Responsibility in An Inspector Calls

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  • Created by: XenaP26
  • Created on: 30-04-20 02:04
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  • Responsibility
    • Key Quotations
      • 'A man has to mind his own business and look after himself'  (A1)
        • Mr Birling says this, immediately  showing he does not value socialism nor does he care for social responsibility. He is presented as an egocentric man.
      • 'You'd think everyone has to look after everyone else' (A1)
        • Again Mr Birling shows he opposes Priestley's ideology. priestley does believe we should all care for one another. So by having a character that opposes his viewpoint Priestley's gives himself a way to discret this mentality.
      • 'community and all  that nonsense'
        • Again Mr Birling shows he opposes Priestley's ideology. priestley does believe we should all care for one another. So by having a character that opposes his viewpoint Priestley's gives himself a way to discret this mentality.
      • 'Between us we killed her' (Sheila A2)
        • Sheila accepts responsibility
      • 'Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges' (ins. A2)
        • The Inspector is acting as Priestley's voice. It is message to his audience that the upper classes cannot sit idly by and take the highs of status without caring for those less fortunate.
      • 'We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other' (Ins A3)
        • The Inspector leaves the family with the final message of this. It sums up the message of the play and pushes the audience to think deeply about the role they play in society.
    • Characters
      • Mr and Mrs Birling
        • Mr Birling does not believe he has any responsibility to anyone in society except himself and his family
          • Socialism is a foolish idea to him that would only cost him his profits
        • Mr Birling has clearly done things for his community however, - as is he is on the honours list. It is clear he did not do these out of love for others but out of desire for respectability, status and power.
        • Mrs Birling accepts no responsibility for the death of Eva Smith. As a woman on the board of a charity she hads a responsibility to help Eva but chooses not based on her own presumptions and prejudice.
        • Mrs Birling feels she is untouchable because of her status. It is this lack of willingness to own up to her actions that shows her lack of responsibility towards others and her own actions.
          • Mrs Birling is unable to realise the impact of her actions.
        • Neither have any remorse for their actions and fail to see the aviodable tragedy.
      • Gerald
        • When gerald first met Eva he felt a sense of responsibility to save her from Meggarty and a life in the palace bar.
        • He calls the other women working at the bar 'fat, old tarts' suggesting that had Eva not been young and pretty he would not have felt any responsibility towards her.
        • Gerald is affected by Eva's death - evident by his walk. However, he does not care enough to take responsibility for his actions and change. He wants to avoid public scandal and marry Sheila.
        • Gerald exploits Eva's affection for him and is irresponsible with her feelings. He understands that he can never marry her nor does he want to - in a way he gives her false hope.
      • Sheila
        • Sheila starts off the play as very sheltered calling her parents 'mummy' and 'daddy'.
        • Sheila learns about the horror of her actions - she is clearly upset and disturbed by the pain she caused Eva.
        • Sheila learns that all their actions have consequences and she chooses to accept that and decides to change. She no longer wants to be engaged to Gerald: she realises they are very different people. Her life has entered a new chapter.
      • Eric
        • Eric is a young man with a bit of drinking problem.
        • Eric, like Gerald, exploits Eva - ultimately getting her pregnant however, he tries to support her
          • However, he steals money to support her - irresponsible.
        • Eva refuses to accept the money from Eric, once she finds out it's stolen.  This shows she has a greater sense of moral responsibility than Eric.
        • Eric however, owns up to the fact he got Eva pregnant and doesn't try to deny it when questioned. He does however, originally try to pass the blame onto his mother.
        • Eric, in the end, takes responsibility for his actions and clearly has every desire to not do anything like it again.
      • Inspector Goole
        • The Inspector is Priestley's voice. He tires to show all the characters the error of their ways.
        • The Inspector is responsible and is not intimidated by Mr and Mrs Birling but rather accepts that he has a role to show them the error of their ways rather than timidley back down from the family.
        • The Inspector leaves the family with the message to be more responsible towards others.
    • Priestley's Intentions
      • Priestley advocates for social responsibility.
      • He uses the Inspector to advocate for socialism and the idea that in a society we must all care for one another
      • Priestley highlights the consequences of a disregard for others through the death of Eva Smith and the actions that led to the death.
      • Priestley saw the need for change: and shows how the upper classes profit mentality has been oppressive to the working class.
      • Priestley breaks down stereotypes that the working class were criminals and immoral by showing Eva Smith to be a hardworking honest girl - unlike the Birling family.
    • Key Idea
      • Social Responsibility is a key principle for Priestley. He advocates for the upper classes to take responsibility for everyone in society.
      • Priestley is trying to warn his audience that if they are not responsible there will be repercussions like multitudes of strikes tc.

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