An Inspector Calls

• Overview of "An Inspector Calls":

  • An inspector arrives at the Birling house, informing them of Eva Smith's suicide by drinking disinfectant and wanting to ask questions
  • The Inspector reveals details about Eva's interactions with different family members, leading to shocking revelations and a sense of shared guilt
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "When you’re married you’ll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business"
• • “Well, he inspected us all right. And let’s not start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove that girl to suicide"
• Sheila quotes:

  • “I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me”
• Eric quotes:

  • “He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out”
• Gerald quotes:

  • “I know we’d have done the same thing”
• • “But just remember this… fire and blood and anguish. Good night”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “Burnt her inside out… she was in great agony”
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business… there isn’t a chance of war"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "…there’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honour’s list"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "…we’ll try to keep out of trouble during the next few months"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "…a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself… community and all that nonsense" (as Inspector arrives) "I can’t accept any responsibility"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "It’s my duty to keep labour costs down"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "She’d had a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "How do you get on with our Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts?"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can"
• Mr. Birling quotes:

  • "Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank"
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “What happened to her… a chain of events”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city and big town in this country”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “We have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “She felt there’d never be anything as good again for her”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “She needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness… you slammed the door in her face”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, to adjust your family relationships”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “…each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it”
• Inspector Goole quotes:

  • “Croft… he at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time”
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment – which probably began it all"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "I accept no blame at all"; "I blame the young man who was the father of the child"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "You’re not the type – you don’t get drunk"
• Mrs. Birling quotes:

  • "I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him"
• Sheila quotes:

  • “Is it the one you wanted me to have.”