key themes

• What is the main theme of moral responsibility in "An Inspector Calls"?

  It exposes the moral responsibility of characters
• How does Inspector Goole reveal the characters' moral culpability?

  By exposing their hidden guilt
• What does Priestley suggest about social injustice in 1912?

  It was common during that time
• What political belief does Priestley express through the play?

  Socialism
• How does Arthur Birling view social responsibility?

  He lacks any sense of responsibility
• What does Birling's quote about "community and all that nonsense" reveal?

  His capitalist and individualist mindset
• What role does Inspector Goole play in the narrative?

  He challenges those in power
• How does the inspector's arrival affect the Birling family?

  It shocks them and challenges their views
• What does Priestley imply about capitalism and imperialism?

  They are immoral and cause suffering
• What does the character Sheila Birling represent in the play?

  The younger generation's potential for change
• How do Eric and Sheila's responses to the inspector differ from their parents'?

  They accept their roles in Eva's death
• What transformation does Sheila undergo in the play?

  From naive to supportive of the inspector
• What does Mrs. Birling's refusal to accept blame signify?

  Her selfishness and denial
• How does Gerald Croft's character relate to the themes of the play?

  He is caught between generations
• What does Priestley suggest about the class system in society?

  It exploits and controls the majority
• How does Inspector Goole challenge Arthur Birling's influence?

  He remains unimpressed by Birling's status
• What does Eva Smith symbolize in the play?

  The plight of the working class
• How does Mrs. Birling view women from the working class?

  As less moral and inferior
• What does Birling's quote about "coming down hard on these people" imply?

  His contempt for the working class
• What does the inspector's final speech warn about?

  Social unrest and potential revolution
• How do Sheila and Mrs. Birling's attitudes towards women differ?

  Sheila evolves while Mrs. Birling remains traditional
• What societal change does Priestley highlight through women's roles?

  Women's equality in the workplace
• How do the male characters view Eva Smith?

  As a sexual object rather than a person
• What does the growing suffragette movement signify in the context of the play?

  Changing attitudes towards women's rights
• What are the four main themes of "An Inspector Calls"?

  1. Moral Responsibility
  2. Age
  3. Class
  4. Gender
• How does Priestley use the character of Inspector Goole?

  • Challenges the powerful
  • Exposes moral culpability
  • Represents Priestley's socialist views
• What is the significance of the setting in 1912 and 1945?

  • Reflects social attitudes of the time
  • Highlights changes in societal views
  • Context for the play's themes