Social Responsibility Flashcards
How is the theme of social responsibility shown in the play
the treatment of Eva Smith
how each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their behaviour
the Inspector’s lessons
Sheila feels socially responsible for Eva Smith’s death
Sheila is shocked when she learns that she had a part to play in Eva’s death.
“All right Gerald, you needn’t look at me like that. At least I’m trying to tell the truth. I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too.”
Sheila takes responsibility for her actions and tells the truth. Gerald is being judgmental of her even though he has not yet taken responsibility for his own actions.
Mr Birling does not feel socially responsible for Eva Smith’s death
Mr Birling refuses to take any responsibility for Eva Smith’s death.
“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?”
Mr Birling dismisses the idea that we should be responsible for each other, suggesting that such a situation would be ‘awkward’.
Eric feels socially responsible for Eva Smith’s death
Eric shows that he takes responsibility for his actions in the final act of the play.
“I don’t see much nonsense about it when a girl goes and kills herself. You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t. Nor can mother. We did her in all right.”
Eric clearly shows that he has a sense of social responsibility. Whilst Gerald and Eric’s parents are enjoying being in the clear, Eric still takes the matter of Eva’s death very seriously. He is even brave enough to tell his mother that she should feel responsible too.
Mrs Birling does not feel socially responsible for Eva Smith’s death
Sybil Birling will not take any responsibility for the death of Eva Smith even after she has been questioned by the Inspector.
“I should think not. Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you.”
In telling Eric that she is ashamed of him she shows that she has learned nothing from the Inspector’s investigation. The audience would know that she is in no position to be questioning the behaviour of anyone else given her own treatment of Eva Smith and lack of social responsibility.
The Inspector’s lessons about Eva Smith’s death
“It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”
Here the Inspector is suggesting that it is socially irresponsible to be greedy and ‘take’ things without permission. This is a practice the privileged Birlings would be used to.
