Generation Gap In An Inspector Callss

Stage Directions:

Shows divide in the family, younger Birlings feel remorse. "I behaved badly...I'm ashamed of it." Elipsis suggests Sheila is pausing to reflect on her actions, is truly sorry. She is described as saying it [as if she had been crying]. Shows remorse.

Whereas Mrs Birling is described as "a rather cold woman". Cold showing she is emotionless and disregards other human lives. Older generation is unfeeling, cold like capitlists. Younger generation caress for one another like socialists and the audience prefer the younger characters as they are more compassionate. Priestly wants us to dislike the older generations so we dislke their views.

Final Act- The Ending:

Gerals Dialogue: "Everything's alright now". Gerald = older generation. Quickly reverted to his old ways. Ignored change, never be the same. Like after WW2,old people changed less. Young people embraced change- community. Mr Birling "We've been had, that's all."

"But that won't bring Eva back to life, will it?" Rhetorical question asked by Sheila to her parents. Challenging them, grown. More mature. "The point is you don't seem to have learnt anything." Challenging parents again.

Mr Birling's Conflicting speech and actions:

"Why you hysterical young fool-get back-or I'll-" Mr B calling Eric a "fool" because he is young and "hysterical" becuse he is young and deemed immature. Ironically, it is Eric who accepts responibility and is more wise in his ways. J.B Priestly does this beause the audience see the fault in Mr Birlings speech, and then in his ways and change their own. + ironic Mr B calls Eric hysterical yet he nearly resorts to physical violence. + shown in preceeing stage direction [furious, intervening]

"The famous younger genertion who know it all. And they can't even take a joke". Ironic, trying to be sarcastic but in fact the younger generation are more wise and responsible than him. Shown in the next statement "And they can't even take a joke." Not taking it serioulsy, not mature/responsible. Stereotypical characteristics of the younger generation. Role reversal.

7 Deadly Sins :                                                                                                         Mr B= greed. Opening stage directions oxymoron [heavily comfortable],=greed. [imposing but tasteless]-Reflects Mr B.Refuses to give his workers "a few more shillings". Said they'd ask for "the earth". Desire for "lower costs and higher prices". Pride = Ironically called lower class "greedy". Mrs B = pride. "Girls of that class", "that", can't even say working class. Mr&Mrs B refuse to accept responsibilty. Mrs B called it her "duty".

Sheila, contrast, "But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people". Socialist+Virtuous. Eva Smith virtuous. Temperance, justice, prudence, courage, faith, hope and love. Took news of affair over "very gallanty"

Dramatic Irony:

Mr B,"unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"- about the titanic. Shows he's ignorant, older generation ignorant- world has changed with titanic/world war + they're left behind. CONTRAST. Eric "What about the war?". More insightful, younger. Mr B says "They'll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere." Polysyndetic list- seems childlike. Plosive 'p' sounds, like spat out, harsh and ignorant.

Younger generation insightful, older ignorant and ignore world politics.