an inspector calls

quotes for theme of gender in an inspector calls

“But these girls aren’t cheap labor – they’re people.”- Sheila

“She was a pretty girl, and that didnt make it any better”- Inspector

“Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along”- Mr Birling

“You mustn’t try and built up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do then the inspector will just break it down”- Sheila

“I hate those hard- eyes dough-faced women”- Gerald

“Mother, I think it was cruel and vile”- Sheila

“A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm.”- Inspector

Ideas about gender

Double standards between men and women, gender roles and expectations

stereotypes- Men talk about business, have afairs, women fragile, only for men’s pleasure

contrast between genders in generations- Sheila and Mrs Birling

Quotes for the theme of social responsibility in an inspector calls

“we don’t live alone, we are all members of one body- we are responsible for eachother”- Inspector

“A man has to mind his own business, and look after himself and his own”- Mr Birling

“But these girls aren't cheap labor – they’re people.' - Sheila

“We all helped kill her”- Eric

“The fact remains that i did what i did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her. It’s the same rotten story whether its been told to a police inspector or anybody else.”-Eric

“Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it.”- Inspector

Ideas for social responsibility

Inspector used as mouthpiece for socialist values and moral responsibility

Older characters represent selfish, capitalist views

younger characters show potential for change and moral growth

society must care for it’s most vulnurable

Quotes for the theme of age in An inspector calls

“The famous younger generation who know it all”- Mr Birling

“You're beggining to pretend that nothings really happened at all”- Sheila

“We often do onthe young ones, they’re more impressionable”- Inspector

“They’re over tired, in the morning theyll be as amused as we are- Mrs Birling

“You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely but i cant”- Eric

“These girls arent cheap leabour, they’re people”- Sheila

“Mother i think it was cruel and vile”- Sheila

“We all helped to kill her”- Eric

ideas for the theme of age

Priestley uses generational divide to contrast attitudes towards responisibility, morality and change

Older generation stuck in capitalist ideals, selfish, stubborn

Younger generation take moral responsibility, open to change, capable of learning from their mistakes

younger generation shows potential for the future

quotes for the theme of class in an inspector calls

“If you don’t come down sharply on these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth”- Mr Birling

“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”- Mr birling

“Girls of that class”- Mrs Birling

“We are members of one body. We are responsible for eachother”- inspector

"A girl of that class would never refuse money" - Mrs Birling

"You have no power to stop us, it's all about class" - Eric

“Why wouldn’t they try for higher wages? we try for the highest possible prices?”- Eric

“You’re beggining to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all”- Sheila

ideas for the theme of class

Social hierarchy + class division

Exploitation of the working class

The illusion of respectibility

Eva smith as symbol for working class (invisible and powerless in society)

Generational divide and hope for class change

shared responsibility across class lines

quotes for birlings treatment of the working class

“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”

“Wretched girl” (about Eva Smith)

context-In 1912, class divisions were stark. Priestley criticises those who, like Birling, exploited and discarded the working class, especially women.

quotes for mr birling as a symbol of capitalist arrogrance

“I speak as a hard-headed businessman.”

“The way some of these cranks talk… as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive.”

Community and all that nonsense.”

context-Priestley, a socialist, wrote in 1945 but set the play in 1912 to expose the failures of Edwardian class attitudes just before WWI shattered that world.

Dramatic Irony and Foreshadowing – Making Birling Look Foolish

“The Titanic – she sails next week – unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”

“There isn’t a chance of war.”

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself.”

context-Audience in 1945 had lived through two world wars and knew Birling was wrong — Priestley uses this to expose how flawed and dangerous capitalist complacency is.

paragraphs for sheilas change

1. Sheila at the beginning – naïve and privileged

2. Reaction to the Inspector – emotional and self-aware

3. Further development – challenges her family

sheila quotes

“I’m sorry, Daddy. Actually I was listening.”

“Look – Mummy – isn’t it a beauty?”

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”

“It was my own fault.”

“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.”

“I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry.”

“now i really feel engaged”

“Is this the one you wanted me to have?”

eric birling essay intro

• Eric Birling is portrayed by Priestley as a troubled but redeemable young man who undergoes a moral awakening.

• Thesis: Priestley uses Eric to explore themes of responsibility, guilt, generational conflict, and the possibility of social change.

eric paragraphs

1. Eric at the beginning – awkward and irresponsible

2. Eric’s relationship with Eva – abuse of power and guilt

3. Eric’s guilt – emotional breakdown and responsibility

eric quotes

“I don’t know – really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh.”

“You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.”

“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.”

“She didn’t want me to go in but I threatened to make a row.”

“My God – I’m not likely to forget.”

“The fact remains that I did what I did.”

“not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”

gerald croft introduction

• Overview: Gerald Croft is presented as a complex character who seems charming and helpful but ultimately reflects the flaws of the privileged upper class.

• Thesis: Priestley uses Gerald to criticise class inequality, male privilege, and the inability of the upper class to change.

gerald croft paragraph

Gerald as respectable and charming –appearances decieve

Gerald’s affair – exploitation disguised as kindness

Gerald’s reaction to the Inspector – defensive and self-justifying

gerald croft quotes

“An attractive chap about thirty… rather too manly to be a dandy.”

“You seem to be a nice well-behaved family –”

“I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.”

“I made her go to Morgan Terrace because I was sorry for her.”

“She told me she’d been happier than she’d ever been before.”

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila.”

“What girl? There were probably four or five different girls.”