An Inspector Calls

• Sheila was the first to take responsibility for Eva Smiths death.
• Sheila describes herself as being in a 'furious temper' and that's why she got Eva fired.
• Shelila is very perceptive, this is shown when she notices Eric being 'squiffy' when his own parents didn't.
• Sheila is presented as being materialistic when Gerald gave her the ring and stated that she 'really feels engaged'.
• Sheila stops being materialistic when she gives Gerald the ring back breaking the engagement.
• Sheila used her social status to get Eva Smith fired from her job.
• Sheila was jealous of Eva due to a dress she was wearing.
• Sheila bypassed society norms when she said she wasn't happy with Gerald being away all summer and confronting him.
• Mr Birling believes communism is nonsense and believes we shouldn't be helping each other like 'bees in a hive'.
• Mr Birling got Eva Smith fired because he dint want too raise her wages.
• Mr Birling is proved to be an unreliable character from the start when he proclaims the titanic is 'unsinkable' however it did sink.
• Mr Birling presents himself as untrustworthy worthy when he says that 'the war won't happpen' however it did.
• Mr Birling refuses to take responsibility for his actions and what happened to Eva Smith.
• The Inspector states 'its better to ask for the world then to take it' referring to Eva Smith requesting a raise from Mr Birling.
• If Mr Birling has accepted to give Eva her raise her life could have been spared.
• Mr and Mrs Birling cared more for their reputation than the consequences of their actions.
• Mr Birling describes Gerald to be 'the soon ive always wanted' this shows they had similar views from the start neither of them accept responsibility.
• Eric is presented to have issues with alcohol from the start when his sister describes him to be 'squiffy'.
• Sheila referred to her mom and dad as 'mommy' and 'daddy', this highlights the fact that her parents coddled her and didn't let her become independent.
• The book was set in 1912 but released and written in his 1945.
• Mrs Biling refers to Eva Smith to be 'a girl of that class' meaning Eva needed all the help she could get so that's why she took Erics money.
• Mr Birling is presented as a bad father when Eric states he 'isn't the type of father a chap can go to' meaning he can't confine in his own dad when he needs help.
• Eric stole 50 pounds from his dad to help Eva Smith.
• mrs birling - social class, feminism


  "Girls of that class."
• Mrs Birling - Responsibility

  "I accept no blame for it at all" "I have done nothing wrong"
• Mrs Birling Social Class


  "I used my influence to have it refuted"
• (Inspector) Collective responsibility


  "A chain of events led to her death"
• Inspector - Responsibility


  "Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges"
• Inspector, responsibility, duty


  "I shall do my duty"
• Inspector, triadic listing


  "they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish"
• Mr Birling, lack of reponsiblity


  "Community and all that nonsense"
• Inspector- Stage directions


  The lighting when " the inspector arrives.... should be brighter and harder". "The inspector need not be a big but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.
• Mr Burling- dramatic irony


  "Unsinkable titanic" "The Germans don't want war" mr hurling is shown to be a man who does not know what he's talking about and dreams of unrealistic constant economic growth; he is an allegory of foolish capitalists who don't actually know the state the world is in, just because they are doing well economically.
• Mr Birling- only cares about reputation


  "There will be public scandal"
• Mrs Birling - directing blame to Eric


  "Go look for the father of the child, it is his responsibility"
• Sheila - the younger generation's opinions change


  "But these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people"
• Sheila - guilt


  "If I could help her now, I would"/ "It's the only time I've ever done something like that, I'll ever do it again"
• Sheila - perceptive


  "He's giving us the rope so we'll hang ourselves"
• Gerald knowing Eva was vulnerable


  "I immediately became the most important person in her life"
• Eric - passing responsibility onto alcohol


  "I was in the state where a chap easily gets nasty" he forced himself on Eva smith - ties to feminism