Socialism Flashcards
We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other
The triplet is for emphasis. “One body” illustrates how everyone has to work together for society to function. Socialism emphasises the caring of one another which is especially ideal for a lower class, post-WW2 audience who had greatly suffered.
They will be taught in fire and blood and anguish
Dramatic irony as the phrase refers to the world wars. A triplet for emphasis. If Capitalism continues it will lead to war.
Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.
The core message of the play is that everyone has social responsibility which would be particularly poignant for the post-bellum audiences in 1945/6. The Birlings as well as others in the upper class generally seem to exercise their privileges but neglect their responsibilities. The juxtaposition of the abstract nouns emphasise the difference between the Birlings and the Inspector as he links the 2 concepts they regarded as separate
You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt
The inspector is highlighting how the Birlings share nothing, but if they were to share something, it should be their guilt, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to cope with it. He’s saying that the responsibility is not hers alone.
