Themes (BBC Bitesize) Flashcards
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.
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
How is the theme of age shown in the play
Sheila and Eric’s response to Eva’s death
Mr and Mrs Birling’s response to Eva’s death
how the older characters perceive the younger ones
Age represented by Sheila and Eric
Eric stands up to his parents when it becomes clear that they will not take responsibilty.
“You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all.”
Eric sees that his parents are trying to ‘pretend’ that nothing happened when it is suggested that the Inspector was not real. He and Sheila, the younger characters, still feel responsible.
Age represented by Mr and Mrs Birling
Mrs Birling explains her decision to turn away Eva when she came to her for help.
“So I was perfectly justified in advising my committee not to allow her claim for assistance.”
Despite hearing about all the misfortune that Eva Smith has suffered, Mrs Birling is unmoved and stubbornly stands by her decision to turn Eva away.
Age represented by Older vs Younger generation
Mr Birling turns on his son Eric and nearly attacks him physically
“Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I’ll -“
Mr Birling implies here that Eric is a ‘fool’ because he is young. Ironically, it is the older Arthur who nearly resorts to physical violence.
How is Gender shown in the play
how Mr Birling and Gerald Croft view women
how Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith
how Eva Smith is portrayed as independent and outspoken before her death
How Mr Birling refers to women
When Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald about women’s attitudes towards the clothes they wear.
“…not only something to make ‘em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect.”
Mr Birling shows that he has a patronising view of women, making the suggestion that clothes are a sign of self-respect for them. He has a stereotypical view of women here and does not see them as individuals but suggests that all women think in the same way.
How Gerald refers to women
Gerald makes sexist and superficial comments about the women in the bar he visits.
“I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women.”
Gerald shows that he can be very superficial in his view of women. If they don’t meet his standard of how they ‘should’ look, he dislikes them.
How Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith
When Mrs Birling suggests that Eva is incapable of having feelings.
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
Priestley shows that even women like Mrs Birling can be just as cruel and old fashioned as the men are. She does not try to empathise with a member of her own gender. This also highlights her negative attitude towards the working class
How is class shown in the play
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme of class through the treatment of working-class Eva Smith by the wealthy Birlings and Gerald Croft when she is in the following situations:
when she is a factory worker
when she works in a shop
when she is effectively homeless
when she is potentially a single mother
