Responsibility Flashcards
To be Responsible in Inspector Calls
-Equitable society
-Compassionate
-Prudent (wise)
-Resolute in their responsibilities of social justice
-Virtuous
-Moral compass
To be Irresponsible in Inspector Calls
-Exploitable
-Segregation
-Negligent
-Value materialism over morals
How does Priestly illustrate a Political Diatribe and what did he believe the solution was?
-Crafts a political diatribe to illustrate how Capitalism actively encourages irresponsibility through it’s ideologies and a disregard for others within society
-He argues that socialism, synonymous with responsibility, stands as a sole remedy for achieving a progressive and equitable society
What does Priestly show collective responsibility will create?
-Priestly shows that collective responsibility is a by-product of adopting socialist beliefs.
-He asserts that this collective responsibility serves as a solution to the division and segregation prevalent in society, ultimately creating social cohesion.
What does a collective societal responsibility shift accountability for?
Priestly demonstrates that a collective societal responsibility shifts accountability for segregation, exploitation, and poverty away from individual groups, encouraging unity of pursuit of a shared goal: creating a fair and compassionate society.
How does Mr Birlings character convey responsibility in act 1?
-Zoomorphism
-Hyphen
“As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a beehive - community and all that nonsense.”
-Mr Birling employs zoomorphism to characterise society, particularly likening the lower class to “bees”. This direct comparison reflects Mr Birling’s degradation and mockery of the concept of collective responsibility, portraying it as an animalistic and primal behaviour fit only for insignificant creatures like “bees”.
-The deliberate insertion of a hyphen prompts a theatrical pause, compelling the actor portraying Mr Birling to hesitate before articulating the word “community”. This pause emphasises his physical repulsion to the concept. suggesting an inability to even verbalise it.
How does Mr Birlings character convey responsibility in act 1?
-dismissal
-microcosm
“As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a beehive - community and all that nonsense.”
-He dismisses the idea of intertwining his responsibilities with those of others and perceives the notion of ending his negligence as trivial “nonsense”.
-Acting as a microcosm for capitalist ideologies, Mr Birling becomes vilified for his rejection of the idea “community” and his preference for materialism over human relationships.
How does Mr Birlings character convey responsibility in act 2?
-Syntax
-Inverts
“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” - The Inspector
-The syntax of the phrase places “responsibilities” before “privileges” reflecting the direct order of importance emphasised by the Inspector to Mr Birling.
-However, Mr Birling inverts this sequence, prioritising his privileges and materialistic gains over his responsibilities and the development of a collective social conscience.
How does Mr Birlings character convey responsibility in act 2?
-Short sentences
-He perceives his social status as granting him…
“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” - The Inspector
-The concise, fragmented structure of “public men” followed by “Mr Birling” mirrors Mr Birlings fragmented perception of responsibility and accountability for his exploitative treatment of the lower class.
-He perceives his social status as granting him the authority to dehumanise those beneath him and absolve himself of any responsibility for the suffering he causes them
How does Mrs Birlings character convey responsibility in act 3?
-The verb “confess”
-Firm denial of accountability comes…
“He certainty didn’t make me confess”
-The verb “confess” has connotations of crime, and by stating she hasn’t committed any unlawful acts, she subtly implies her lack of responsibility.
-Her firm denial of accountability comes effortlessly, reflecting the acceptance and even promotion of selfishness and consequently, irresponsibility within capitalist ideologies, without moral or legal condemnation.
How does Mrs Birlings character convey responsibility in act 3?
-Imperative verb “make”
-Mrs Birlings choice of words subtly…
“He certainty didn’t make me confess”
-The imperative verb “make” hints at another reason as to why she so actively rejects responsibility - it is a way of keeping afloat in the power struggle between her and the Inspector.
-Mrs Birling’s choice of words subtly suggests that admitting responsibility would be conceding to the inspector, posing a threat to her status in the capitalist hierarchy - she is safeguarding her position within the societal structure dictated by capitalist ideologies.
How does Mrs Birlings character convey responsibility in act 2?
-Her entry to act two…
-Exacerbates
[Enters briskly ad self-confidently, quite out of key]
-Her entry to act 2 is conducted entirely under the arrogance of her social superiority. Her ostentatious display of class renders her character discordant within the narrative of grief, remorse, and suicide.
-This further exacerbates her emotional detachment, as she maintains the same cold demeanour observed in act 1.
How does Mrs Birlings character convey responsibility in act 2?
-The adverb “briskly”
-Her demeanour is conceited and….
[Enters briskly ad self-confidently, quite out of key]
-The use of the adverb “briskly” indicates that Mrs Birling is unwilling to pause and contemplate the adverse effects of her family’s unscrupulousness and exploitation
-The demeanour is conceited and calculated, typical of someone of her social standing who might typically navigate such situations effortlessly with rehearsed social grace. However, she fails to realise that she will not remain unscathed for her and her family’s irresponsibility this time
