An Inspector Calls Characters and Themes 1-9

?
What was it that Mr Birling did to Eva Smith?
He fired her for asking for a higher wage and organising a strike. 'They wanted the rates raised so that they could average about twenty five shillings a week. I refused, of course.’
1 of 54
Quote to show Mr Birling as capital orintated?
"Working together for lower costs and higher prices" - He sees Shiela's and Geralds marriage as an oppertunity for his business.
2 of 54
How is he represented?
"Heavy-looking and rather portentous man" and a "Hard headed business man" which suggests he is self rightous
3 of 54
Quote to show Birling as ignorant
He claims the titanic is "unsinkable absolutely unsinkable"
4 of 54
What is Birlings main concern following the whole ordeal?
- ‘there’ll be a public scandal…I was almost certain for a knighthood’ Even though he had a part in killing an innocent girl he still only cares about his reputation.
5 of 54
What does Birling say before The inspector arrives?
"a man has to look after his own business and look after himself and his own" - Inspector comes and challenges this with his socialist views, saying that we must care for everyone. ALso its questionable that he does care for Eric.
6 of 54
What does he say he cant do when he finds out what happens to eva?
"I cant accept any responsability" - Links to Mrs Birling also not accepting responability
7 of 54
What does Birling claim is his Duty?
"Its my duty to keep labour costs down" - Shows his capitalistic side and how he sees workers as 'costs' not people. ‘Cheap labour’
8 of 54
What does Eric reveal about Birling?
"Youre not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble" - Shows Eric is treated badly and that Birling isnt caring.
9 of 54
What would birling give for it to not have happened? What does he say when he finds out the inspect wasnt real?
"I'd give thousands, yes thousands" "This makes all the difference"
10 of 54
When was the play set and whats the significance?
It was written in 1945 and set in 1912 in a place called Brumley. Its signifcant as its before either war and this allows Priestly to show ignorance of war through the upper class - "Germans dont want war"
11 of 54
How is MRS BIRLING first described as?
- “His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior” (aristocrats) First impresions of a stuck up posh person. (making audience not like her)
12 of 54
Quote to show Mrs Birling as traditional
"When you're married you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business"
13 of 54
What did Mrs Birling do?
Eva came for help at a charity but Mrs Birling "used my influence to have it refused”
14 of 54
How does Mrs Birling speak about Eva's case?
She only helps in "deserving cases" "As if a Girl of that sort would ever refuse money" "Claiming elaborate fire feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position”
15 of 54
Who's responsability does she claim Eva's sitution is?
- “I blame the young man who was the father of the child”
16 of 54
How does Eric react to his mother?
‘yes, and you killed her and the child she’d have had too-my child-your own grandchild-you killed them both-damn you, damn you.’
17 of 54
Quote to show MRs Birling treats Eric and Sheila as little Children
‘they’re just overtired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.’ ‘I’m quite ashamed of you’ she declares to Eric.
18 of 54
How is Gerald described and introduced?
"Very much the man about town" " this is Mr Croft - son of sir George Croft" - Instantly knows that Birling has set them up for profitable gain.
19 of 54
How does Gerald side with Mr Birling?
"I know we'd have done the same thing" - Shows that despite Gerald being from the YOunger Gen he still has old fashion views.
20 of 54
Quote to show Gerald as a liar
"I wasn't tellig you a complete lie"
21 of 54
Gerald presents the theme of Young vs Old
If it wasn't for Gerald it would easy to state that Mr and Mrs Birling are selfish and unchanging beacuse thyr'e too old to understand the new prospects of equality. But Gerald's character shows the younger generation are just as selfish+old-fashion
22 of 54
Gerald prsents the theme of social class
Gerald might have made Eva/Daisy happy for a while, ut he treated her badly and took advantage of her social status. H ekept her as his mistress for his own pleasure and discarded her when it suited him. He tries to act like the hero or "prince"
23 of 54
What did Gerald do?
He saved her from a bar as she gave him a look that "Was nothing less than a cry for help" he housed her and "Made her take some money" She became his mistress "It was inevitable i suppose" Then broke it off with her and broke her heart.
24 of 54
What does Gerald say when asked if he loves her?
‘it’s hard to say. I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.’ This could make us feel at least some understanding for him as he does clearly have feeling for her, however maybe we also feel he took advantage of her.
25 of 54
How does Gerald present himself as a hero?
"She told me she’d been happier than she’d ever been before’ which again perhaps makes the audience feel that his actions were more acceptable or alternatively sees it as an excuse?
26 of 54
Who comes to the realisation he wasnt an inspector?
Gerald - "There isnt any such inspector , we've been had"
27 of 54
How does Shiela react to Geralds ring?
- ‘(excited) Oh- Gerald-you’ve got it…it’s wonderful! Look- Mummy isn’t it a beauty?’ Shows she is easily won over by materialistic items… Typical of the upper class.
28 of 54
How is Shield first descriebed as?
- ‘a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.’ - Initial impressions; that she isn’t that bad. Possibly niave and materialistic
29 of 54
How does Shiela challenge her father/capitalism?
"But these girls arent cheap labour - they're people" Shows the younger generation have a better social concious and that theyre more socialist and adaptable for a change.
30 of 54
Quote to show Shiela as curious (ABout Gerald)
- ‘yes- except for all last summer, when you never came near me’ Shows she is a cautious character… Foreshadows Gerald’s involvement.
31 of 54
Quote to show shiela as sharp
"He's giving us rope - so that we'll hang ourselves"
32 of 54
What does Shiela do to Eva?
- She gets Eva sacked from ‘the last real steady job she had’
33 of 54
What does Shiela say about her actions?
- ‘If she’d have been some miserable plain little creature, I don’t suppose I’d have done it.’ - Despite seeing lower class as people she is still judgemental "creature" highlights her disgust of her/jellousy.
34 of 54
Quotes to show Shiela has changed for good
She hands back the engagement ring to Gerald saying, "You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here". Shiela along with Eric are the only one's to realise they all have to change. Out of all the characters Shiela has changed the most
35 of 54
How is Shiela shown as self centered?
- ‘I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me’ Shows she may be self-centred as someone has just died and she only cares for herself. Although might show she cares as it does bother her.
36 of 54
How does Shiela react to her parents + Gerald not caring after they find out he wasnt a real inspector?
- ‘you don’t seem to have learnt anything’ (Sheila) ‘you’re beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened,’
37 of 54
At the end of the play how does Eric/Shiela react to the unchanged people?
- ‘it frightens me the way you talk’ Shows how only the youths have learnt the lesson. Shows how caught up in their own worlds the older upper class are, and the faults that money brings.
38 of 54
How is Eric first described?
Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive.’ Shy character (even around family). Insecure. Possibly confused.
39 of 54
How does Eric respond to his fathers comment on a free country?
'It isn’t as if you can’t go and work somewhere else’
40 of 54
Eric presnts the theme of family life
Biling seem disappoined in his son, gets on better with Gerald. Crushing low for Eric, loss of father's affection, seen as secod best
41 of 54
How is Eric a villain and a victim?
Victim= feels isolated ad unsupported - finds comfort elsewhere. States to mother "You don't understand anything. You never did. You never tried" - unloved, neglected. Villain= responsiblity for actions
42 of 54
Eric challenging capitalistic views
- ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’ Shows that Eric is understanding of the problems that face the lower class. Younger generation being more human.
43 of 54
QUote to show Eric as an Alcoholic
- ‘he has steadily been drinking for the last two years now.’ Shows the corruptness behind upper class people. (Maybe has mental issues)
44 of 54
What does Eric do to poor Eva?
He rapes her ‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty- and I threatened to make a row’ and also steals money "From the office" for her.
45 of 54
How does Eric admit to stealing money?
- ‘(miserably)…from the office’ he does however claim ‘I intended to pay it back’. Admits to stealing the money… Was he trying to right his wrong? Preistly shows how the upper class try to cover their misdeeds with money. Everything is about money…
46 of 54
How does Eric show that hes learning from whats happened?
- (shouting) and I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her- and that’s what matters’ Accepts the blame but also shares it. Doesn’t dismiss what happens after they find out the inspector wasn’t real. Representation of the youth bieng moral.
47 of 54
How is the inspector introduced?
‘he creates at once a sense of massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness’…man of morality!
48 of 54
How does Gary Goole use blunt language?
‘Burnt her insides out of course' to emphasise the horrible situation and not sweeten it up for the upper class. Shock tactics gets his point accross.
49 of 54
How is the Inspector the Driving force of the play?
begins with summary of what had happened, "suicide of course". forces information out of people by blunt satatements "and then you decided to keep her - as your mistress?". Reveals new information wich heigtens the drama, "was going to have a child"
50 of 54
How does the inspector challenge Birling?
"i Dont play golf" "Public men, Mr Birling have responsibilities as well as priviledges"
51 of 54
How did Eva Smith die?
"drank some disinfectant, and died, and after several hours of agnony"
52 of 54
Important quote at end of Play to show Inspector as a moral person
"We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.... if men will not learn that lesson then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish" - reference to ww2
53 of 54
Quote to show the play was about society as a whole?
'One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us'
54 of 54

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Quote to show Mr Birling as capital orintated?

Back

"Working together for lower costs and higher prices" - He sees Shiela's and Geralds marriage as an oppertunity for his business.

Card 3

Front

How is he represented?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Quote to show Birling as ignorant

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is Birlings main concern following the whole ordeal?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar English Literature resources:

See all English Literature resources »See all An Inspector Calls resources »