The Inspector

• ‘and you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things? (ACT 2)
• You seem to have made a great impression on the child inspector
• (massively) Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges. (ACT 2)
• need not be a big man, but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness
• He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking
• Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She’d been taken there this afternoon because she’d swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of course.
• And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things? (ACT 2)
• A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony- hating life- (ACT 2)
• If there’s nothing else we have to share our guilt (ACT 2)
• But each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it. (He looks from one to the other of them carefully) But then I don’t think you ever will. Remember what you did (ACT 3)
• if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish (ACT 3)
• We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. (ACT 3)
• But remember this. One Eva Smith has gone- but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. (ACT 3)