Inspector quotes- theme: responsibility

Question 1

'’there are millions and millions of John Smiths and Eva Smiths’

Answer 1

-surname ‘Smith’ has roots in the working class- derives from blacksmith. Priestley criticises inescapable nature of class and background
-draws parallels with the age description of Mr Birling as ‘in his middle fifties’ as we can infer that any judgement of his character derives from his upper-middle class. This reflects the transparency of capitalism as age is but a number though it is used in such heavy regard to formulate an opinion of people that it disregards all other elements of their humanity
-the injustice of Capitalism is further pronounced through the connotations of Eva as deriving from ‘Eve’ (the mother of humanity). This alludes to the irremovable stain of original sin which is branded on the working class who are unfairly condemned to a life of difficulty before they’re even born
-through this, Priestley advocates for socialism as no-one is born above the other; we’d all have the same starting point

Question 2

‘we are all members of one body

Answer 2

-biblical imagery alludes to omniscient nature of the Inspector which implies that the socialist values he holds are morally closer to God whilst simultaneously suggesting the sinful nature of Capitalism; it works against the natural function of a cohesive society which, like a ‘body’, requires all parts to work.
-contrasts Mrs Birling’s indifferent attitude to the working class who she believes are below her which further accentuates her conservative, patriarchal ideologies as a metaphorical cog in the works of society
-Priestley implies that we are responsible for adopting a more moral stance in society through socialism

Question 3

'’they will taught in fire, blood and anguish’’

Answer 3

-modal verb, ‘will’ reinforces precognitive effect of the Inspector’s final speech; further asserts his Godlike nature through rule of three which bears connotations of the trinity
-‘fire’ implies hell on earth and perpetual suffering which the audience recognises as the repetition of World Wars which can only be broken when society adopts collective responsibility through socialism
-short sentences imbue Priestley’s own socialist values in a way which depicts them as constituting fact; Karl Marx was a socialist who foreshadowed the rise of the Proletariat in 1917 in his Communist Manifesto which implies that unless we make amends by forging a society where the plight of the working class is heard, this vicious cycle will continue to spiral.