an inspector calls and heroes quotes!

“you’re just beginning to pretend all over again” - sheila

in act three, unlike her parents sheila begins to reject the illusion of immunity, she leaves the sheild/cocoon of her social class and begins to synthesise with eva when she recognises the corrupt comfort of her social class.

“i am very sorry but i think she had only herself to blame.” - sybil birling

in act two, mrs birling is cloaked in class superiority, she coldly denies to help eva as she believes her social class puts her above reproach. meaning she believes her being upper class allows her the right to be superior over those of the working class.

“public men mr birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” - inspector

in act two, the inspector acts as priestleys mouthpiece of social conscience. exposing the illusion that wealth/class is absolve from moral failing. this completely shatters the idea that upper classes are absolve from responsibility.

“ a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own” - mr birling

in act 1, mr birling begins his many speeches, from this we can immediately understand that mr birling is the epitomy of capitalism. he values profit, status (knighthood) and self reliance over social responsibility or ethical concern.

“ i didnt install her there so that i could make love to her” - gerald

in act 2, gerald operates with capitalist framework. he exploits his privelige with a facade of morality. his personal gain is masked as benevolance. gerald is an aristocrat which meant that he had an extremely high status, this means that he was able to disguise things by being self righteous without being questioned by less superior classes.

“ we are all members of one body, we are responsible for each other” - inspector

in act three, the inspector acts as priestleys socialist mouthpiece. he advocates for a society built on mutual accountability and moral obligation as opposed to a society built on class and status.

“. i accept no blame for it all” - mrs birling

in act two, mrs birling acts as the entrenched older generation. she shows herself as firmly wedded to class prejudice and moral superiority. priestly depicts her as the older outdated generation here.

“ everythings alright now sheila. now what about this ring?” - gerald

in act 3, gerald although young is an aristocrat so ultimately aligns ideaology with the older generation. his immediate thought is to preserve his image and shrinking moral trnasgressions.

“ it frightens me the way you talk” - sheila

in act 3, sheila undergoes moral awakening. she rejects her parents complacency and embraces priestleys message of social responsibility.

“ the gun is like a tumor on my leg” - francis