Quotes to compare - each character Flashcards
Name first Birling quote to use.
Grade 5/6
“a man has to mind his own business, and look after himself and his own.”
- Represents Capitalism
- Constructed to put forward Capitalist views and then criticise them.
- Inspector appears after Birling says this.
Name the second Birling quote to use.
Grade 7-9
“I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business.”
- “hard-headed” = unfeeling - Capitalism is unfeeling.
- Deliberate use of Labour party manifesto.
- Illusion of the language of Sir Stanley Baldwin who criticised ‘men of business’ and accused them of benefiting from war.
- Hypocrite - uses Sheila’s marriage as business but cares for own?
Name first Gerald quote
Grade 5/6
“You were the wonderful fairy prince. You must have adored it Gerald.”
“She’s been happier than she’s ever been before.”
-Kind but deceitful, not as cruel as others.
-Uses Gerald as construct - even kind men like Gerald are cruel if Capitalist (forces them to exploit others).
Name second Gerald quote
Grade 7-9
“Daisy knew it was coming to and end”
-Claims reason for ending relationship was need to go away for work; actually was because his friend returns from Canada.
-He’d have to pay for a flat for her.
“She’d lived very economically on what I’d allowed her”
-Sense of superiority.
-Pays her less this way than as a prostitute in palace bar - exploits her as he gets rid of her when he doesn’t want to pay for flat.
Name first Mrs Birling quote
Grade 5/6
“Girls of that class”
- Is a construct to attack social hierarchies.
- Shows the need for a welfare state; decision not to give money to Eva - cruel irony as they aren’t getting what they need.
Name second Mrs Birling quote
Grade 7-9
“The girl had begun by telling us a pack of lies”
- Diminishing description of Eva as a girl.
- It was a logical doubt as she had lied.
- Forced her to return to Eric.
Name first Eric quote
Grade 5/6
“I think it’s a shame. We try for the highest possible prices, why shouldn’t they try for the highest wages”
-Attacks Capitalism as a construct.
-Voice of hope and change; opportunity to not act like his parents.
“we are all of one body”
Name second Eric quote
Grade 7-9
“she told me she didn’t want me to go in” - tries to refuse him.
“in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
-Doesn’t call it a state but this ‘nasty state’ but this state that is common to all men, not only Eric. Implies it’s not such a sin.
“not really” - steals £50 (40 weeks of Birling wages) which Eva wouldn’t have spent in around 16 weeks. Eric has been spending some of it on himself but deceives himself and insists he gave it to Eva.
Name first Sheila quote
Grade 5/6
“No, because I remember what he said, how he looked, and what he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish.”
- Learns from the Inspector, voice/hope of younger gen.
- Proxy for the Inspector to encourage characters to take responsibility.
- Inspector’s message, Priestley’s message.
Name second Sheila quote
Grade 7-9
“What about this ring?” “No not yet. It’s too soon. I must think.”
-Seems to accept patriarchy.
“At least you’ve been honest. And I believe what you told us about the way you helped her at first. Just out of pity.”
-Lying to herself, encouraged by society; women had to convince themselves they were in an equal relationship despite knowing reality.
-Final curtailed sentence reinforces she doesn’t believe it subconsciously.
-“And it was my fault really”; blames self more than Gerald.
Name the Titanic Capitalism quote and meanings
“Titanic” - metaphor for Capitalism. Reference to ‘unsinkable’; Mr Birling thinks Capitalism is unsinkable but Priestley encourages audience that it is.
Name the quote about labour and link to Capitalism
“there’s a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the future.” - 1912 strikes, 1926 strikes that crippled country.
-Birling is wrong - therefore what he stands for (Capitalism) is also wrong.
Name the quote about the economy and link to Capitalism.
“We’re in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity.”
- Great depression in 1929.
- ‘we’ refers to employers like Birling himself. These businessmen actually did very well from the depression.
Explain how war is profitable to Capitalism.
“Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war”
- using ‘profit’ and ‘loss’ shows he doesn’t fully understand Capitalism. Huge profit in war - Stanley Baldwin.
- War is ideal market for Capitalist economy.
How does Birling Justify sacking Eva?
“we were paying the usual rates and if they didn’t like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else.”
-Cartel; businesses get together to reduce competition by agreeing a common price. Can pay low prices and keep best workers.
