An Inspector Calls Themes - Responsibility

Question 1

Give 5 quotes that show how Eric takes responsibility

Answer 1

“My God, I’m not likely to forget”
“I’ll bet I am”
“The fact remains I did what I did”
“The girl’s still dead, isn’t she?”
“I say the girl’s dead and we all helped kill her - and that’s what matters”

Question 2

Give 5 quotes that show how Sheila takes respinsibility

Answer 2

“But those girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people!”
“I know I’m to blame and I’m desperately sorry”
“The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything”
“And it doesn’t alter the fact that we all helped kill her”
“It frightens me the way you talk”

Question 3

Give 2 quotes that show Mr and Mrs Birling refuse responsibility

Answer 3

“as if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive”
“community and all that nonsense”
“I can’t accept any responsibility”
“my duty to keep labour costs down”
“There’s every excuse for what your mother and I did”
“I consider I did my duty”
“I accept no blame for it at all”

Question 4

Give 5 quotes that show the Inspector’s views on responsibility

Answer 4

(massively) “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”
“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other”
“If men will not learn that lesson , they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”
“If nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt”
“one Eva Smith is gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva smiths and John Smiths still left with us”