An Inspector Calls Quotes and Notes Class and Society: y
Mr
Birling (pg 10) Youd think everybody has to look after everybody else community
and all that nonsense. y
Mr
Birling (pg 11) his 4 lines li nes after the Inspector arrives.
y
Mr
Birling (pg 16) Perhaps I ought to warn you that hes an old friend of mine, and that
I see him fairly frequently. frequently. Reminding the Inspector of his status and authority. y
Mrs Birling (pg 30)
Girls of that class. She takes a very stereotypical view of the different classes.
Women and Gender: y
Mr
Birling (pg 9) Yes, but youve got to remember, remember, my boy, that clothes mean
something quite different to a woman. y
Mr
Birling (pg 15) Shed had a lot to say far too much she had to go.
y
Sheila (pg 5) Is it the one you wanted me to have? Girls are very passive and submissive.
y
Mr
Birling (pg 17) Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along. She is a woman and doesnt
understand politics. y
Inspector (pg 27) And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant unpleasant and disturbing things? He is trying to back up women in society.
Guilt and Responsibility: Responsibility: y
Mr
Birling (pg 9) A man has to make his own way has to look l ook after himself and his
family too. y
Mr
Birling (pg 14) Still, I cant accept any responsibility. He denies that anything was his fault.
y
Gerald (pg 28) I suppose I asked for that. Gerald accepts responsibility compared to Birling.
y
Inspector (pg 29) You see, we have to share somethingshare s omethingshare our guilt
y
Inspector (pg 56) We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.
y
T he he way
the Inspector orchestrates the play and interrogates the family individually but still
reminds them that they are all collectively responsible for Eva Smiths death.
Generational Conflict: y
Mr
Birling (pg 9) But this is the point. I dont want to lecture you two young fellows
again. But what so many of you dont seem to understand. y
Eric and Mr Birling conflict between each other because Eric shows awareness of the working class state which Birling doesnt.
y
Mrs
Birling (pg 30) You seem to have made quite an impression on this child,
Inspector. Inspector (pg 30) We often do on the young ones. Theyre more impressionable. y
Mrs
y
Mr
Birling (pg 32) Hes only a boy. Inspector (pg 32) No, hes a young man.
Birling (pg 60) The fact is, you allowed yourself to be bluffed.
The Inspector: y
He is very argumentative and has a strong political view point. (pg 15) Its better to ask for the earth than to take it.
y
He wants to exercise empathy. (pg 19-20) Ive thought that it would do us all a bi t of good if sometimes we tried to put ourselves in the place of these young women counting their pennies an their dingy little back bedrooms.
y
He uses very strong imagery and emotive language. slammed in her face and a tricolon in his final speech, fire, blood and anguish
y
He believes young people should be empowered and listened to, hence why he then leaves when the familys emotions are running incredibly high and he thinks Sheila and Eric can carry on his argument with out him. Because he has empowered them.
Mr Birling:
y
He might be quite pushy. (pg 2) (noticing that his wife was not taken away) Now then, Sybil, you must take a little tonight.
y
He shows off and is very boastful. (pg 2) Finchley told me its exactly the same port your father gets from him.
y
He is trying to show off his social prowess to G erald, but he knows that he is not Geralds social equal. This makes him insecure.
y
He is very much capitalist and can be portrayed as insensitive and selfish. For instance in his speech on page 4 he only cares about the wealth Gerald brings but not his daughter Sheila.
y
He is pragmatic and only believes in facts. (pg 6) And Im talking as a hard headed, practical man of business.
y
Even after the Inspector comes he cannot accept responsibility. (pg 57) Theres every excuse for what both your mother and I did it t urned out unfortunately, thats all.
Mrs Birling:
y
She seems very loyal to Mr Birling and the system. Conservative and traditional.
y
She likes the class standards and divisions. For example, Mr Birling gave compliments to the chef but Mrs Birling said, (pg 2) Arthur, youre not supposed to say such things-
y
She is stubborn towards the Inspector because she is the person with the highest class (except for Gerald).
y
She, like Mr Birling, denies all responsibility, (pg 43) But I think she had only herself to blame.
y
She isnt as intelligent as Sheila and tries to keep up with her intellect. (pg 58) I know what youre going to say. Because Ive been wondering myself.
y
She is also very stereotypical towards the younger generation. (pg 59) Dont be childish, Sheila.
Sheila Birling: y
Possibly quite cautious and more intelligent. She thinks over some of the things the Inspector says.
y
She is quite liberal a different to her mothers generation. (pg 3) Mrs Birling: Youll have to get used to that, just as I had. ( pg 3) Sheila: I dont believe I will. ( Half playful, half serious to Gerald ) So you be careful.
y
She shows compassion and empathy. (pg 17) Sorry! Its justOh I wish you hadnt told me.
y
She shows initiative and perspective because she realises that the Inspector knows a lot more than they think. Why you fool he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we dont know yet. Youll see. Youll see.
y
After only half of the play, Sheila has taken over t he Inspectors role as the interrogator because she is more intelligent that the rest of her family.
Eric Birling: y
He seems rather clumsy and socially inadequate. He tends to say the wrong things at the wrong time.
y
He was honest which shows he is not like his parents.
y
(pg 59) He was our police inspector all right. This shows he has learnt that he has done wrong and that theyre all to blame.
Gerald Croft: y
He is very polite and courteous. He always says the right thing.
y
(pg 4) Hear, Hear! And I think my father would a gree to that. He agrees with Birling.
