Responsibility: Key Quotations

• Responsibility:

  Responsibility is one of the most prevalent themes within the play and the role of the Inspector is to highlight that all actions have consequences. He demands that the other characters be accountable for their actions and that they take responsibility for others. This message is also intended for the wider audience and for society in general.
• Responsibility: “... a man has to make his own way—has to look after himself—and his family, too, of course, when he has one—and so long as he does that he won’t come to much harm” – Arthur Birling, Act I
• Meaning and context:

  • At the beginning of Act I, Arthur delivers several lengthy monologues and this quote is spoken to Gerald and Eric just before the Inspector arrives
• Analysis:

  • This quote reveals Arthur Birling’s self-centredness and his narrow-minded view of society
  • His vocabulary reveals his sense of individualism as he believes that everyone should be responsible for themselves and their family and is devoid of any sympathy for those less fortunate than himself
  • “A man has to…”  alludes to his patriarchal values, that men should have more power and privilege than women
• Responsibility: “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” – Inspector Goole, Act II
• Meaning and context:

  • This quote is delivered in Act II by the Inspector and is directed to Arthur Birling
  • The Inspector argues that members of a society have duties and obligations toward each other’s welfare and have a collective and social responsibility to take care of each other
• Analysis:

  • As Arthur (and Sybil) hold prominent positions within society, the Inspector suggests they have an even greater duty of care toward others
  • Birling’s hypocritical views about personal responsibility are unfitting for a character who has held prominent public positions
  • While the Inspector alludes to ideas of “responsibility”, Arthur also repeatedly uses this word though he interprets responsibility in a very different way
• Responsibility: “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other… if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” – Inspector Goole, Act III
• Meaning and context:

  • This quote is from Inspector’s final speech in Act III to the Birlings before he exits the stage
• Analysis:

  • This is the Inspector’s most significant and weighty statement in the play and Priestley warns of the dire consequences of evading social responsibility
  • The language here is carefully composed and moralistic in tone 
  • The use of violent imagery and metaphor is powerful and suggests impending conflict
  • Priestley warns the audience (and society) of the consequences of evading social responsibility