Responsibility (An Inspector Calls)

Question 1

Mr Birling criticising socialist views on how society should operate

Answer 1

But the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everyone has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense

Question 2

Mr Birling first being unable to take any responsibility for Eva’s death

Answer 2

Still, I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?

Question 3

Gerald’s opinion on how respectable citizens should accept responsibility

Answer 3

After all, y’know, were respectable citizens and not criminals

Question 4

Sheila when she first finds out she is involved

Answer 4

[miserably] So I’m really responsible?

Question 5

Gerald showing his ability to show guilt and responsibility

Answer 5

I’ve suddenly realised - taken it in properly - that she’s dead -

Question 6

Inspector criticising how upper class men can get away from responsibilities

Answer 6

Public mean, Me Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges

Question 7

Mrs Birling refusing to take responsibility

Answer 7

Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation

Question 8

Mr Birling saying who she thinks is responsible

Answer 8

First, the girl herself… Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have

Question 9

Sheila showing her responsibility by wanting everyone to change

Answer 9

The point is you don’t seem to have learnt anything

Question 10

Eric saying how much the Inspector affected his sense of responsibility

Answer 10

He was our Police Inspector all right

Question 11

Gerald showing some responsibility to the consequences of his actions to Eva

Answer 11

The money’s not the important thing. It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters

Question 12

Sheila saying how Inspector impacted them all

Answer 12

Well he inspected us all right. And don’t start dodging and pretending now

Question 13

Sheila warning the others to change their ways with sarcasm

Answer 13

So nothing really happened. So there’s nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn. We can all go on behaving just as we did