1
Q
Pink and intimate
A
- Birling family
- at the start of the play this stage direction suggests the Birlings have a rosy view of life
2
Q
brighter and harder
A
Inspector
- this stage direction suggests the Inspector has shed light on the events
3
Q
Heavily comfortable but not cosy and homelike
A
Stage directions
The wats the Birlings house and furniture is described
4
Q
Heavy looking rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial speech
A
Mr birling
- at the start of the play = shows he’s self centred
5
Q
Pleased with himself
A
Birling family (stage directions) - how the birling family are described at the start of the play
6
Q
I was Lord Mayor here two years ago… there’s a very good chance of knighthood
A
Mr birling
- shows he is concerned with his social status
7
Q
Superior
A
Mrs birling
In relation to her husband Mrs birling is described as superior
8
Q
I was an alderman for years- and I’m still on the Bench
A
Mr birling
Mr birling reminds us of his position and exerts authority over the inspector
9
Q
Dramatic Irony
A
- Mr Birling
- ‘The titanic,she sails next week - unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ (ACT 1)
- stages in 1945 so audience knows that Titanic sank in 1912
- his predictions are wrong = undermines our faith in him
10
Q
Responsibility
A
- Mr Birling
- ‘The way some of these cranks talks and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else’ (Act 1)
- think people don’t have an obligation to others (except family) and people who believe otherwise are cranks (insulting term for ppl with unusual ideas = socialists - Karl Marx)
- play challenges Birling’s attitude
11
Q
Worker’s rights
A
- Mr birling
- ‘if you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth’ (Act 1)
- these people = worker in factory = groups them as one = says this even after hearing Eva (his worker) committed suicide 2 yrs after he dismissed her for asking for higher wages
12
Q
Jealousy
A
- Sheila Birling
- discovered lost her job as shop assistant due to her = initially excuses her actions
- ‘but she was very pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself, I couldn’t be sorry for her’ (Act 1)
- shows that prettiness will allow her to earn a living
- sheilas initial reaction but then changes
13
Q
Social class
A
Mrs Birling
- ‘I don’t supposed for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class -‘ (Act 2)
- Mrs B shows prejudice = links her suicide to her low class and impossible for her class to understand lower class (we)
14
Q
Exploitation
A
- Gerald
- ‘I hate those hard eyed, dough faced women. But then I noticed a girl who looked quite different. She was very pretty.’ (Act 2)
- visits prostitutes (hard eyes women he hates)
- Eva is very pretty - same word as Sheila
- upper classes are hypocritical = politician friend of Birlings tried to harass Daisy but Gerald saved her
15
Q
Hypocrisy
A
- Gerald
- moved Eva into an apartment protect her
- ‘I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her’ (act 2)
- but kept it a secret and she did become his mistress
- finished relationship that he had to go away and it was okay as ‘Daisy knew it was coming to an end’ but he knows he was using her for sex (she’s the wrong class)
16
Q
Prejudice
A
- Mrs Birling
- ‘Yes I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence - quite deliberate - and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’ (Act 2)
- come to charity for help as she was pregnant
- Mrs B refused to help as Eva introduced herself as Mrs B and that was only one of the things that made her judge her
17
Q
More prejudice (2)
A
- Mrs B
- ‘he should be made an example of. If the girl’s death is due to anybody then it’s due to him’ (act 2)
- shows that she’s holding someone else responsible but it’s her own son
18
Q
Responsibility speech
A
- Inspector Goole
- ‘there are millions and millions and millions of Eva smiths … still left with us… intertwined with what we think and say and do’ (Act3)
- smith = very common name (millions literally)
- inspector wants the Birlings to realise that we are all intertwined with each other
19
Q
What’s changed?
Quotes of Mr B
A
- only Sheila and Eric feel responsibile
- others make excuses for action
‘There’s every excuse for what both your mother an I did-‘
‘Probably socialist or some sort of crank’ (again same word)
‘There’s still no proof it was really the same girl’
20
Q
Mr Birling - capitalist views
A
- a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself
- all mixed together like bees in a hive
- community and all that nonsense
- absolutely unsinkable
- look at them, the famous young generation, and they can’t even take a joke
21
Q
Inspectors views
A
- your daughter isn’t living on the moon (ab Sheila )
- if men don’t learn this lesson they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish’
- millions and millions of Eva smiths and John smiths
- we are members of one body - we are responsible for each other
22
Q
Sheila has changed
A
- but these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people
- it frightens me the way you talk
- you were a wonderful fairy prince
23
Q
Mrs Birlings
A
- girls of that class
24
Q
What shows that Shelia is materialistic and immature?
A
- after getting ring - ‘ now I really feel engaged’
- ‘mummy’ and ‘daddy’
- ## Birling ways about her ‘upsetting the child like that’
25
What things does Mr B get wrong?
- ‘ Nobody wants war’ = wrong ab WW2
- ‘we’ve passed the worst of it’ = about the strike
- ‘Russia will always be behind, naturally’ = Russia takes over
26
What shows that Mr B is only caring about his social reputation in Act 1?
‘Just a kinghthood’
‘I was an alderman’ = showing social position
‘ nothin scandalous’ = only worrying about effect on knighthood
27
How do we know the inspector has a big impression?
- impression of massiveness and solidity and purposefulness
- ‘No I can’t agree with you sir’ to Mr B
- “it’s my duty to ask questions’
- ‘it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it’ to Mr b
- ‘cuts in massively’ (stage directions)
28
What shows that Birling looks down on the lower class?
‘Nothing to do with wretched girl’ looks down on her
‘Get into trouble? Go on the streets?’ = initial reaction shows what he thinks of lower class
‘ and then she got herself into trouble again?’ = negative stereotype
29
Does Mr B accept responsibility?
‘Still I can’t accept any responsibility’ to Inspector
30
What quote shows that Eric is against his father’s capitalist views?
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages’
| But birling says to him ‘it’s time u learnt to take a few responsibilities’ (irony)
31
How does Sheila react to the news of Eva Smith?
- Oh-how horrible = emotional (esp compared to Birling= ‘yes yes horrid business’
- ‘you talk as If we were responsible’
‘ but these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’
- ‘so I’m really responsible’ = readily accepting
32
What is the inspector’s thoughts about the lower class?
- empathises with them
| - ‘counting their pennies in their dingy little back bedrooms’
33
How do we know Eric is uncomfortable in Act1?
- ‘exchanges uneasy glances’
- ‘I’m sorry - but you see - we were having a little party’ (talks in fragments = upset)
-
34
How does Gerald react to the Inspector I’m Act 1?
- ‘getting a bit heavy handed’ (over reacting)
- ‘we’re respectable citizens and not criminals’
- when Sheila asks him an Eva Smith - ‘I didn’t’ =lie
- ‘don’t say anything to the inspector’ (to S) = conceal
35
What main message is the Inspector trying to show to Gerald?
- ‘I wouldn’t know where to draw the line’ as respectable doesn’t mean responsible
36
How does Sheila change in the end of Act 1?
- stands up to Gerald - ‘we can’t leave it at that’
- used ‘power she had’ (I) but says she’ll ‘never ever do it again’ = capacity to learn from mistake
- ‘ why - you fool - he knows ‘ (ab I to G)
37
How is tension built at the end of Act 1?
‘Well?’ Keep audience anticipating the next part as they’re not sure if the Inspector will find out abGerald or not
38
What shows that Sheila is emotional in Act 2?
- says with ‘hysterical laugh’ = upset
| - ‘I can’t stop thinking about it -‘ = fragments = emotional
39
How does Sheila act in Act 2?
- like the inspector
- ‘No mother - please’ = uneasy
- ‘I know it sounds silly’ = understands what’s going on
- aware = ‘we all started like that until he started asking us questions’
- ‘Mother I couldn’t possibly go’ = same intention as Inspector
- ‘you mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl’
40
What shows the tension between Mrs B and the inspector?
‘Haughtily’ = I beg your pardon (he’s below her)
- she wants herself to be treated with respect - ‘to inspector, rather grandly’ and he’s conducting it in a ‘offensive manner’
- doesn’t know about Eric ‘staggered in shock’
- ‘with sudden anger (Mrs B at I) = storm imagery
- starts with a lie ‘no. Why should I?’ And inspector says she’s ‘not telling him the truth’
41
How does Mrs B thinks of the lower class?
- scruples = ‘girls of that class’
- ‘though I naturally don’t know about this girl’ = typical for her her class to remain ignorant
- doesn’t know about ‘women of the town’
- ‘surely you don’t mean Alderman Hegarty’ = only judges by class
- ‘gross impertinence’ that ‘prejudiced me against her case’ = admits she was wrong
- ‘I was perfectly justified’ and shifts blame to the father as he’d be ‘entirely responsible’
42
How does Sheila become more aware in Act 2?.
‘ we must stop these silly pretences’
- ‘nothing would induce me’ = web of lies protect her in society
- ‘I know somehow he makes u’ (talking ab Inspector)
- Father not daddy
- gives summaries of what’s happened like the Inspector (taking his role)
43
How and when does Gerald take in the shock of Eva’s death?
- Act 2
- ‘Sorry- I well, I’ve suddenly - taken it in properly - that she’s dead’
- fragmented speech = being sincere and ‘distressed’
- doesn’t hide the truth and he ‘didn’t ask for anything in return’
- ‘Mr Croft told us - quite truthfully’ (I ab G) = shows no implication that he’s lying
44
What is the relationship like between Sheila and Mrs B?
- Mrs B is shocked by Gerald keeping her as his mistress but Sheila says ‘of course mother’ = not oblivious like her
- ‘go on mother. You might as well admit it’ = gained massive presence
45
What is the relationship between Mr B and Sheila?
- trying to protect her as girl = fragile
- ‘I protest how my daughter is being dragged into this’ but Inspector says she ‘isn’t living on the moon’= everyone should know the truth
46
How does Sheila behave when she learns about Gerald and Eva?
- ‘you were the wonderful Fairy Prince, you must have adored it’ = seductive image of Damsel in distress
- ‘at least it’s honest’ (S to G)
- ‘hands him the ring’ = officially disconnects w him
- ‘I believe what you told us. It was just out of pity’
47
How did Gerald feel about Eva?
- liked having power over her and her thinking of him as his saviour
- convenient timing as when he told Eva to leave = 6 moths were over so friend was coming back
- talks about her ‘gravely’ = he cares
- fragmented speech before he ‘wants to be alone’ = echo of Eva going to Brumley to be alone
48
How did Eva feel about Gerald?
‘She didn’t blame me at all’ = Eva didn’t blame him but he’s no blameless
- she went away to be ‘quiet’= not harmed by Gerald
- she loved him and wanted it to ‘last longer’
49
How does Birling and Inspector have tension arise between them?
- ‘public men have responsibilities as well as privileges’ (To Mr B)
- trying to protect her as girl = fragile
- ‘I protest how my daughter is being dragged into this’ but Inspector says she ‘isn’t living on the moon’= everyone should know the truth
50
How is tension built at the end of act 3 and start of act 2?
- ‘mother I begged you to stop’ and ‘you know don’t you’
| - audience anticipates the next part
51
What shows that Mr and Mrs B disagree with Sheila’s behaviour?
- ‘Sheila, I simply don’t understand ur attitude’
| - ‘if you had any sense of loyalty’
52
How does Eric react to him finding out about this?
- ‘that’s the hellish thing’ = he feels bad for it
- ‘I was in hell of a state’ = worried about her pregnancy
- ‘I’m not likely to forget’
53
How does it show Birling only cares about his reputation in Act 3?
- ‘cover this up as soon as I can’
| - nothing much has happened
54
Relationship bw Eric and Mr B and Mrs B?
- ‘because you’re not the kind of father a chap would go to when he’s in trouble- that’s why’ = not a good relationship = disagree on views
- ‘you don’t understand a thing - you never did’
- Mrs B didnt know ab his drinking - ‘distressed’
- Eric to parents = don’t forget I’m ashamed of both of you as well
55
Gap bw older and younger generation
- impressionable /famous younger generation’
- doesn’t make a real diff = Sheila and ‘it frightens me the way you talk’, ‘it’s too soon’ (to G)
- ‘it doesnt’ = Eric (if I is true or not) and ‘we all helped to kill her’
- ‘everything’s all right now Sheila’ = Gerald
- ‘ofc it does’ (Mrs B) and ‘they’ll be as amused as we were in the morning’
- ‘he was a socialist of some crank’ (Mr B) and ‘you’ll have a good laugh over it’
56
Why do we believe Gerald about Eva?
- honest and straightforward with Inspector
- Inspector believes in him = our trust is reinforced
- ‘atleast he has some affection for her’
57
Describe the relationship between Eva and Gerald?
- both seduced by the image of ‘knight in shining armour’
- he’s distressed by her death (fragmented speech’)
- leaves to think about Eva’s death
- when back = immediately plans to escape I (back to upper rich classman)
- he looks around ‘triumphantly’ = he thinks he’s over the inspector = denies truth and integrity and morals
- his loyalty lies with class
58
Mrs B and idea of scruples
- Mrs B thinks lower class = thieves, liars
- Eva doesn’t have scruples as ‘she was claiming elaborate feelings and scruples that were absurd for a girl in her position’
- ‘ as if a girl of that sort would refuse money!’ = sort= euphemism for class = they are all thieves
- admits to being prejudiced
- thinks that class can’t have moral fineness while Sheila doesn’t either (sees past her?)
59
How do we know Mrs B perceives everyone by their class?
- Eric can’t drink cause he’s ‘not the type’
- alderman hegarty is ‘one of the worst spots in Brumley’ but Mrs B doesn’t believe it as he’s an alderman
- ‘I’ll ring from the drawing room when we call coffee’ = only maid not human ‘ring’ = imperative= can’t be bothered to find her = superior
60
Eva and idea of scruples
- but Eva didn’t take money, ‘she came to you to protect me’ (to protect Eric while she’s ‘desperate’)
- she takes responsibility for Eric’s immaturity - ‘she treated me as if I was a kid’
- didn’t blackmail while mr B would have given her ‘thousands and thousands’
- her scruples = thinks of others before herself and doesn’t want to exploit
- mature and responsible
61
What are the two main themes of AIC?
- effects on an individual's action over time
| - responsibility
62
Why was the setting of AIC in one room?
- 1994 = war had turned
| - unity of time, place and action
63
What is the classical unities of time, place and action?
- the time span of the play corresponds with the real-time that the events are presented
- the place is constant throughout
- action all contributes to the central theme
64
What does the structure of the play become?
- a whodunit play
65
How is Priestly's style of writing different from medieval writing?
- original morality plays used to focus on evil and goodness
- Priestly's plays have a more secular, modern manner = makes it more familiar to the audience's effects and privations of war
66
How did Priestly portray people in AIC?
- naturalistic tone
- Birlings and Gerald Croft are self-satisfied
- opening = makes the audience uneasy
67
How does each character change in the play?
- Arthur = moved to anger by Inspector, and remains consistent
- Sheila = guilt and crying
- Gerald - 'easy manner' to 'distressed'
- Sybil = still 'cold'
68
Why does the inspector seem supernatural?
- always in control - 'massively takes charge'
- Sheila says that no one told him anything he didn't know already
- all-knowing
- 'fire and blood and anguish = link to WWI?
- his effect = splits the family
- lighting before = pink and intimate but then then 'brighter and harder'
🎭
flashcards
Decks in class (16)
# Cards
-
An Inspector Calls68
-
Comparison - The Solider And Mametz Wood20
-
A Wife In London19
-
The Solider16
-
Mametz Wood18
-
Manhunt22
-
A Christmas Carol119
-
R+J109
-
Dulce et Decorum Est12
-
Comparison - Manhunt and Mametz Wood11
-
Comparison - Dulce et Decorum Est and Mametz Wood8
-
Comparison - Manhunt and The Solider10
-
Comparison - Manhunt and A Wife In London17
-
Comparison - A Wife in London and Mametz Wood3
-
Comparison - The Soldier and A Wife In London3
-
Comparison - Manhunt and Dulce15
