An Inspector Calls Character Quotes and Analysis

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering key quotes and character quotes from 'An Inspector Calls' based on lecture notes.

How does the Inspector respond to the idea of people 'asking for the earth'?

He states, 'They might. But after all it's better to ask for the earth than to take it.'

What is the Inspector's reaction to Mr. Birling's mention of playing golf in Act 1?

He replies dryly, 'I don't play golf.'

How does the Inspector describe Eva Smith's life and death in Act 1?

He calls it 'A nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody's made of it.'

What does the Inspector tell the Birlings they will have to share in Act 2?

He says, 'You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt.'

What does the Inspector tell Mr. Birling regarding the responsibilities of public men?

He states, 'Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.'

According to the Inspector in Act 3, how many 'Eva Smiths and John Smiths' are left with us?

He says there are 'millions and millions and millions' of them.

What is the core message of the Inspector's final speech regarding human connection?

'We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.'

What warning does the Inspector give in Act 3 if men will not learn the lesson of responsibility?

He warns they will be taught it in 'fire and blood and anguish.'

In Act 1, how does Sheila describe the girls working in the factory?

She says, 'But these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people.'

What metaphor does Sheila use in Act 2 to describe the Inspector's interrogation technique?

She says, 'No, he's giving us the rope – so that we'll hang ourselves.'

How does Sheila describe her parents' behavior at the end of Act 3?

She calls them 'childish – trying not to face the facts' and tells them, 'You're ready to go on in the same old way.'

What is Mrs. Birling's dismissive view of Eva Smith's suicide in Act 2?

She says she doesn't suppose they can understand 'why the girl committed suicide' because she is from 'Girls of that class—'.

Does Mrs. Birling accept any blame for Eva Smith's death?

No, she states, 'Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of' and 'I accept no blame for it at all.'

Who does Mrs. Birling think should be held responsible 'if the girl's death is due to anybody'?

She believes it is due to the man who got her pregnant, stating 'He should be made an example of.'

What are Mr. Birling's business goals for the future merge of Crofts and Birlings?

He looks forward to the companies 'working together – for lower costs and higher prices.'

How does Mr. Birling describe himself to show he is a practical man?

He calls himself a 'hard-headed business man, who has to take risks and know what he's about'.

What simile does Mr. Birling use to mock the concept of community?

He mocks the idea by saying 'as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.'

What is Mr. Birling's reaction to the Inspector's identity being potentially fake?

He triumphantly calls the story 'a lot of moonshine' and 'an elaborate sell!'

What is Gerald Croft's final offer to Sheila in Act 3?

He holds up the ring and asks, 'What about this ring?'

What political question does Eric pose to his father in Act 1 regarding the workers?

He asks, 'Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?'

How does Eric describe his treatment of Eva and her response to it?

He says he 'liked her – she was pretty and a good sport' but she treated him 'as if I were a kid'.

What is Eric's view on the importance of money versus what happened to Eva?

He asserts, 'The money's not the important thing. It's what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters.'