Inspector calls flashcards

'You ought to like this port, Gerald'

Authority, power, sucking up to Gerald. MR BIRLING

'You're just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted'

Better than your own son? Sucking up to Gerald - he is of higher status. MR BIRLING

'Just a knighthood of course'

Smug, pompous, emphasises how much he cares about status and reputation. MR BIRLING

'A man has to make his own way'

Selfish, foreshadowing, ironic, indicates he does not believe in community - Inspector comes in just after. MR BIRLING

'Yes, you don't know what some of these boys get up to nowadays'

foreshadows the secrets that unveil Eric's link to Eva Smith. MR BIRLING

'Still, I can't accept any responsibility'

links to theme of responsibility, contrasting to Sheila's/Eric's reaction. MR BIRLING

'Mr Gerald Croft - the son of Sir George Croft - you know, Crofts Limited.'

Showing off, high social class, Gerald is of a higher status than him but is getting married to his daughter, something he is proud out MR BIRLING

'Most of this is bound to come out. There'll be a public scandal.'

Social class is all he cares about, doesn't want to ruin his reputation. He hasn't learnt anything about responsibility or community. MR BIRLING

'Now, Arthur, I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this'

Likes to keep order, control, shows her higher status. MRS BIRLING

'Girls of that class-'

Snob, believes there is a metaphorical wall between her class and the lower classes MRS BIRLING

"now stop it, you two."

Treats them like children. MRS BIRLING

'Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility'

father of Eva's child… Eric. Ironic and foreshadowing. No responsibility taken. MRS BIRLING

'I think she had only herself to blame.'

No responsibility taken. MRS BIRLING

'feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position'

Wall between higher class and lower class. Shows cold, heartless nature and how she thinks the lower class have less feelings or are unable to feel in the way higher class people can. MRS BIRLING

'prejudiced me against her case'

cold hearted, no remorse, heartless - Eva's just died a horrible death. MRS BIRLING

'Yes - except for all last summer, when you never came near me'

Throw away line, foreshadowing, where was Gerald? SHEILA

'You're squiffy'

To Eric, hints at his alcoholic nature, teasing - brother/sister relationship. SHEILA

'is it the one you wanted me to have?'

Context of the time - man controls relationship, doesn't even get to choose her ring. She doesn't seem to mind, indicates naive attitude at the start of the play. SHEILA

'I'm sorry daddy'

Change to 'Father' at end of the play - shows her positive growth and change from childish and naïve to adult. SHEILA

'these girls aren't cheap labour'

Caring, different morals to that of her father. Socialist views. SHEILA

'So I'm really responsible?'

Takes on responsibility, feels remorse and regret. SHEILA

'I'm trying to tell the truth.'

Values honesty/truth. SHEILA

'Well Gerald?'

Adopting the Inspector's techniques. Techniques used to increase tension. SHEILA

'But at least it's honest'

A trait she values greatly and makes the reader admire her honesty. SHEILA

'Don't interfere, please, Father'

No longer 'daddy', taking control and maturing. SHEILA

'I'm afraid you'll say something or do something that you'll be sorry for afterwards'

Foreshadowing, warning mother of inspector, picks up on things quickly/first. SHEILA

Unless Eric's been up to something. That would be awkward, wouldn't it?

Eric has been up to something - foreshadows the uncovering of his involvement

GERALD

After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals

Ironic, they're the ones who were apart of the chain of events which killed Eva

GERALD

"Let me have the key of a nice little set of rooms he had."

Why would he need the rooms? Has he had more women? GERALD

"But how do you know it's the same girl?!

Still looking for excuses, trying to let himself off the hook. GERALD

"A lively, good-looking girl

A good worker too."

Description of Eva - Mr Birling

"What she let slip - though she didn't mean to"

Gerald talking about her being hungry and having no place to live

"I couldn't get any exact details from her past life."

shows Eva is private, not wanting to talk about herself. GERALD

"She was - very gallant - about it"

Gerald speaking about breaking off the relationship - Shows Eva's bravery and level-headedness

"I think she went away - to be alone, to be quiet, to remember all that had happened between you."

Inspector talking about how Eva went away on holiday. She knew it wouldn't be as good for her again. He does this an attempt to evoke feelings of compassion and remorse from Gerald.

'I don't know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh'

Childish, drunk, 'squiffy'. Shows his immaturity at the start of the play. ERIC

"He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out."

Cares and has socialist morals which differ from his father. Shows generational differences. ERIC

"Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?"

Socialist differ from capitalist views of father, sees class divide as less of an issue. Sticking up for lower class, shows generational differences ERIC

(involuntary) "My God"

Not afraid to speak out, morals, cares ERIC

eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed

knows what he's done, feels awful, responsibility ERIC

"You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't. Nor can mother."

Shows he has taken responsibility for his actions and won't be attempting to forget his actions, but learn from them. ERIC

"I stole some money, Gerald, you might as well know."

Eric doesn't want anymore secrets - learnt his lesson and wants to change for the better.

"You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble.

damaged relationship with his father

A chain of events

INSPECTOR says Eva died as a result of -----------

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

INSPECTOR's wisdom, unreal feeling, intelligence, socialist views. This quote suggests that capitalists like Birling try to take the earth.

One person and one line of inquiry at a time

How INSPECTOR works

"So you used the power you had"

INSPECTOR power/class exploitation

"yes, but you can't. She's dead."

Emphasis on it's too late, actions have consequences, so you should accept responsibility. INSPECTOR

"Each of you helped to kill her."

INSPECTOR on who killed her - everyone is responsible for the chain of events that killed her.

Don't stammer and yammer at me, man!

INSPECTOR finally losing patience - Shocking, usually calm

"They'll be taught it in blood and fire and anguish."

INSPECTOR's message - predicting world war? connotations with Hell.

"It frightens me the way you talk."

SHEILA, caring, shocked at her family, scared that they have no morality

"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable." (in reference to the Titanic

Shows how much of a naive and closed-minded capitalist Mr Birling is

"The world is developing so fast it'll make war impossible."

Shows Mr Birling is so naive, he does understand that "German officers talking nonsense" will eventually led to the outbreak of WW!, three years later.

"we often do (make an impression) on the young ones. They're more impressionable."

links to the theme of generation and how the younger generation have more liberal, socialist views. INSPECTOR.

"she was young and pretty and warm-hearted- and intensely grateful. I became at once the most important person in her life."

shows that he is selfish and egoistical, did not care about how it would effect her when he broke it off. GERALD

"Whoever that chap was, the fact remains the I did what I did.And Mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did."

shows that he has learnt something about responsibility, regardless of who the Inspector really was. ERIC

"We are members of one body we are responsible for each other."

Shows he is a socialist who believes in community responsibility. INSPECTOR

(massively) "Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges."

Indicates he knows that Mr Birling is arrogant and does not think he has social responsibility, because he is middle class. INSPECTOR

"You'd think everybody has to look after everybody else like bees in a hive and all that nonsense."

Theme of responsibility, Indicates he does not believe in social responsibility or community. MR BIRLING

"He was our police inspector all right."

Suggests that ERIC recognises that the inspector was important, whether he was a fake or not. He learnt his lesson.

"Don't worry Mr Birling, I shall do my duty."

Emphasises the INSPECTOR takes his moral duty seriously

"One Eva smith has gone but there are millions and millions of Eva smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives."

Shows the importance of the Birlings and Gerald learning from their wrongdoings, so no more Eva or John Smiths have to suffer. INSPECTOR