English lit

• She was the right type for it, just as I was the wrong type'

  -Superficial as a result of the Edwardian expectation for women to appear pretty.
• But these girls aren't cheap labour they're people'

  - Sheila is able to emphasise with Eva Smith

  - JB Priestley creates a parallel between Eva and Sheila to show the difference between working class and upper middle women

  -New women ideology in the ninenteeth century for radical change.

  -objects the dehumanising and capitalist approach
• You musn't try and build up any kind of wall between us and that girl... Inspector will just knock it down'

  - metaphor of the wall

  -Sheila is insightfull and sees power of the Inspector

  -responsibility is the way forward in society otherwise it will break.

  -wall is symbolism for society
• is it the one you wanted me to have?'

  - reveals the extent of patriachal control Gerald has over Sheila and in this relationship.

  - transactional marriage
• millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths'


  - 'smiths' is common name originated from blacksmith

  -Priestley use 'John Smith' to show the universality of the suffering of the working class neglected by the wealthy

  -reputation and triplets develops the momentum.

  'Millions' repeated the emphasise the scale of the problem
• wonderful fairy prince'


  -Gerald upper class power enabled him to control her.

  - Metaphor

  -ironic because fairy princes are portrayed to save damsel in distress but Gerald eventually abandons her
• Twenty five shilling instead of twenty two and six'

  -emotive language

  -audience feels empathetic for Eva Smith

  -Mr. Birling could have easily raised her salary.

  -men positions where filled in the war which help to help to change the existing perceptions and gender roles.

  -Mr. Birling is stubborn and still has the patriachal views on women
• a girl of that sort would (not) refuse money'

  -Mrs.Birling assumes due to the assumes that due to her lower class origin she is greedy.

  -Eva is a moral force

  -prejudice

  -conveys that upper class women were judgemental
• For god's sake don't say anything to the Inspector!'


  - imperative, 'don't; demonstrates the power and he is comfortable issuing order even to his fiance.

  - 'For god sakes' hints desperation and hints the erosion of power.
• didn't feel the same about her as she felt of me'

  -chiasmus is manipulative to Sheila.

  -its ironic because the audience knows that the relationship was more serious.

  -it was common for men to have affairs as it was socially exceptable.

  -relationships were superficial and Eva was used for sexual pleasure.
• Sorry - I - well, 'Ive suddenly realised - taken it in properly - that she is dead'


  'Sorry' apology hints loss of power

  -hyphens suggest broken speech he is emotional

  -internal conflict.

  - Suggests compassion and ability to care for other classes..
• What about the ring'

  - Question shows that Gerald like Mrs.Birling and Mr.Birling, hasn't learned anything.

  -he expects Sheila to pretend that the unpleasant experience has not happened.
• Unsinkable, absolutely unisinkable'


  -repetition of the adjective 'unsinkable' emphasise Birling poor judgement.

  - the contemporary audience would be aware that the titanic sank in the 1912.

  - this foreshadows the downfall if capitalism
• Mixed up together like bees in a hive;

  -similie

  -discussing the effects of socialism in a negative manner

  -Mr.Birling believed that social classes should not react.

  -conveys point the older generation are not willing to change the way of society
• The famous younger generation who know it all'

  - sarcastic tone

  -irony because Sheila understand Inspectors lesson on social responsibility.

  -audience sides with the younger generation.

  -conveys the point that the old generation felt that they are superior when in reality there the ones responsible for the social problems.
• The Germans don't want war. Nobody wants war.'


  -Dramatic irony, the first world war started in 1914

  -Mr.Birling's optimism is misguided and has poor judgmenet.
• Thats a trifle impertinent'


  - 'Impertinent' means lack of deserved respect

  -Suggests Mrs Birling expects

  deference as her due, despite doing

  nothing to earn it.

  - Hints at the sense of

  entitlement she has as a member of

  the upper classes, expecting even the

  law to submit to her.

  - Mrs.Birling sees the inspector as a social inferior.
• A rather cold women'

  -stage direction perceived as oxymoron

  -contemporary social norms dictated women were ment to be loving

  -attributive adjective 'cold' conveys having such a detached attitude is not normal to suffering.
• I did nothing I'm ashamed of.'


  - true extent her 'cold' nature

  -she explicitly blaming them in order to shift responsibility

  -this shows how upper class were incapable of taking responsibilty for there mistakes
• Girl of that class'

  - Prejudice

  - concrete noun 'girl' instead of Eva implies a sense of disrespect towards the working class.

  -further evidence on how deep rooted the class divide was.
• The money's not important'

  - 'money' has connotation of percieved value and wealth.

  -something that a capatilist would desire to keep for themselves.

  -Eric is challenging the capatilists views which suggest Eric has potential for charge which reflects the audience for an improved society after WWII
• Pretty and a good sport'


  -'Pretty' adjective suggests he expects women to look appealing.

  -reflects social where relationships were superficial .

  -'good sport' refers to her willingness to sleep with him. Lack of reference to intelligence or personality shows that they don't interest him
• Half shy, half assertive'

  -suggest Eric not established his own personality.

  -Conflicting personality trait contradict

  each other.

  -Suggests confusion in him.

  - Assertive (forceful) foreshadows his

  behaviour towards Eva and his later

  behaviour towards his parents
• I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty'


  - Erics subconsciousness attempts to distance himself from his actions

  -first person to third person

  -trivialisation of violence by colloquial use of 'chap' is an attempt to soften the harshness of his action.

  - shows that he believes that any man would have behaved the way he did.
• We are members of one body'

  - alluding to the 'Book of Genisis' as this line was use the the holy communion.

  -echoing the words of god, the inspector is speaking on Gods behalf

  -metaphor

  - 'body' links with society and the fact that all classes and equally important and neccesary in order to survive.
• Fire blood and anguish'

  - religious imagery

  - 'fire' has conntations of hell and therefore a punishment for not following the message of both Christianity and socialism to 'love thy neighbour'.

  -This would scare an contemporary audience particularly if they were Christian.
• Impression of massiveness (solidity and purposefulness)

  - abstract noun 'massiveness' - demonstrates power that the Inspector has. Suggesting he is imposing although it doesn't have to be physically.

  - abstract noun 'solidity' implies a sense stability and reassurance.

  - message about social responsibility is more important
• But it each other you helped her kill her. Remember that.'

  -imperatives to emphasise the assertiveness, his confidence in his opinion.
• Inspector: '"We are member of one body … they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."'
• Class/society


  • The inspector's speech emphasises that everyone is connected in society regardless of class
  • Biblical Allusion (book of genisis)
  • Use of metaphor
• Mrs Birling: '"As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money"'
• Class/society


  • Mrs Birling assumes Eva Smith is greedy due to her lower class
  • Concrete noun 'girl' instead of Eva implies disrespect towards the working class
  • Conveys how upper class women were judgemental and held prejudice towards the lower class
• Mrs Birling: '"That's a trifle impertinent"'
• Class/society


  • Suggests Mrs Birling expects deference as her due, despite doing nothing to earn it
  • Hints at the sense of entitlement she has as a member of the upper class
  • Expects even the law to submit to her
  • Sees the inspector as a social inferior
• Mr Birling: '"Now look at the pair of them – the famous younger generation who think they know it all."'
• Age


  • Contrasts with later where Sheila is presented as mature
  • Sheila and Eric are trying to convince the others to come to terms with what they have done
• Sheila: '"I think it was a mean thing to do."'
• Age


  • Sheila is much less mature here compared to later in the play
• Mr Birling: '"unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"'
• Age


  • Repetition of 'unsinkable' emphasises Mr Birling's poor judgment
  • Ironic as the contemporary audience would know the Titanic sank in 1912
  • The Titanic was a symbol of power that the capitalists have, its fall could foreshadow the fall of capitalism