyclical structure could allude to the two World Wars, evoking the same idea of “pretend[ing] all over again” (Act 3, pg 65). Priestley suggests history will keep repeating itself until people learn.

Answer 9

Mr Birling As the patriarch of the Birling family, Mr Birling is a symbol of the older generation’s power and influence in society. He has made his own money (nouveau riche) instead of inheriting it like Mrs Birling and Gerald and is very satisfied with his accomplishments. He is resistant to criticism and gets angry with anyone who challenges his opinions or authority. He believes his life experiences make him wise and infallible, meaning he thinks poorly of the younger generation whom he thinks are foolish and naive. A large part of his identity in the play is his capitalist views and loyalty to business and wealth over community.

Answer 10

Mr Birling as a teacher Priestley shows how Mr Birling thinks of himself as a teacher to the younger generations because of his age and experience. At the beginning of his toast, he tells his children and Gerald, “Now you three young people, just listen to this - and remember what I’m telling you now,” (Act 1, pg 7), showing how seriously he takes his own advice. ➔ The imperatives “listen” and “remember” emphasise Mr Birling’s desire for attention and for his children to be his disciples. He wants to have an impact on the younger generation. He repeats this idea several times during this speech, saying, “You youngsters just remember what I said,” (Act 1, pg 7), and “Take my word for it, you youngsters - and I’ve learnt in the good hard school of experience,” (Act 1, pg 10). ➔ The phrase “good hard school of experience” suggests he thinks knowledge and intelligence can only come with age, and that “experience” is the ultimate form of education - shown by the metaphor of a “school”. ➔ The use of “young people” and “youngsters” shows how Mr Birling is fixated on age and superiority. The nouns are patronising and mocking. Priestley shows how the older generation were arrogant and controlling, as they wanted to influence the younger generation.

Answer 11

Arrogance of the older generations In a similar way, Priestley suggests the older generations were overconfident, particularly the men. He claims “We don’t guess - we’ve had experience - and we know,” (Act 1, pg 7) which shows that the possibility of being wrong is completely foreign to Mr Birling. ➔ As he has grown up in a successful era he believes his generation paved the way to a better world, and he trusts it wholeheartedly. His hubris (excessive self-confidence) leads him to make bold claims. He tells his family, “Some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say - fiddlesticks!” and “I say there isn’t a chance of war,” (Act 1, pg 6). He presents his predictions with absolute certainty even though he is no expert, showing how men were taught their opinions were always valuable. ➔ Priestley uses the dramatic irony in these claims to express how deluded the ego of the older generations was. He implies arrogance and overconfidence caused these disasters, as they refused to see them coming.

Answer 12

Struggles to accept change Priestley presents Mr Birling’s critical, patronising view of the younger generations to show how the older generations struggled to accept the changes of modern life. He says, “You don’t know what some of these boys get up to nowadays. More money to spend https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu and time to spare than I had when I was Eric’s age,” (Act 1, pg 9), suggesting he believes that life is easier than when he grew up. He implies the younger generation are spoiled because they have more “money” and “time” to themselves and Priestley implies the older generation perceived the younger generation as weaker and less worthy because of it. ➔ The noun “boys” is infantilising and belittling, showing how he doesn’t take the younger generation seriously. Equally, he tells Eric and Gerald, “I don’t want to lecture you two young fellows again. But what so many of you don’t seem to understand now, when things are so much easier, is that a man has to make his own way,” (Act 1, pg 9). This shows how the older generation feared that the values and comforts of modern life were killing off the old traditions and ideals they had been raised with. ➔ The verb “lecture” presents Mr Birling as an educational figure, suggesting he sees it as his duty to rectify the mistakes of the young and set them on the right path. He thinks the younger generations can only prove themselves if life is harder on them, perhaps thinking an “easier” life is emasculating. Here, Priestley shows how changes in lifestyle, culture and experience make it more difficult for people to appreciate and respect each other.

Answer 13

Older generation and capitalism Finally, Priestley uses Mr Birling’s businessman persona to associate the older generations with selfishness and right-wing conservatism. His toast and “lecture” to Eric and Gerald are introduced at the start of the play to establish the capitalist ideologies of the family to the audience. Mr Birling tells them, “The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense […] a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own,” (Act 1, pg 10). This suggests the older generations were focused on self-preservation and privacy rather than community. ➔ Furthermore, the use of derogatory (insulting) words like “cranks”, “bees in a hive”, and “nonsense” show how Mr Birling actively mocks socialists, rather than just disagreeing with them. Priestley suggests the older generations did not respect Socialism as a valid political system. This presents them as cruel and narrow-minded.

Answer 14

Mrs Birling While Mr Birling is used to present capitalism as an invention of the older generations, Priestley uses Mrs Birling’s character to explore the older generations’ denial and resistance to change. Mrs Birling is a very conservative, traditional character who is unrepentant about her prejudices. This shows how the older generations were stubborn and stuck in their ways and Priestley implies that as time went on their denial and stubbornness got more and more outdated.

Answer 15

Obsession with appearance In the opening scenes, Priestley outlines Mrs Birling’s obsession with appearances, manners, and social etiquette. She objects to her husband’s comments about the cook saying “Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things” (Act 1, pg 2) which shows how anxious she is about seeming respectable. Priestley implies the older generations prioritised social conduct over genuine interaction, encouraging repression and secrecy. She also reacts to Sheila using the slang term “squiffy” with, “Really the things you girls pick up these days!”, (Act 1, pg 3). This suggests that she, like her husband, disapproves of modern culture. She thinks “the things […] girls pick up these days” are rude and unladylike, threatening the tradition of femininity. Priestley suggests the older generations did not trust the younger generations to act in an appropriate manner. The lives of the older generations were dictated by arbitrary rules and a desire to appear sophisticated, rather than living freely. These values isolated and deterred others.

Answer 16

Stubborn Throughout the play Mrs Birling doesn’t listen to the opinions of others which reinforces the idea that the older generations are deliberately ignorant and obstinate (stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion). When Sheila warns her about “beginning all wrong”, Mrs Birling replies, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” (Act 2, pg 29), and, when Sheila talks about not building a “wall”, Mrs Birling declares, “I don’t understand you,” (Act 2, pg 30). This shows how she refuses to listen to the younger generations. ➔ The repetition of “don’t” suggests the older generations were incapable of entertaining the suggestions of others. https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu Moreover, she tells the Inspector, “I don’t understand you, Inspector,” (Act 2, pg 41), and claims, “You have no power to make me change my mind,” (Act 2, pg 44). Her stubbornness isn’t just reserved for the younger generations: Mrs Birling rejects any view that opposes her own. ➔ She is impatient, and the repetition of “I don’t understand you” may imply she isolates herself from others. ➔ The use of the noun “power” could suggest she doesn’t want to change her mind because it is a sign of weakness or submission. Priestley suggests the older generations saw any alternative suggestions as a challenge to their authority.

Answer 17

Reaction to Eva Priestley reveals Mrs Birling’s prejudices, especially classism, in her reaction to Eva Smith coming to the charity for help. She describes Eva introducing herself as “Mrs Birling” “simply a piece of gross impertinence - quite deliberate,” (Act 2, pg 43). It is clear she doesn’t want to hear her name used by a working class girl and she chooses to interpret Eva’s introduction as a purposefully disrespectful act. This suggests to the audience that Mrs Birling aims to see the worst in people in order to villainise them. She continues, “Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case,” (Act 2, pg 43) which shows how she is shameless in her bias. She feels she is entitled to think the way she does and describes her reaction as “natural”. Furthermore, “one of the things” implies more aspects of Eva’s identity prejudiced Mrs Birling against her, most likely her class and gender. This is also implied when she calls Eva’s reasons for not wanting to accept stolen money “a lot of silly nonsense!” (Act 2, pg 46), and insisting, “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!” (Act 2, pg 47). ➔ The use of exclamation marks shows Mrs Birling’s disbelief, showing how consumed she is by her prejudices. She refuses to trust and respect Eva even when the evidence is right in front of her. Priestley suggests the older generations were so blinded by their intolerance that they couldn’t see how ruthless they were being.

Answer 18

Eric & Sheila As the children of the family, Eric and Sheila represent the changing face of British society. They are roughly the same age as Priestley would have been in 1912 so he probably relates to these characters the most. Though at the beginning they are mouthpieces for their parents’ beliefs, they quickly break free and think independently. They accept responsibility for their actions and try to encourage others to do the same. Their characters are largely linked with Socialist ideologies. Priestley shows how the younger generations are capable of starting a revolution. https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu The children are presented as empathetic and compassionate which shows the audience how the younger generation are more capable of taking care of others (and enacting socialist policies).

Answer 19

Eric The character of Eric is used by Priestley to show how the younger generations suffer under the pressure placed on them by their elders. Eric was conscious he hadn’t met expectations in terms of being married and describes how this drove him to act out. He uses this to justify sleeping with Eva: “I’m old enough to be married, aren’t I, and I’m not married,” (Act 3, pg 52). ➔ Here Priestley shows how the lives of the younger generations were already set out for them. He also shows the younger generations’ silent suffering under the high expectations of the older generations.

Answer 20

Wanting to impress his father This pressure to conform to tradition is also evident in Eric’s exchanges with his father. At the start of the Inspector’s visit, Eric is eager to agree with his father’s views and impress him. ➔ When Mr Birling asks, “We’d all be in an impossible position, wouldn’t we?”, Eric answers, “By Jove, yes. And as you were saying, Dad, a man has to look after himself -” (Act 1, pg 14). This shows Eric is keen to follow in his father’s footsteps and how younger generations are likely to adopt and maintain traditions and values. ➔ The verbatim (word for word) repetition of his father’ words may imply Eric is incapable of thinking for himself, as if the younger generations were conditioned to mindlessly follow the older generations. However, Priestley shows how Eric’s opinions were never really his own. Once the Inspector has left, Eric revisits Mr Birling’s lecture once more but instead “laugh bitterly” at it and criticises him. Here, he suggests the younger generations have the ability to think for themselves and expose the hypocrisies of their parents.

Answer 21

Challenging his father As well as being more generous than his father, Eric is willing to challenge the decisions his father makes. These exchanges show the audience that the younger generation have the ability to go against tradition and therefore change the future. ➔ When Gerald claims Mr Birling “couldn’t have done anything else” about firing Eva, Eric disagrees. He says: “He could. He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out.” (Act 1, pg 15). This suggests that while the older generations see no possibility of forgiving others, the younger generations are open to acts of understanding and mercy. ➔ Furthermore, Eric asks, “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices,” (Act 1, pg 16), showing he recognises how the Capitalist system is selfish and exploitative. He sees the workers don’t benefit https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu from the company’s high profits, implying Mr Birling has unjustified in denying their request.

Answer 22

Sheila Sheila admits and learns from her mistakes and is therefore able to identify lessons that the other characters need to learn. She wants to help others realise their wrongs - their inability to see their mistakes means that Sheila quickly becomes vocal and distressed. Sheila and her parents As the play progresses Sheila becomes more vocal against her parents. She isn’t afraid to call them out for their continued snobbery and denial. ➔ She warns her mother against “beginning all wrong” (Act 2, pg 29), and “build[ing] up a kind of wall” between them and Eva (Act 2, pg 30). ➔ She refers to her family’s “silly pretences” (Act 2, pg 32) and portrays them as foolish or childish people who aren’t convincing anybody. ➔ She tells her mother “Impertinent is such a silly word” (Act 2, pg 31) which implies the Birlings’ air of superiority is false. ◆ Here, Sheila criticism of her mother’s use of the adjective “impertinent” is ironic as this is the word she used to complain about Eva to Milwards (resulting in Eva getting fired). By criticising it now, Priestley shows how Sheila has broken free of her mother’s opinions. Like Eric, Sheila also questions her father’s actions. ➔ She thinks her father’s decision to sack Eva was a “mean thing to do” (Act 1, pg 19) and a “rotten shame” (Act 1, pg 19). Though these phrases sound childish they portray Sheila as sympathetic and well-meaning. ➔ She also points out that “These girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people” (Act 1, pg 19). Here she explicitly goes against capitalist ideas as workers being purely “labour” and instead shows the audience that “they’re people” which is more reflective of left-wing politics. Priestley, uses her shrewdness (good judgement) to expose the ridiculousness of the older generations’ facades. Through these exchanges Priestley encourages his audience to view their elders with cynicism and realise they are performing rather than being genuine.

Answer 23

Sheila and Gerald Sheila doesn’t just stop at criticising the older generation, she also tries to show others her age that they are wrong too. ➔ She tells Gerald, “I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too” (Act 1, pg 23), meaning she no longer views him as perfect and virtuous. ● When Gerald claims he doesn’t “come into this suicide business” Sheila responds, “I thought I didn’t, half an hour ago […] You’ll see. You’ll see,” (Act 1, pg 26). She sees through Gerald’s denial and realises that it is likely that he is also involved in some way. ➔ The ominous refrain “you’ll see” could imply Sheila is desperate for them to have their lies and pretences broken down. Priestly perhaps uses her to suggest that the younger generations are more realistic and thus able to avoid future mistakes. Indeed, she identifies the mistakes she and those before her made and tries to stop the cycle. Priestley suggests the younger generations are able to identify the injustices committed by their elders and rectify them because they are more kind hearted. He also shows how they can introduce a new political ideology to society

Answer 24

Fights and Clashes Between Generations As well as presenting the parents and the children in certain ways, Priestley examines the direct conflicts between them. This mimics the tensions and divides in British society, and explores the dynamics of the generational divide. The ways the parents insult their children present the older generations’ scornful view of the younger generations. The way the two generations interact and argue shows how the two sides view each othe

Answer 25

Why is there tension? It is evident that some of the tension between the generations is because the older generation thinks the younger generation have an easier life than them (you can still see this kind of thinking today). ➔ Mr Birling frequently references Eric's “easier” upbringing and later accuses him of being “spoilt” (Act 3, pg 54). It is possible Mr Birling resents Eric for having the lifestyle he couldn’t have when he was young. Mr Birling is “rather angry” after Eric questions his claim that “it’s a free country”. He tells him, “It’s about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities. That’s something this public-school-and-Varsity life you’ve had doesn’t seem to teach you,” (Act 1, pg 16). ➔ There is some hypocrisy in Mr Birling’s insults because, as Eric’s father, he would have been responsible for spoiling him. Priestley suggests the older generations are incapable of respecting the younger generations. They expect them to go through the same hardships they did, which is https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu impossible. This suggests that the generations’ different life experiences make it hard for them to understand each other.

Answer 26

Mr and Mrs Birling silencing their children Mr Birling’s monologues, which dominate the opening scene, shows how the voices of the older generations were given so much respect in society that they were rarely questioned. Going against the status quo and questioning opinions causes disputes between Eric and his father who becomes dismissive, showing an impatient view of the younger generations. Eric tries to debate with his father about the likelihood of war and after his opinion is dismissed he tries to reenter the conversation with “Yes, I know - but still -”. Despite this Mr Birling interrupts him again: “Just let me finish, Eric. You’ve a lot to learn yet,” (Act 1, pg 6). ➔ Mr Birling commanding “just let me finish” suggests the older generations craved attention and respect. Men were taught to be aggressive and domineering, possibly presenting this exchange as a competition for authority. ➔ Mr Birling dismisses Eric’s opinion because he has “a lot to learn yet”, showing how the younger generations weren’t taken seriously because of their youth. The country did not want the benefit of a new perspective. Similarly, when Eric criticises his father, Mr Birling orders, “I don’t want any of that talk from you,” (Act 3, pg 52) and “Don’t talk to me like that,” (Act 3, pg 54). This focus on what Eric can and can’t say shows how the older generations silenced and censored any resistance or opposition, giving the illusion society was happier than it really was. On different occasions, Mrs Birling commands Sheila, “Please don’t contradict me like that,” (Act 2, pg 30), and “Sheila, don’t talk nonsense,” (Act 2, pg 35), making her appear irritable and vain. By telling Sheila she can’t “contradict” her, Mrs Birling seems to ban people disagreeing with her, presenting the rule of the older generations as a strict dictatorship. Priestley gives examples of how Mr and Mrs Birling react to their children’s protests and defiance. He conveys how the older generations wanted to stay in control and expected their children to honour this pecking order.

Answer 27

Mr and Mrs Birling dismissing Sheila Mr and Mrs Birling continually dismiss Sheila’s reaction to the Inspector’s visit, thereby implying her reactions are wrong. Upon seeing Sheila’s “wild” and guilt-ridden state, Mr Birling asks, “What’s the matter with that child?”, to which Mrs Birling replies, https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu “Over-excited,” (Act 2, pg 33). They don’t see her reaction to the Inspector’s visit as natural. ➔ By suggesting something is the “matter” with her, they imply she is delirious, ill, or insane, thereby dismissing her worries and insights. ➔ “Child” and “over-excited” further invalidate her perspective and show how the older generations patronised young adults. Later, Mrs Birling accuses Sheila of “behaving like an hysterical child,” (Act 2, pg 48), and Mr Birling calls Eric a “damned fool” and a “hysterical young fool”, (Act 3, pg 54-55), presenting the younger generations as irrational, sensitive, and stupid. They aren’t sympathetic to their children’s actions and feelings, choosing to ignore them. This allows them to maintain their own beliefs, such as their supposed innocence in Eva’s death. ➔ By associating being a “fool” or “hysterical” with being young, Priestley shows how the older generations made reductive generalisations. Their insults allude to a hierarchy where the older generations were automatically superior to the younger generations. She thinks Sheila is talking “nonsense”, implying the idea of being at fault is preposterous to her. However, Sheila responds with a warning similar to the one she gave Gerald: “You wait, Mother,” (Act 2, pg 35). Ignoring her mother, Priestley suggests Sheila no longer fears her mother or recognises her power. Furthermore, when Sheila exposes Eric’s drinking problem, Mr Birling says, “If you’d had any sense of loyalty -” (Act 3, pg 50), trying to guilt Sheila for putting the interest of truth over her family’s reputation. “Loyalty” is a question of traditional honour, and Priestley suggests the older generations used it to justify keeping secrets and maintaining lies.

Answer 28

The Final Scenes The scene that unfolds once the Inspector leaves emphasises the generational divide. The most immediate, notable impact of the Inspector’s visit is to split the family irreversibly, with the two generations turning on each other. Two options face the family: either they change their ways, or continue as they were. The children choose the first option, the parents the other. https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu By showing this rift, Priestley suggests that the beliefs of the parents - selfishness and denial of responsibility - belong in the past, in 1912, while the children’s attitudes - their willingness to accept blame and to change - belong to the future.

Answer 29

Reaction to the Inspector leaving Each character’s initial reaction once the Inspector exits is very revealing, and is indicative of how the family dynamic will be for the remainder of the play. Both parents are quick to point fingers at others. Mr Birling is the first to speak, he says “You’re the one I blame for this” (Act 3, pg 57) to Eric. Mrs Birling adds, “Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you,” (Act 3, pg 57). ➔ Through blaming others they ensure they aren’t burdened with any responsibility themselves and shows the audience they don’t learn from the Inspector’s message. They are the same people who sat down for dinner before Act 1. ➔ Priestley presents how the older generations are stuck in their ways, are selfish, and pass responsibility onto others. ➔ This may be an allusion to how, in 1945, the younger generations were left by their elders to recover from the damage the World Wars and the Great Depression had caused, despite not being the ones who started them. On the other hand, Eric and Sheila are able to identify the shared guilt of the family. Eric’s response to his parents’ accusations is “I don’t blame you. But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well - yes both of you,” (Act 3, pg 57) shows how he is willing to accept blame for his own actions while not forgetting what part others played in Eva’s death. Likewise, Sheila says, “I behaved badly too. I know I did” (Act 3, pg 57) before criticising her parents’ actions. Priestley shows how accepting responsibility is the first step to changing your ways. Because of this, he suggests only the younger generations are capable of improving society. The older generations want to continue living a life of ignorance and denial.

Answer 30

Who was the Inspector? One of the biggest points of controversy is how important the Inspector’s true nature is. The younger generation are in agreement that whether he was “really a police inspector” or not doesn’t “make any real difference” (Act 3, pg 58-59). This shows the younger generation as a moral and conscientious generation who recognise other people’s feelings over their own. https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu In contrast, Mr and Mrs Birling firmly believe “it matters a devil of a lot” (Act 3, pg 58) if the Inspector wasn’t a real police officer, and they are “excited” to know he was “a fake” (Act 3, pg 62). Priestley implies Mr and Mrs Birling are concerned with what the Inspector can use against them and the impact this will have on their reputation rather than with their actions themselves. This juxtaposition reveals what each generation cares about more. Mr and Mrs Birling are used to their comfortable life in high society and want to protect it, meaning they care more about what can be taken to “court” (Act 3, pg 60) and the effect this would have on the family’s reputation. Mr Birling is frustrated by his children’s views. ➔ He complains that “They’re so damned exasperating. They just won’t try to understand our position or to see the difference between a lot of stuff like this coming out in private and a downright public scandal” (Act 3, pg 65), showing how the two generations are on different pages. Conversely, Eric and Sheila only care about how poorly they treated others. ➔ Eric says, “The money’s not the important thing. It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters” (Act 3, pg 65). By rejecting “money” and focusing on Eva (a working class girl) Eric rejects capitalism and classism - the values of his elders. Priestley presents the divide between morality and legality to show the differing priorities of the older and younger generations. He portrays the younger generation as the more socially responsible, caring generation.

Answer 31

Pretending nothing had happened The recurring motif of the closing scenes is about the parents acting like nothing has happened. Sheila immediately identifies the issue, telling them, “But now you’re beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened,” (Act 3, pg 57). This suggests that as soon as the proof of their wrongdoings, the Inspector, is out of sight, Mr and Mrs Birling are able to act freely and forgive themselves. ➔ The verb “pretend” suggests willful ignorance, in order to protect and comfort themselves. ➔ The phrase “nothing much has happened” shows how the children feel as if the Inspector’s visit was a life-changing, revelatory event, whereas the parents see no reason to change their mindset. The phrase, alternatively, may suggest Mr and Mrs Birling have been encountering this their whole lives, so are used to it. https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-cc https://bit.ly/pmt-edu The accusation repeats throughout the scene: ● “You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all,” (Act 3, pg 64), ● “You’re just beginning to pretend all over again,” (Act 3, pg 65), ● “You’re pretending everything’s just as it was before,” (Act 3, pg 71). The repetition of “pretend” suggests society is a performance. “Pretend” also connotes childishness, suggesting this way of living is not sustainable. The phrase “all over again” shows this is not the first time it has happened, portraying history as a cycle of ignorance and possibly alluding to the two World Wars Priestley and his audience had just witnessed. Priestley accuses society of not learning from its mistakes, allowing the Second World War to happen. His audience would understand how dangerous and life-threatening Mr and Mrs Birling’s pretences are.

Answer 32

Was a lesson learnt? The final exchanges between the parents and the children leave the audience with a lasting impression of the generational divide. Sheila tells her parents, “You began to learn something. And now you’ve stopped. You’re ready to go on in the same old way,” (Act 3, pg 71), showing how she disapproves of the older generations and their traditions. This accusation again implies that throughout history, society has had the chance to “learn” from its mistakes but has failed to do so each time, perpetuating war, bloodshed, and poverty. We know that “the same old way” will eventually lead to another Eva Smith scenario. Sheila says she isn’t prepared to “go on in the same way”, explaining, “I remember what he said, how he looked, and what he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish. And it frightens me the way you talk, and I can’t listen to any more of it,” (Act 3, pg 71). Sheila heeds the Inspector’s warning and understands the gravity of the situation. By saying her parents “frighten” her, this presents the older generations as a threat. She decides to not “listen to any more of it”: Priestley uses this as a symbol of the younger generations’ rejection of the older generations. However, her parents are “amused” by her anxiety (Act 3, pg 71), showing how they don’t recognise the importance of the situation. Their humour appears insensitive. Mr Birling mocks his children, saying, “Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke,” (Act 3, pg 72). This is a microcosm for how the older generations have perceived the younger generations throughout the play. The younger generations were celebrated for being the future, but Mr Birling suggests they don’t “know it all”. He doesn’t take them seriously, and thinks they are weak and oversensitive. Priestley uses this final exchange to suggest the generational divide can never be resolved, but it is up to the younger generations to correct the mistakes of their parents. The older generations will be stuck in the past.

Answer 33

Importance of understanding The idea of “understand[ing]” appears a lot in the context of the generational divide, and shows how the two generations can’t accept each other. Sheila tells her father, “Gerald knows what I mean, and you apparently don’t,” (Act 2, pg 40), Mrs Birling tells Sheila, “I simply don’t understand your attitude,” (Act 3, pg 50), and Eric “almost threatens” his mother with, “You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried,” (Act 3, pg 55). This motif shows how incompatible the two generations are. Priestley suggests there exists a divide they cannot overcome. He also suggests the two generations don’t attempt to “understand” each other. With every mention of understanding, we see how the two generations feel completely isolated from each other. The younger generation feel abandoned by their parents, the older generation feel betrayed by their children.