an inspector calls Flashcards
(16 cards)
sheila - “is it the one you wanted me to have?”
this quote shows the inequality in power because sheila is a woman she does not get the basic choices of choosing her engagement ring
sheila - “(who has put ring on, admiringly) i think its perfect now i really feel engaged”
this quote shows how materialistic the birlings are
mr. birling - “there’s a fair chance that i might find my way into the next honours list.”
this quote shows how mr birling is a social climber
mr. birling - “a man has to mind his own buisness and look after his own - and - (doorbell rings)”
mr birlings speech about capitalism gets interrupted when the inspector a socialist person comes in and cuts him of
mr. birling - “ I can’t accept any responsibility”
he says he cant be responsible for everyone else ( criticising socialism)
inspector - “ its my duty to ask question”
the word duty shows moral responsibility/ your job to do that thing
mr. birling - “ it’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
you usually use duty as your responsibility towards others, but mr birling uses it for himself
mr. birling - “they’d soon be asking for the earth”
hes accusing them of being greedy, which is controversial as he himself is greedy
eric - “ why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? we try for the highest possible prices”
he is standing up to mr birling which shows the generation gap, as the younger generation is changing to be more socialist, as for the older generation is not
birling - “ sheila, run along”
he infantalises her which treats her like a child, this does not give her a chance to grow up, and when sheila does change later on in the play, as mr birling is part of the older generation, he can’t recognise change.
sheila - “ why you fool he knows of course he knows”
she has knowledge, and knows him more than everyone else. because she is beginning to see his omniscience
mr. birling - “absoloutley unsinkable”
this quote shows his naivety and lack of knowledge, as in the play knowledge equals power, this shows how much power he lacks
mrs. birling - “girls of that class”
this shows how much she disregards the lower class, so much so that she wont even call eva a woman
mrs. birling - “surely you don’t mean alderman meggarty”
this shows mrs. birlings double standards, she expects that higher class people wouldn’t do bad things, but lower class would
sheila - “you were the wonderful fairy prince”
shes pointing out how hes trying to make himself look good by putting the focus on love and feelings rather than his lust, and gerald gets to control the narrative since eva’s not there
