Quotes Flashcards
“As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense”
(Mr Birling)
Act 1 - Social Class, Responsibility , Capitalism , Older Generation , Guilt
Zoomorphism: he degrades + mocks the lower classes being alike to “Bees” and trivialises community and interconnected responsibility
Hyphen: Prompts a theatrical pause , making the actor portraying Mr B to hesitate before “community” - reflects his physical repulsion to the concept, suggesting an inability to even verbalise it
Acting as a Microcosm for capitalist ideologies , Mr B becomes vilified for his rejection of the idea of “community” and his preference for materialism over human relationships
“The Famous Younger Generation who know it all and they cant even take a joke”
(Mr Birling)
**Act 3: Older Generation, guilt , responsibility, capitalism
Irony: He derisively labels the younger generation as ‘know it alls’, but ironically thinks he knows it all **(“Titanic” and “silly little war scares”) **
Priestley deliberately set the play in 1912 to fragmentize the “Know it all” ignorance of the older generation
Speech is cut off: after his callous dismissal of the suicide as a ‘joke’, he is abruptly interrupted by the telephone through the play form, Priestley can visually depict Mr B’s capitalists beliefs should be physically and symbolically removed from society
“Girls of that class”
(Mrs Birling )
Act 2: Social Class, Guilt, Responsibility, Capitalism, Older Generation
Connotation “girl” : the term ‘girl’ connotes innocence and vulnerability, showcasing her willingness to exploit the vulnerable in society and rationalise it for capitalist advancement
Demonstrative Adjective on ‘that’ : Demonstrative Adjective ‘that’ dismisses them as an aggregate inferior and homogeneous group that all behave in the same way
Mrs B is entirely governed by the arrogance of her social statues - she cant even bring herself to specify Eva’s social class considering it so far beneath her.
“He certainly didn’t make me confess”
(Mrs Birling)
**Act 3 **: Responsibility, Guilt, Capitalism, Older Generation
Connotation of “confess” the verb ‘confess’ has connotations of crime, denial of criminal acts and accountability comes effortlessly, reflecting the irresponsibility and immorality inherent to capitalist ideologies
Imperative Verb ‘make’ shows it is a way of keeping afloat int he power struggle between and the inspector
This suggests that admitting responsibility would be conceding to the inspector, posing a threat to her status in the capitalist hierarchy that is safeguarding her position within the societal structure dictated by capitalist ideologies
“Everything’s all right now - Sheila (holds up the ring) what about this ring?
(Gerald)
Act 3 :Responsibility , guilt , younger generation , capitalism , Social Class, gender
Cyclical narrative : as it is back on his and sheila’s engagement. This is reflective of his unwillingness to change + desire to absolve himself from guilt and responsibility
He belongs to the younger generation but **shirks accountability **, disappointing the audience with his character arc - Gerald’s obstinate nature remains unchanged
Ring Symbolism : He reverts to this symbol of traditional power and possessions in order to reassert himself ; he finds comfort in the ingrained societal beliefs which make life ‘easy for him’
” We’re respectable citizens and not criminals”
(Gerald)
Act 1: Guilt, Capitalism , Social Class , Responsibility
**Collective Pronoun **: ‘we’re’ reinforces a segregative ideology as Gerald employs it to unite the Birlings against perceived criminals - exposes aristocratic biases as fundamentally ignorant
**Alliteration of ‘citizens’ and ‘criminals’ **creates a sense of similarity , reflecting Priestleys portrayal of blurred lines between morality and criminality as one ascends the social hierarchy.
Much like Priestley’s use of dramatic irony and satire to mock Mr B. He subtly ridicules Gerald’s pretentious demeanour revealing how the wealthy often had biases that align only with their narrow worldviews
“But don’t forget i’m ashamed of you aswell - yes both of you”
(Eric)
Act 3: Younger generation , guilt , responsibility, socialism
connotations of ‘ashamed’ the term ‘ashamed’ connotes embarrassment , revealing Eric’s deep disillusionment and embarrassment because of his realisation of capitalists inherent exploitation of individuals
Hyphen: simplifies the sentence akin to the Inspectorcs concise Speech, Eric is simplifying to his obdurate (stubborn ) parents of the older generation the importance of collective social responsibility
In Act 1, the Inspectors concise use of words denotes authority , a trait echoed by Eric as he speaks concisely to showcase his newfound power rooted in moral conviction
” Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices”
(Eric)
Act 1 , social class , younger generation , socialism, responsibility, guilt
Rhetorical Question : Eric is questioning the ethics behind his fathers exploitative attitude towards the lower social classes - he deviates from the ‘half shy’ presentation into the ‘assertive’ one foreshadowed at the beginning
Alliteration: Puts emphasis on the outdates and unjust social systems that have been created and upheld by older generation members like his parents
He exposes and questions the systemic bias that favour upper class capitalists leveraging a laissez - faire governmental stance
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people”
(Sheila)
**Act 1 **: Social Class, Socialism younger generation , guilt , responsibility
Connotations of ‘girls’ : ‘girls’ connotes innocence and vulnerability she’s recognised how exploitative capitalists prey on the disadvantaged social classes. She is disgusted by the inhumanity of her family
**Humanistic Perspective: **the Inspectors arrival frees her from the shackles of her oppressive privileged existence - she develops a humanistic outlook , valuing n individuals over profit
This metamorphosis (change) symbolises the advancement of women’s rights in 1945 , depicting womens empowerment and their role in advocating for social justice for all oppressed members of society
“What he made me feel . Fire and blood and anguish”
(Sheila)
**Act 3: **socialism , responsibility, guilt , younger generation
The Inspectors proxy (taking on someone’s role when they leave): Sheila’s polysyndeton on “and” she attempts to emphasize the eternal consequences of lacking social conscience
Personal pronoun: Sheila is now a moral compass to her family , showcasing her evolution towards empathy as her use of the personal pronoun ‘me’ shows she now experiences genuine remorse and has developed an understanding of the systemic consequences of capitalist ideologies on society as a whole
“its better to ask for the earth then take it”
(Inspector)
**Act 1: **Socialism, responsibility, social class, guilt
Syntax on ask: prior to “take” reflects the hierarchial order of importance crucial for societal collective responsibility - we must “ask” and share resources in contrast to the individualistic capitalist motion of “taking” for personal gain
Connotations of take: to “take” carries connotations of stealing a notion vehemently condemned in biblical teachings. Religion was the foundation of morality in the edwardian era, capitalist ideals disregard those teachings
Juxtaposingly , Socialism can be viewed as a return to society’s moral foundations , emphasizing , communal values and collective responsibility over individualistic desire
“if men will not learn that lesson then they will be taught in fire , blood and anguish”
(Inspector)
**Act 3 **: responsibility, guilt, socialism, social class
**Polysyndeton: **reflects the perpetual torment awaiting those who shirk their moral and civic responsibilities
Alternatively it may allude to WW2 “anguish” symbolises humanities failure to learn from past mistakes leading to further “blood and anguish”
Biblical allusions Inspector could be portrayed as an agent of God through the hellish allusions he is trying to bring the Birlings back to the foundation of morality religion
I was in that state where a chap easily turns nasty
Sheilded by his societal status within a patriarchal society Gerald states this showing no remorse for his actions and excusing his intoxication as justification for how he treated Sheila
“ We are all members of one body”
(Anti war - Inspector)
Priestly relating to his majority Christian audience in society saying
Christianity = Socialism
If you are truly Christian you would be a socialist , relates the play to language they are used to “we are one body in Christ” to convey his message of change
It happened that a friend let me have the key to a nice little set of rooms
(Eric)
Shows how the upper echelons of society protect and endorse eachothers immoral behaviour
