AIC Quotes, Context And Themes

Question 1

When did JB Priestley write An Inspector Calls and when was it set?

Answer 1

It was written in 1945 and set in 1912, before both world wars

Question 2

Quotes for the theme of Gender

Answer 2

Shiela- “I don’t believe I will (Half playful, half serious, to Gerald)”.
Mrs Birling- “be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do (looks expectantly at Birling)”
Shiela- “Is it the one you wanted me to have?” “I’m going anyhow in a minute or two.”

Question 3

Shiela- “I don’t believe I will (Half playful, half serious to Gerald)”
- “No, not yet. It’s too soon”

Answer 3

Stage direction “(half playful, half serious)” shows her mild protest and shows she lacks courage to show a serious side and question the double standards between men and women. Women in 1912 Britain were not ‘meant to’ protest but instead were expected to accept gender roles at the time and be subservient towards men. This mild protest symbolises the start of the feminist suffragette movement which was gaining popularity at the time it was set who the audience would know were successful in getting the vote for women in 1918. She is conflicted between following her parents traditional Victorian values or having her own socialist views. (Also links to generational divide) Later in the play she has more confidence to show her socialist views as the Inspector is a socialist figurehead who can represent her, representing the rise of the Labour Party to represent the working class and socialists. 2nd- shows she has matured, leaving her materialistic way of thinking, and shows how she is gaining independence as a woman as she is having a say in their marriage.

Question 4

Mrs Birling- “be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do (looks expectantly at Birling)”
“You’ll have to get used to that”

Answer 4

Mrs B has old-fashioned, traditional Victorian views on gender roles and so believes the man of the house should be making decisions for the family as she believes only they’re capable of making important decisions when, in reality, they all are. Dramatic irony, links to context as in WWII, when men went away to war, women filled their jobs and it showed men that they were just as capable. Changed a lot of people views’ towards gender roles, resulting in them changing. Audience of 1945 would know this and so that Mrs Birling’s views soon become very old-fashioned and became seen as outdated. 1912 Britain was a patriarchal society so people looked towards the men to make decisions.
Mrs B tells Sheila she’ll have to “get used to” the double standards, showing that she is willing to perpetuate these gender norms by not challenging them, to which Sheila denies that she will, showing the shift in attitudes (representing the growing Suffragette movement) as the younger generation is moving towards more progressive views.

Question 5

Shiela- “Is it the one you wanted me to have?”

Answer 5

“you wanted” - Implication that she has to accept anything he does and has no say; had to accept his proposal and choice of ring. Men in 1912 Britain had complete power over women as it was a patriarchal society, a system in which men rule, and so women like Shiela had to accept all that men did.

Question 6

Quotes for the theme of Consent

Answer 6

Gerald- “She was young and fresh and charming”.
Gerald- “I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her”
Eric- “She was pretty and a good sport”

Question 7

Gerald- “She looked young and fresh and charming”

Answer 7

Shows his superficial and misogynistic views of women. “fresh” objectifying her, connotations of “fresh food or meat”, almost like she is ready to be “consumed” by womanisers like himself. Women at the time were expected to look nice for men and their pleasure - sexualised them. “young”- could suggest that he was taking advantage of her as she was younger and so less capable, again showing that he’s a womaniser. Also shows his hypocrisy as he doesn’t condone the actions of Joe Meggarty but he isn’t any better himself as he “saved” her from him just to have her himself.

Question 8

Gerald- “I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her”

Answer 8

“install” -like an object (furniture or ornament), showing that he objectifies women and thinks less of them. Doesn’t see Eva Smith as equal as he is a man of a higher class so feel as though he can do anything to her and with her. Links to context as there was a large gender divide, women were objectified and sexualised. Shows his hypocrisy and blatant lying because that’s exactly what he did.

Question 9

Eric- “She was pretty and a good sport”

Answer 9

“good sport”- making it sound more light hearted and makes it sound more ‘normal’. He is saying that she was an easy target to take advantage of and sexually assault because she would put up too much of a fight if he threatened her and wanted sexual deeds from her. “pretty”- again shows how he had a superficial view of women, links to how women in 1912 Britain were objectified and sexualised.

Question 10

Quotes for the theme of Class

Answer 10

Act One Stage Directions- “lighting should be pink and intimidate until the Inspector arrives and then it should be brighter and harder.”
Mr Birling- “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the Earth”
Mrs Birling- “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”

Question 11

Act One Stage Directions- “lighting should be pink and intimidate until the Inspector arrives and then it should be brighter and harder.”

Answer 11

Shows the facade of the upper class. The pink lighting makes it seem like they’re looking at the world through ‘rose-coloured glasses’- meaning they see the world in an overly optimistic, often unrealistic way (could link to unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable and dramatic irony). The Birlings are built on lies and prosper off of the cruel treatment of their workers so on the surface their lives look content and joyful. The Inspector comes and reveals the reality reflected by the bright light which physically reveals more. The revealing of the facade creates distrust in the upper class and so the audience would not trust them and therefore their views, pushing them away from capitalism.

Question 12

Mr Birling- “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the Earth

Answer 12

Refers to the working class as “these people”, showing that he is generalising them and clearly does not care about them even though they are the people making him money. He feels it’s his responsibility to come down “sharply” on the, Priestley wants the audience of 1945 to realise that this is the wrong attitude to have and rather than putting down the working class, they should help them (eg through welfare state). Links to nation wide miners strike in 1912 when miners went on strike to establish a minimum wage so they’d be paid more fairly. Birling sees this as “asking for the Earth” even though they are just asking for a minimum wage, shows how selfish and stingy he is with his money.

Question 13

Mrs Birling- “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”

Answer 13

Refers to Eva Smith as a girl of “that sort”-shows that she is generalising and stereotyping the working class. Has preconceptions about them and thinks that all working class people accept all money. The fact that she does not know the working class well and so has these false preconceptions shows the large class divide in 1912 Britain as the upper and working classes did not mix, so Mrs Birling does not know them. Priestley wanted to highlight the large class divide and show how unjust it was. Shows that Mrs Birling looks down on the working class, Priestley wants the audience to think of them as equal.

Question 14

Quotes for the theme of Age and the Generational Divide

Answer 14

Inspector- “We often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable”
Shiela- “It frightens me the way you talk” “You’re ready to go on in the same old way”
Mr Birling- “the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke-”
(Sheila- “I don’t think I will (Half serious, half playful to Gerald)”

Question 14

Inspector- “We often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable”

Answer 14

(After Mrs Birling says that he’s impacted Sheila greatly). Shows that the younger generation is willing to take responsibility whereas the older generation isn’t. Priestley could be referring to himself and socialists as Inspector is his mouthpiece as “we”. Saying that socialism is influencing the younger generation as capitalism is growing outdated and socialism is the future. Suggests that socialism is the right way forward, away from the wars and financial depression.

Question 15

Shiela- “It frightens me the way you talk” “You’re ready to go on in the same old way”

Answer 15

For Sheila the fact that the Inspector might not be teals doesn’t matter because they’ve all admitted to doing terrible things and she and Eric (the younger generation) can’t help but feel responsible whereas the older generation are relieved that it won’t come out in a scandal. For them it is a dodged bullet but for the younger generation it’s a lesson to learn from. Priestley could be using Sheila as his mouthpiece talking to the audience because she has taken on the Inspector’s socialist views and so now is his socialist mouthpiece. Priestley telling the audience that after two world wars they have to change something as their old ways have lead to wars and financial struggles

Question 16

Mr Birling- “the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke-”

Answer 16

Shows that the older generation sees socialism as a joke and does not take it seriously. Priestley wants the audience to see that this is the wrong attitude to have and wants them to move towards socialism and away from capitalism and Birling. Clear generational divide between the Victorian generation with old values and the “famous younger generation”. Shows that Birling does not believe in new ideas and is close minded- does not believe in the “famous younger generation”

Question 17

Quotes for the theme of Social/Collective Responsibility

Answer 17

Inspector- “If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”
Stage directions- “We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell” Birling- “a police inspector is on his way here-“
Inspector- “there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears… all intertwined with our lives”

Question 18

Inspector- “If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”

Answer 18

Leaves the audience with a harrowing image of people suffering, making the audience want to listen to the inspector and have a sense of collective responsibility. Connotations of war/threat of war- dramatic irony as two world wars happened between 1912, when it was set, and 1945, when it was written so it would have resonated with lots of the audience. Showing that the inspector’s prediction were right unlike Birling’s and so he can be trusted. Connotations of hell which could also make the Inspector seem like a religious figure, suggesting that he’s omniscient like god. It represents Priestley’s legacy as it is the Inspector’s final speech and Priestley wants the audience to remember this lesson. Omniscient catalyst for change, Ouspensky’s theory of recurrence

Question 19

Stage directions- “We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell” Birling- “a police inspector is on his way here-“

Answer 19

Shows the cyclical structure of the story, like it is repeating itself. Priestley believed in Ouspensky’s theory of eternal recurrence which stated that the universe is a recurring cycle and will continue to repeat in a similar way for eternity. In AIC this gives the Birlings, the older generation particularly, a second chance to accept responsibility for their part in Eva Smith’ suicide and accept socialism. This affects the audience and pushes them towards socialism as it shows that they will keep repeating mistakes (like have world wars) if they do not have collective responsibility and care for each other, Priestley pushing his socialist agenda. It also shows that socialism will haunt them like Inspector Goole until they accept it.

Question 20

Inspector- “there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears… all intertwined with our lives”

Answer 20

Repetition of millions shows how many unfortunate people there are like Eva Smith who are treated like fairly. Shows that she represents the working class and so Priestley pushes his idea of a welfare state as it is necessary to help these millions and millions of struggling people. Inspector is acting as Priestley’s socialist mouthpiece as he is saying that people are all linked together in a community, shouldn’t be separated (links to context as 1945 audience knew this because in World War Two class divide torn down as they fought and suffered alongside each other) and so everyone should care for each other. “Hopes and fears” shows that the upper class should care for them as they are people just like they are.

Question 21

MEE: “A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own.”
“There’ll be a public scandal.” “I’d give thousands, yes thousands”

Answer 21

-Said before the Inspector arrives by Mr Birling, who is telling Eric and Gerald about his views and how to live their lives, spreading his capitalist ideas.
-This quote highlights key beliefs of capitalism: Business- places importance on work and earning money, key belief in capitalism as industries are privatised, as well as personal situations, ironic as theirs’ is exposed, causing Mr B to panic about a scandal.
-Order of priorities reveals Mr B’s attitude, business first, then yourself (no sense of community), then others, antithesis to socialism. Wealth and yourself are most important. Creates a society where people are selfish, not helping others, dramatic irony- 1946 audience knows about strikes, wars created as a result of capitalist society.

Question 22

MEE: “These girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people.”
MrB: “But you must understand that a lot of young men-“

Answer 22

-Shows conflict in ideologies between capitalism and socialism. Priestley presents socialists as compassionate as they do not reduced individuals to mere workers, but have empathy for them instead. Sheila taking on socialism, P’s mouthpiece.
-P showing that capitalists (MrB, G, E) treat others and exploit others as though they are their workers, and believe they can commit moral crimes towards them due to their lower social status. Dehumanises people.
-MrB views Sheila as a commodity for a business trade, tells her to understand Gerald’s cheating on her, perpetuating double standards in patriarchal society.

Question 23

MEE: “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very awkward”

Answer 23

-Shows the Birlings, capitalists, do not want to accept collective responsibility as it could damage their status, something which they value a lot and so they want to wipe their hands clean, both of Eva Smith and all workers.
-Due to this lack of guilt and accepting responsibility, they do not treat people with empathy, and so their actions then cause them to be distressed.

Question 24

MEE: “First, the girl herself… Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father… He should be made an example of.”

Answer 24

-Shows how her views on morality are inconsistent as whether or not something is good or bad depends on who did it. Correlates to capitalism and how capitalists have no fixed morality, leading to low pay, coal mine strikes, as they believe it is morally acceptable to treat workers harshly as they get financial gains out of it.
-Also shows how she values status greatly, as greatest punishment is to be “made an example of”, dramatic irony as this is Eric, which she is unaware of.

Question 25

MEE: “I wasn’t in love with her or anything… she was pretty and a good sport.”

Answer 25

-“good sport” making it sound more light hearted and makes it sound more ‘normal’. He is saying that she was an easy target to take advantage of and sexually assault because she would put up too much of a fight if he threatened her and wanted sexual deeds from her.
-“pretty”- again shows how he had a superficial view of women, links to how women in 1912 Britain were objectified and sexualised, and how men exploited women
-As rich men, they had privilege as well as power over Eva which they exploited, using her for sexual needs
-Priestley showing how societal norms in capitalist society viewed women negatively, so turn to socialism which views people more equally.

Question 26

MEE: “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”

Answer 26

-Acting as Priestley’s mouthpiece, spreading views on socialism and collective responsibility.
-Direct antithesis to MrB’s capitalist speech and his message (which is discredited due to his false predictions about the future), critiquing his capitalist views.
-Dramatic irony- in ww2, rigid class divide torn down as people united in the war effort and took care of one another, resulting in victory. 1946 know this and so believe Inspector’s message.

Question 27

MEE: “The point is you don’t seem to have learnt anything.”

Answer 27

-Sheila is calm and direct in her delivery, like the Inspector. Shows power of socialism as it spreading to the younger generation and capitalism is becoming outdated.
-Transforms weak, shy person into confident, strong person with morality and noble beliefs and a voice.
-She is angered by her parent’s ignorance as, after learning that the Inspector is a hoax, they are relieved and do not learn to accept socialism.
-Addressing audience, have to change in order to break the cycle in Ouspensky’s theory of eternal recurrence, otherwise could lead to more financial depression, world wars, etc.