Key Quotes Flashcards
(12 cards)
Mr Birling, Act 1 — “as if we were all mixed…”
”as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive — community and all that nonsense”
- Zoomorphism: Trivialises lower classes + responsibility
- Hyphen: Physical repulsion to community
- Microcosm: Vilifies capitalism
Mr Birling, Act 3 — “The famous younger generation…”
”The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke —“
- Irony: He is the only character to claim to “know it all”
- 1912: To fragmentise older generation
- Speech Cut Off: Shows how these views should be cut off from society, Mr Birling microcosm of capitalism
Mrs Birling, Act 2 — “I don’t suppose for a moment…”
”I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class —“
- Connotation: Innocent = Willingly exploit the innocent
- Demonstrative Adjective = Dismisses them as all inferior and homogeneous
- Arrogant: Can’t bring herself to specify Eva’s class
Mrs Birling, Act 3 — “He certainly didn’t…”
“He certainly didn’t make me confess”
- Connotation: Effortlessly deny criminal activity
- Imperative: Way to keep afloat in power struggle between Inspector
- Capitalist Hierarchy: Inspector threatening her position
Sheila, Act 1 — “But these girls…”
”But these girls aren’t cheap labour — they’re people”
- Connotations: Seen exploitative capitalists prey on lower social classes
- Humanistic: Free from her shackles of capitalism — humanistic outlook
- Women’s Rights: Her change symbolises women’s empowerment
Sheila, Act 3 — “What he made me feel…”
”What he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish”
- Proxy: Takes on Inspector’s role to emphasise eternal consequences
- Personal Pronoun: Moral compass as she feels personal remorse
- Awareness: Understands systemic consequences of capitalism
Eric, Act 1 — “Why shouldn’t they try for…”
”Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices”
- Rhetorical Question: Questioning exploitative attitude
- Alliteration: Emphasises unjust social systems
- Exposes questions: System bias
Eric, Act 3 — “But don’t forget I’m…”
”But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well — yes both of you”
- Connotation of “ashamed”: Embarrassment + disillusionment with capitalism
- Hyphen: Simplifying concept of responsibility
- Mirrors Inspector: Short speech = Newfound power in morality
Gerald, Act 1 — “We’re respectable…”
”We’re respectable citizens and not criminals”
- Collective Pronoun: Segregative ideology
- Alliteration: Blurred lines between morality + criminality
- Priestley’s Intentions: Ridicules Gerald’s pretentious + narrow-minded view
Gerald, Act 3 – “Everything’s all right now…”
“Everything’s all right now, Sheila [holds up the ring] what about this ring?”
- Cyclical Narrative: Unwilling to change + absolves himself from guilt
- Younger Generation: Disappointing chatacter arc as he is obstinate
- Ring Symbolism: Reverts back to comfortable power + possession
The Inspector, Act 1 – “It’s better to ask…”
“It’s better to ask for the earth than take it”
Syntax: Hierarchical order for collective responsibility
Connotation ‘take’: Capitalism goes against biblical teachings
Socialism + Religion: Brings back society to its foundations
The Inspector, Act 3 – “If men will not learn…”
“If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish”
- Polysyndeton: Perpetual torment if individuals shirk their responsibility
- WW2: Alludes to continual anguish coming as humanity hasn’t learned
- Biblical Allusion: Inspector is an agent of God bringing them back to religion
