Analysis of Quotes - Inspector Flashcards
(9 cards)
‘the lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrive, and then it should be brighter and harder’
Symbolic that the Inspector is there to shine a light on their behaviour
Stage directions regard how the lighting is symbolic of how the Birlings’ lives change due to the Inspector’s visit
The colour ‘pink’ suggests a comfortable way of living, maybe seeing life through rose-tinted spectacles and ignoring reality.
Adjective ‘brighter’ implies that the Inspector brings lights to show up their behaviour
Adjective ‘intimate’ implies that they are a close knit family or that the upper classes have closed themselves away from the ‘harder’ reality of the working classes.
‘A nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it.’
Inspector deliberately understates the situation so that the audience can dwell on how horrifically the Birlings have behaved.
Adjectives ‘nice little promising’ have positive associations showing Eva had potential for a good life.
Juxtaposition between ‘nice little promising’ and ‘nasty mess’ shows the extent of the damage caused and how little control Eva had over her life.
‘I don’t play golf.’
Shows the Inspector’s integrity, independence from class-based influence, and his role as a moral force who challenges the authority of the privileged
Priestley uses this to undermine the arrogance of the upper class and reinforces his message of equality and accountability
‘Public men…have responsibilities as well as privileges’
The core message of the play is that all people have social responsibility.
The upper classes seem to exercise their privileges but neglect responsibility
Juxtaposition of the abstract nouns ‘Responsibilities’ and ‘privileges’ emphasises the difference between the Birlings and the Inspector. The Inspector links the two concepts that Birlings have regarded as separate.
‘You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.’
Shows the Inspector’s role as a moral teacher.
He emphasises collective responsibility, urging the characters to acknowledge their shared impact on Eva Smith’s life.
It reflects Priestley’s message about community and social conscience.
‘She came to you for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more. And you slammed the door in her face.’
Shows the Inspector’s moral judgement and his direct, confrontational tone.
He exposes Mrs Birling’s lack of compassion and holds her accountable for her role in Eva Smith’s downfall.
It reinforces Priestley’s message about empathy and responsibility - especially from those in privileged positions.
‘Just used her for the end of a stupid drunken evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person’
The Inspector bluntly reminds Eric of his degrading treatment of Eva.
Tricolon starts with two nouns that totally dehumanise Eva, ‘animal’ and ‘thing’ suggesting that Eric saw her as something he could simply control or use, not a ‘person’.
‘There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness’
Conveys Priestley’s message about social responsibility. Eva’s story is not simply a one-off.
Polysyndeton emphasises the scale of the issue, the use of ‘and’ makes the number of people like Eva go on and on.
Contrast of Eva and John reminds us that this is not about gender; we have a duty to all people.
Antithetical language through ‘hopes and fears’, ‘suffering’ and ‘happiness’ shows that both negative and positive outcomes depend on society.
‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’
Priestley’s message is clear - we are part of one society
Pronouns ‘we’ used by Inspector shows collective responsibility, contrasts to Birling’s ‘I’,’my’
Tricolon emphasises his point and ‘We are’ sounds like a fact - allowing more room for Birlings to argue back.
