Key Quotes

• mr birling says this to edna

  -it represents the invisible working class

  - she is regarded by the family as a functionary

  -she is spoken to it is not with the same manners and courtesy that the family extend to each other.


  "Giving us the port Edna, that's right
• calls her by her christian name but not out of friendliness - it is a way of reinforcing that he is the boss and that she is disposable.


  Please, sir, an inspector's called.
• To an equal he would have said would you show him in and can you give us some light. But Edna is not an equal. She says "Please" He does not. Birling is not being rude to Edna - although it seems that way to us.

  A police inspector. He says his name's Inspector Goole.
• inequality, power, responsibility and class.


  Yes, sir. He says it's important.
• till awake and waiting to answer the door or fetch something that is needed. She got up before the family did to draw curtains, light fires, help Mrs Birling and Sheila to dress fetch food to the dining room, clear away after meals... and now she is waiting up


  "asked her to wait up to make us some tea
• uses unmitigated imperatives with her: "Show him in" and "Give us..


  All right, Edna. Show him in here. Give us some more light.