Selfishness

Question 1

Ts1: Mr Birlings capitalist views presented as selfish by Priestley as Mr b is critical of socialism.

Answer 1

‘Like bees in a hive’

‘A man has to look after himself’

Question 2

Ts2: Mr B, Mrs B and Gerald refuse to accept responsibility for their actions, portraying their selfishness.

Answer 2

‘I don’t come into this suicide business…we can keep it from him’
‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’

Question 3

Ts3: Sheila is presented as changing from her selfishness due to class prejudice, to accepting responsibility for her actions and turning to a more socialist view(links to Priestley view that hope for social reform lies with younger generation)

Answer 3

‘She looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her’
‘I know I’m to blame’
‘You’re beginning…to pretend that nothing much happened… you don’t seem to have learnt anything’
‘These girls aren’t cheap labour… they’re people’

Question 4

Ts4: Eric not presented as selfish as he learns to take responsibility for his actions and turns to a more socialist view.

Answer 4

‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices’
‘The girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her’
‘He was our police inspector all right’

Question 5

Where to find quotes analysis:

Answer 5

Ts1: ‘Mr Birling’
Ts2: ‘social responsibility’
Ts3: Sheila
Ts4: Eric

Question 6

Ts5: the inspector promotes social and moral responsibility for others, avoiding selfishness and acting as a mouthpiece for priestleys political views

Question 7

Ts6: I highlights B family’s selfishness

Answer 7

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