An inspector calls

Subdecks (1)

Cards (149)

  • An Inspector Calls is a play by JB Priestley
  • Dramatic irony
    Where the audience knows what has happened but the characters in the play do not
  • Contextual factors in 1912
    • Country still benefitting from new technology
    • Rigid class system
    • Conservative politics and government (individual responsibility)
    • Strong social division
    • Women subservient to and financially dependent on men
  • Contextual factors in 1946
    • 2 World Wars had taken place
    • Class system was less rigid
    • Women could now vote
    • Politics were more socialist (collective responsibility)
  • Capitalism
    An economic system based on the private ownership of industry
  • Problems with capitalism
    • Leads to the few exploiting the many
    • Those who have the money have the power to stop others from sharing their wealth
    • No social mobility
    • The richer get richer and the poorer get poorer
  • Socialism
    The belief that as a society, we have to look after one another
  • Socialism
    • The rich are responsible for looking after the poor
    • Taxation is sometimes higher in a socialist state so that the Welfare State can be paid for (e.g. NHS, schools, unemployment benefit)
    • Socialists do not want a class system
  • Priestley lived through the time period the play is set and fought in WW1
  • Priestley saw the sufferings of war first hand and wanted to avoid further wars
  • Priestley's play represents the conflicting views on Capitalism and Socialism
  • Priestley was concerned about social inequality during the 1930s
  • Priestley set up the Common Wealth Party in 1942
  • Priestley argued for public ownership of land and greater democracy
  • Priestley's ideas merged with the Labour party
  • The Labour party had a landslide victory in 1945
  • Priestley developed the idea of a Welfare State after WW2
  • Mr Birling
    Represents a capitalist society
  • Characters
    • Mr Birling
    • Sybil Birling
    • Sheila Birling
  • Mr Birling: '"It's my duty to keep labour costs down."'
  • Mr Birling: '"I refused, of course"'
  • Mr Birling: '"a man has to make his own way"'
  • Mr Birling: '"You damned fool - why didn't you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?"'
  • Mr Birling: '"Look, Inspector - I'd give thousands"'
  • Mr Birling
    • Arrogant, insecure, selfish, only cares about appearances and his social status and his business
    • Has a direct and detached approach to his workers
    • Strongly believes that 'a man has to make his own way'
    • Refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva's death
    • Becomes increasingly annoyed by the Inspector's questioning and Eric's unsympathetic attitude
    • Uses his power and status to threaten the Inspector through his friendship with the Chief Constable
    • Copies the Inspector and laughs when he remembers the faces of Eric and Sheila, accusing them of being 'the famous younger generation who know it all'
  • Sybil Birling
    • Cold-hearted and sophisticated, regarded as her husband's social superior
    • A 'snob', very aware of the differences between social classes and therefore very arrogant
    • Dismissive of the poorer classes and has no respect for them or the inspector
    • A liar, very controlling and patronising to her own children
    • Sees Sheila and Eric still as "children" and speaks patronisingly to them
    • Uses her power to judge people, especially the working classes
    • Believes she is always right and therefore ignorant, set in her own ways and class
    • Apathetic and uncaring, dismisses Eva/Daisy as just 'girls of that class'
    • Her charity work is conducted for selfish reasons
    • Tries to deny things that she doesn't want to believe
  • Sheila Birling
    • Presented as a spoilt, materialistic and frivolous upper-class girl at the start
    • Undergoes a tremendous amount of learning and growth during the play
    • Displays a genuine sense of remorse, sensitivity and sympathy for Eva Smith
    • Realises 'but these girls aren't cheap labour – they're people'
    • Becomes resentful of her parent's thinking and conduct
    • The first to see the truth and learn from the Inspector's visit
    • Genuinely upset when she hears of Eva's death and learns from her own behaviour
    • Keen and anxious to change her behaviour in the future
    • Learns of her responsibilities to others less fortunate than herself (the idea of the community) and becomes sensitive
  • Sheila: '"Why- you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see."'
  • Sheila: '"But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people."'
  • Sheila: '"I'll never, never do it again to anybody…I feel now I can never go there again"'
  • Sheila: '"We killed her"'
  • Eric Birling
  • Eric Birling
    • Irresponsible and immoral at first - drinks alcohol excessively and has taken advantage of Eva
    • Lacks self-confidence and does not the respect of his family
    • Feels guilt and frustration with himself over his relationship with the girl
    • Appalled by his parents' inability to admit their own responsibility
    • Only character who has behaved illegally in the play - but the theft from his father was in order to support the girl
  • Eric Birling: '"Oh - my God! - how stupid it all is!"'
  • Eric Birling: '"I'm ashamed of you."'
  • Eric Birling: '"I don't give a damn now."'
  • Gerald Croft
  • Gerald Croft
    • Portrayed from the beginning of the play as an upper-class gentleman who occupies a position of privilege in society and in the Birling's home
    • Represents the stubbornness of the aristocracy and is clearly a sought-after man due to the financial stability his alliance with the Birling's will bring
    • Provides a strong contrast to Eric, Mr Birling's natural son
    • Used to highlight the power and status that the upper classes possess in society and the hypocrisy and selfishness they display
  • Gerald Croft: '"You couldn't have done anything else" (sacking Eva Smith)'
  • Gerald Croft: '"After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals"'