Themes - Education

Question 1

Quote 1 “You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here.”

Answer 1

• Sheila openly acknowledges her transformation,
• Unlike her parents, she learns from the Inspector’s and becomes more self-aware
• This acceptance of her own growth symbolizes Priestley’s belief in the potential for education and change, especially among the younger generation.
• Her willingness to question her actions and values highlights her capacity for self-improvement.

Question 2

Quote 2 “The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else.”

Answer 2

“The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else.”
- Mr. Birling’s resistance to new ideas and his bad attitude toward “cranks”, reveal his close-mindedness and refusal to learn anything that challenges his beliefs.
- His arrogance and confidence in his own “knowledge” shows how education, for him, closed off.

Question 3

Quote 3 “I’m ashamed of you as well – yes, both of you.”

Answer 3

“I’m ashamed of you as well – yes, both of you.”
- Eric, like Sheila, goes through a journey of moral education and growth.
- By the end, he recognizes the importance of responsibility and reviews his parents’ behavior, showing his understanding of the Inspector’s message.
- Eric’s change of heart highlights Priestley’s belief that education is more about learning from life experiences and understanding the consequences of one’s actions.
- His willingness to confront his parents about their failure to learn reflects his moral growth

Question 4

Quote 4 “It’s you two who are being childish – trying not to face the facts.”

Answer 4

• Sheila becomes increasingly aware of the ignorance and denial in her parents’ attitudes.
• By accusing her parents of being “childish,” she reveals her own educational journey, recognizing the importance of facing reality.
• Her views into her parents’ refusal to learn shows her growth from a young kid to a morally conscious individual.
• Priestley uses Sheila’s awakening to suggest that true education requires self-awareness