(Theme) Abuse of power and corruption

Question 1

The Inspector’s Arrival

Answer 1

The family are enjoying an elaborate meal in opulent (expensive and luxurious) surroundings, with servants attending them. They are a fortunate family enjoying their affluent (rich) lives.
Inspector Goole arrives. His presence goes on to show that all of the Birling family (and Gerald) have used their power in immoral ways.
Every one of them uses their power negatively to remove power from a lower-class girl, who already had very little power to begin with.

Question 2

Mr and Mrs Birling

Answer 2

Here's how these characters used their power to remove power from a lower-class girl:
Mr Birling: as the boss of the company, he used his power to get rid of Eva after she led the workers in their fight for a pay raise.
Mrs Birling: as a leading person in the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation, she denied Eva any financial help.

Question 3

Sheila, Eric and Gerald

Answer 3

Here's how these characters used their power to remove power from a lower-class girl:
Sheila: because she wasn't in a good mood, she used her family’s status and power to have Eva fired from Milward’s.
Eric: He used physical and emotional power to force his way into Eva’s lodgings (where she was staying) – he threatened to cause a scene, which would lessen Eva’s social power even more.
Gerald: He used his social status and money to manipulate (influence someone into doing something) Eva into being his mistress.

Question 4

Societal corruption

Answer 4

Some characters highlight societal corruption (dishonest or morally wrong behaviour).
The older Birlings refuse to accept any responsibility for their actions and how they might affect lower-class people.
Gerald and the Birlings show how the higher-class, wealthy people control society with their money and power.
They can destroy the lives of the lower classes on a whim (because of a sudden decision), and never think about them again.

Question 5

Inspector Goole

Answer 5

The author uses Inspector Goole to highlight these attitudes and to show that many higher-class people don’t even think that their abuse of power is immoral or selfish.
They feel that they deserve their wealth and power, and that those of lower classes deserve to be less fortunate.

Question 6

Conflict over corruption

Answer 6

Throughout the play, the characters see the effects of them abusing their power.
Sheila and Eric become more and more ashamed of themselves, and their parents’ reactions.
Their attitudes to their own corruption (dishonest or morally wrong behaviour) causes conflict within the family.
Mr and Mrs Birling refuse to accept responsibility for their actions. This causes a rift (break in friendly relations) between them and their children.