An Inspector Calls Flashcards by Chantelle Mohepat

As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense

Mr Birling - Responsibility , Social class
‘ As if ‘ ~ convinced it will never happen - ridiculous idea
Views it negatively, rejects the idea of working together - capitalist views

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

Mr billing - social class, generations
Relates to what the inspector has done to the Birlings , they need to know their place
No respect for the lower class

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They’ll be a public scandal – unless we are lucky – and who here will suffer from that more than I will?

Mr Birling Social class (reputation)

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As if the girl of that sort would ever refuse money

Mrs birling - social class 
Ridiculous concept 
Thinks that lower class has no morals 
Small minded
Eric took the money

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Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m shamed of you have no power to make me change my mind

Mrs birling - responsibility
She doesn’t want to be associated with them
Feels she’s superior to them
Passing the blame - making them look worse
Immaturity
Doesn’t think she did any wrong

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You have no power

Mrs Birling - social class 
Comparing classes - she is superior to the inspector

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She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that was simply absurd in regard of her position

Mrs Birling 
Oblivious to the truth  
Thinks Eva is incapable because of her class 
Scruples - morals 
Girl - belittling - using her class

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I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Didn’t make much difference to her?

Shiela - responsibility
Makes it about her (i) selfish
Didn’t think of the consequences- immature
? - curious and concerned

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But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people

Sheila -
Empathy for lower classs
Respects women

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It’s wonderful look - Mummy - isn’t it a beauty

Focused on appearance - stereotypical
Childish - changes to mother later on
Materialistic , showing off , looking for attention

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In a state when a chap easily turns nasty

Eric - social class
A threat for Eva - she is vulnerable - her class

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I didn’t install her there so I could make love to her. I made her go to Morgan terrace because I was sorry for her

Gerald - gender , social class
Install - object
Made her - controlling , dominance ~ women were subservient to men ~ women’s rights
I was sorry for her - pity ~ made her his mistress actions not that honourable

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Everything’s alright now Shiela … what about this ring ?

Gerald-
Thinks everything is fine - back to start
Expects her to accept it
Contrast - doesn’t really care for Sheila’s opinion

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She needed not only money, but advice , sympathy, friendliness

Inspector 
Mrs Birling - could've given her these things as they're free shows how cold hearted the upper class can be

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She was here alone , Friendliness, almost penniless, desperate

Inspector -
Making them feel guilty
Things mrs Birling has experienced

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We are members of one body

Inspector -

Socialist view - equality

Fire and blood and anguish

Inspector - responsibility
Religious quotations describes hell which suggests the inspector is threatening them if they do not learn from their mistakes that is where they will end up, the inspector could be foreshadowing World War II

Responsibility

Older Birlings don’t take responsibility- immaturity & irresponsiblity
Younger generation- more accepting to their mistakes

A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - his family too of course

Mr Birling - responsibility

Capitalist views- every man for himself

Their hopes and fears

Inspector- social class 
juxtaposition the gap between hopes and fears shows the difference in classes

Jovially

Mr Birling - shows he felt guilty for a bit but went back to how he was at the start

Gender

The woman in the play do not have jobs all their lower class workers are not influential in society 
women used ( for sex ) 
man are dominant

I left ‘ em talking about clothes again

Eric - gender
When independent parents together husband
identity defined - doesn’t think that they think much else probably thinks women are not intelligent – society
to benefit themselves shows their lifestyle
stereotype of women all they love is clothes

She was young and pretty

Gerald - gender
Only see Women for looks 
His fondness for Daisy Renton 
shows the superficial view of women if they didn't meet his standard of beauty he didn't like them 
immaturity of men

Generation gap

Priestley points out that the younger generation are more capable of change because they're not set in their ways – hope for the future (what they did is more important) Older – concerned with status, not learnt from their mistakes

It frightens me the way you talk, and I can't listen to any more of it.

Sheila - (she has changed / matured) generation gap Separates herself from her parent She is disturbed that her parents can talk / act like how they are - they are unaffected by the events Impressionable - younger generation more open minded, older generation stubborn

There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city

``` Inspector - social class Many women are being exploited the lower class of being taken advantage of by the upper-class ```

Factories and warehouses wouldn't know where to look for cheap labour

``` Inspector - social class Because they are lower socio seems as though they should only earn money depending on the social status not how hard they work ```

He's a notorious womaniser

Gerald - social class Everyone knows of his antics expected to be moral because of his social status

Social class

``` The older Burlington have negative expectations and of assumptions about the lower classes The upper class get away with more socialism reducing class divides ```

Priestley context

He fought in ww1 lived through ww2 He was socialist Influential in developing the idea of welfare state Priestley believe that a further world wars could only be avoided through cooperation and mutual respect between countries

Set in 1912 (Edwardian era)

It was before World War I a time of peace and stability it was a time when people are able to improve the wealth and social standing the rights of workers Eva Smith were not taken too seriously by many employees – they didn't have employment protection also health and safety laws there were strong class divisions - social position was seen as a very important woman were subservient to men and had fewer rights For working-class women a job was crucial for survival no welfare state the poor often judged harshly by those in the upper-class

Play written in 1945 context

Just after World War II The class divisions had been reduced for example soldiers of all backgrounds fighting together Women's rights increase due to role in the war women got the vote in 1918 There was a great desire for social change labour a more left-wing political part won the general election

All intertwined

Socialist views – equality | People need to respect each other to create an idyllic society religious connotations - love thy neighbour

[we hear a sharp ring of doorbel. Birling stops to listen ] [telephone rings sharply]

Sharp - significant and unexpected cuts into their celebration Gets his attention Interrupts Birling makes us question and criticise mr Birling } doorbell Sharply - Same as doorbell Both disruptive symbolise something bad , what my Birling is saying is unimportant - contrast as he is very sure of himself