An Inspector Calls Themes

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  • An Inspector Calls Themes
    • Social Responsibility
      • Eric accepts the responsibility after Shiela does when his story has come out, They both tries to get there parents to accept it "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?"
        • Mrs Birlling does not take any responsibility she says she did what she had to do when it came to her decision when she had met Eva. She was saying that the children do not know what they are saying and is ashamed of Eric "I should think not. Eric, I'm absolutely ashamed of you."
      • Shiela accepts her social responsibility, she tries to tell her family it is not just about themselves she thinks that they were all responsible for Eva's death. She thinks if the inspector was a hoax than they should still all learn there lesson from the inspectors visit.
      • Mr Birling refuses to take any responsibility of Eva Smiths 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?"
        • Why Priestly shows this? Eva Smith dies because no one takes responsibility for their actions against her.Sheila and Eric develop a sense of social responsibility during the course of the play.Mr and Mrs Birling do not develop any sense of responsibility and are made to look even more foolish at the end of the play.The Inspector teaches a number of lessons about how we should be responsible for each other.
    • Gender.
      • Mr Billings reference to Mr Birling, 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
    • Class
      • Opinion of working class When Mr Birling discusses how he sacked Eva Smith after she had gone on strike."If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth."Mr Birling feels that it is his responsibility to come down 'sharply' on 'these people'. Priestley wanted the audience to realise that this is the wrong attitude to have, we should be looking after 'these people' not punishing them.
      • The behaviour of the Birlings' friends.When Gerald tells the Birlings about the behaviour of Joe Meggarty."He's a notorious womaniser as well as being one of the worst sots and rogues in Brumley."Joe Meggarty is an 'Alderman' or a council member. The rest of the family is shocked to hear that he is a 'sot' (another word for a drunk), and a womaniser. Much to the Birlings' surprise, their upper-class friends can behave badly.
      • Mrs Birling’s opinion of the working classWhen Mrs Birling is discussing the moment when Eva approached her charity."As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!"Mrs Birling refers to Eva Smith as a 'girl of that sort'.  She clearly has preconceptions about working-class girls suggesting that they lack morals and will always take money.
  • Age
    • Shiela 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." Parents pretend like nothing happened, Even when the inspector was called to be a hoax the youngsters still feel responsible.
    • An Inspector Calls Themes
      • Social Responsibility
        • Eric accepts the responsibility after Shiela does when his story has come out, They both tries to get there parents to accept it "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?"
          • Mrs Birlling does not take any responsibility she says she did what she had to do when it came to her decision when she had met Eva. She was saying that the children do not know what they are saying and is ashamed of Eric "I should think not. Eric, I'm absolutely ashamed of you."
        • Shiela accepts her social responsibility, she tries to tell her family it is not just about themselves she thinks that they were all responsible for Eva's death. She thinks if the inspector was a hoax than they should still all learn there lesson from the inspectors visit.
        • Mr Birling refuses to take any responsibility of Eva Smiths 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?"
          • Why Priestly shows this? Eva Smith dies because no one takes responsibility for their actions against her.Sheila and Eric develop a sense of social responsibility during the course of the play.Mr and Mrs Birling do not develop any sense of responsibility and are made to look even more foolish at the end of the play.The Inspector teaches a number of lessons about how we should be responsible for each other.
      • Gender.
        • Mr Billings reference to Mr Birling, 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
      • Class
        • Opinion of working class When Mr Birling discusses how he sacked Eva Smith after she had gone on strike."If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth."Mr Birling feels that it is his responsibility to come down 'sharply' on 'these people'. Priestley wanted the audience to realise that this is the wrong attitude to have, we should be looking after 'these people' not punishing them.
        • The behaviour of the Birlings' friends.When Gerald tells the Birlings about the behaviour of Joe Meggarty."He's a notorious womaniser as well as being one of the worst sots and rogues in Brumley."Joe Meggarty is an 'Alderman' or a council member. The rest of the family is shocked to hear that he is a 'sot' (another word for a drunk), and a womaniser. Much to the Birlings' surprise, their upper-class friends can behave badly.
        • Mrs Birling’s opinion of the working classWhen Mrs Birling is discussing the moment when Eva approached her charity."As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!"Mrs Birling refers to Eva Smith as a 'girl of that sort'.  She clearly has preconceptions about working-class girls suggesting that they lack morals and will always take money.
    • 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.
    • Older vs Younger. 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.

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