Power

Question 1

‘I wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport’

Answer 1

• ‘Or anything’ is very dismissive of Eva, especially considering Eric’s treatment of her
• ‘A good sport’ - sport has connotations of games, like Eva was something to be played with by Eric - he had so much more power and reputation than her, he could do what he wanted

Question 2

‘We’re respectable citizens, not dangerous criminals’
‘Sometimes there isn’t as much difference as you’d think’

Answer 2

• The Inspector is challenging the power the Birlings and Gerald are trying to wield over him - ignoring their displays of wealth and class

Question 3

‘I became at once the most important person in her life - you understand’

Answer 3

• The afterthought of ‘you understand’ creates a casual tone to this statement, implying that this sort of power over someone else isn’t alien to him
• Considering his later treatment of her (ending their affair and cutting off contact), knowing he had this kind of power shows how carelessly he exerts his power over people

Question 4

‘The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harsher’

Answer 4

• The inspector disrupting the cosy, family feel of the pink lighting with a feel almost of an interrogation room shows the power he has over them - he is able to destroy their comfort, even with their social standing above him - he is in charge of the play

Question 5

‘Mrs Birling you’re a member - a prominent member - of the Brumley women’s charity organization aren’t you?

Answer 5

• She has a position of influence in a charity, something that should do good, but lets her emotions and pride get in the way - allowed to because of her status
• Turned away Eva because she ‘didn’t see any reason to believe that one story should be any truer than the other.’ - chose not to believe her, abused her power, and Eva’s death was the result

Question 6

‘She’d had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go’

Answer 6

‘So’ - acts like it was a reasonable action, the only thing that he could’ve done
Simplicity of statement - not hiding what he did or ashamed of it, doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong
Simply because she ‘had a lot to say’ he sacked Eva - he has total power over his workers