an inspector calls

• sheila Burling beginning

  “You must drink our health “
• sheila Middle

  • “ We all started like that, so confident “
• sheila end

  • Becomes inspectors, proxy
  • Fully understand the consequences and mature
  • “In fire and blood and anguish“
• sheila linked contex

  • sheila can think for herself without her parents influence
  • Sheila refuses to quote go on behaving, just as we did. “she doesn’t want to pretend any more, parents, no longer have any authority over their children.
  • Sheila interrupts and challenges everyone at different times, apart from the inspector, showing young women, challenging stereotypes
• mr Burling beginning

  • Powerful businessman
  • Only things for his benefit
  • “My duty is to keep labour cost down“
• mr Burling Middle

  • Rude to inspector
  • Believes in his superiority
  • Disrespectful and doesn’t care, uninterested and ignorant
  • “I have told you before I don’t like your tone “
  • prepotent tone
• mr burling , end

  • Still fixed in his mindset
  • Think he hasn’t done anything wrong
  • Maintains the same, no change
  • “Nothing but elaborate sell“
• The inspector beginning

  • Driving force of the play
  • Starts off with a summary “suicide, of course “this set the tone, straight away, showing his self-confidence and assurance
• mr Birling context

  • Social responsibility – doesn’t believe in “community, and all that nonsense “, he sees other people as “cheap labour “
  • Had traditional views, thinking they know best, I don’t like to be challenged, think children should be seen, not heard
• inspector, middle

  • Forces information out by bluntly, saying what the other characters tried to skirt around
  • It isn’t really a question, he forces Gerald to admit the truth, for example
  • “And then you decided to keep her mistress? “
• Inspector end

  • The inspectors language gets more dramatic which builds tension and emotion
  • Claims if the Burling don’t learn their lesson, they will be taught it in “fire and blood and anguish “
• inspector context

  • it is significant that Priestly uses a police inspector to judge the Burling, rather than an overly supernatural figure. The inspector unsettles the birlings because he claims to occupy a position of authority within the Burling world. This gives him power because he’s a potential threat to the social status.
• Gerald Croft beginning

  • Confident, cocky, well-known respected
  • Described as a “man about town “this is a stage direction shows he well known and confident about himself
• Gerald Croft, middle

  • He has a slight changing character
  • Excuses his actions
  • Responsibility theme
  • Protecting social status? Maybe Sheila?
  • “Nearly every man would have “helping Eva/Daisy Renton
• Gerald end

  • Confident self assured brings back his original ways
  • Brings back his own selfish ways back as he wants to “safe “the Burling family
  • “That man was not a police officer “he thinks he saved the day
• Gerald context

  • Respectable – “the easy, well bred young man about town “
  • Upper class – “landed people and so forth “
  • A liar – “I wasn’t telling you a complete lie “
  • Traditional – “I would say so!“, (agreeing with the Burling)
  • In act, two, Gerald tries to warn Mrs Sperling on intimidating the inspector, since he knows, it will only make it worse, this could make the audience judge Gerald, more Harsley, because he has the intelligence to understand the inspector, but chooses to ignore it instead
• j.B.Priestley

  • Born in 1894
  • Wounded but survived World War 1
  • Worked as a journalist in London
  • Was a socialist – founded various social organisations from 19 41–19, 42
  • Died in 1984
  • An inspector calls, ask the audience to unite and improve society
• Eric beginning

  • Childish
  • “If you think that’s the best, he could do “
• Eric Middle

  • “Meet enquiring stares, “
  • Grown-up
  • Understand his actions
• Eric end

  • “My child, your own grandchild, you killed them both “
  • Understanding severity of event
  • Mature
  • Change in character
• sybil Burling beginning

  • Ruthless
  • Harsh and emotionless
  • “Cold woman “– stage directions
• sybil, middle


  Treats their children like babies

  • “Please don’t contradict me like that “– to Sheila
• sybil end

  • Doesn’t feel guilty
  • No, Remorse
  • Cold and harsh
  • “I’d do more than my duty”