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Analytical notes of quotations for each character in the book
How is Mr Birling described at the start of the play?
At the start of the play he is described as “heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties, but rather provincial in his speech.”
Heavy looking: shows he’s fat, greedy and is rich enough to spend money on food to make him fat
Portentous: overly proud
Provincial: likes telling stories and lecturing
Warm Birling born into the upper class?
He was not born into his class, he instead worked his way up, and is proud of his achievements. He boasts about having been mayor and tries( and fails) to impress the Inspector with his local standing and influential friends.
Proud: Links to him being described as portentous at the start of the play
How was Mr Birling around social superiors?
He was aware of people who were his social superiors, which is why he shows off the port to Gerald, “it’s exactly the same port your father gets.” He is proud that he is likely to be knighted, as that would move him even higher in social circles.
Links to key themes of status and capitalism which can also be used as context.
How does Mr Birling feel about Sheila’s engagement to Gerald?
He claims at the party “ this is one of the happiest nights of my life”. This is not only because Sheila is happy, but because a merger with the Croft’s business will be better for his status, reputation and business.
Context: class systems, responsibility, class
Mr Birling feels its his responsibility to make more money for his family
What are Mr Birling’s views on the future?
He is optimistic for the future and confident that there will not be a war. As the audience knows there will be a war, we begin to doubt his judgement.
If he is wrong about the war, what else is he wrong about?
Optimistic: hopeful and confident about the future, often unrealistic
AO3: Mr Birling is a capitalist, and Priestly’s intention is to make the 1945 audience doubt Mr Birling’s judgement, therefore doubting capitalism
What are Mr Birlings views on socialism and how does this reflect in his character?
He is extremely selfish. He wants to protect himself and his family. He believes that socialist ideas that stress the importance of the community are “nonsense” and that “ a man has to make his own way.”
Selfish: only cares for himself/doesn’t care for others
Theme: social responsibility
Context: socialism vs capitalism
How does Mr Birling view what happened the he fired Eva?
He cannot see that he did anything wrong when he fired Eva Smith- he was just looking after his businesses interests
He didn’t believe in worker’s rights
Responsibility: he doesn’t bother with anyone other than himself, he believes “ a man has to make his own way”
Gender roles: Eva Smith a lower class women standing up to an upper class man, Mr Birling
What was Mr Birling worried about during the Inspector’s investigation?
He wanted to protect his reputation. As the Inspector’s investigations continue, he is worried about how the press will view his story.
Reputation: they way you appear to others and/or the public
What are Mr Birling’s views at the end of the play?
At the end of the play he knows he’s lost the chance of knighthood, his reputation in Bromley, and the chance of merging businesses with the Crofts. Yet he hasn’t learnt the lesson and won’t take responsibility for his parting Eva’s death.
Capitalism vs socialism
Old vs new generation
Responsibility
How is Sheila described at the start of the play?
She is a very “ pretty girlin her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.”
Pretty: shows her value
Very pleased: spoilt, sheltered and happy
Excited: childish and immature
What makes us doubt Sheila’s description at the start of the play?
She seems playful in the opening, we know she has suspicions about Gerald when she mentions “ last summer, when you never came near me”
Does this suggest that she is not as naive as she seems
Playful: messing around and being immature
Suspicious: thinks she knows about something that went on last summer that Gerald is lying about
How does Sheila’s lifestyle impact her reaction to Eva’s death?
She rarely considered the conditions for workers, however she immediately shows her compassion when she hears her fathers treatment of Eva. “ But these girls aren’t cheap labour-they are people.” Already she is starting to change
Compassion: empathy towards their situation
Disagreed with her fathers (capitalist) views
Themes and context: worker’s rights, social responsibility, socialism vs capitalism, Mr Birling vs Sheila’s views on social responsibility
How does Sheila feel about how her actions affected Eva Smith?
She feels full of guilt for her jealous actions and blames herself as “ really responsible”
Guilt: remorse for her actions for acting out of jealousy at Millard's
Context and themes: responsibility, socialism, Mr Birling vs Sheila reactions
AO3: Why does Priestly choose to have Sheila react this way instead of the way Mr Birling reacted?
What part of Sheila’s personality develops throughout the play, that proves she is not naive just sheltered?
She is very perceptive. She realises Gerald knew Daisy Renton from his reaction to hearing her name. She is the first to realise Eric’s part in the story. First to wonder who the Inspector really is “I don’t understand about you.” She warns the others “ he is giving us the rope, so we’ll hang ourselves.
Perceptive: having or showing sensitive insight
Once she is aware, she appears to be more mature
Sheila was mature, but seemed immature because she was treating like a child and sheltered from reality
Context and themes: responsibility and Sheila vs Mrs Sybil Birling relationship
How does Sheila react to Gerlad’s affair?
She is curious, and genuinely wants to hear Gerald’s part in the story. She is not angry about the affair, instead it gains respect for his honesty. She is becoming more mature.
Themes and context: gender roles, rights of women, society expectations, patriarchal society, social responsibility
Sheila is in control of the situation
Her reaction links to her being the new generation
What is Sheila’s relationship with her parents in act 3?
She is angry with her parents, and starts to see her parents in a new unfavourable light, “ it frightens me the way you talk”
Socialism vs capitalism = unfavourable light
themes and context: betrayal, awareness, social responsibility
AO3: new vs old generation, socialism vs capitalism
What is Sheila like at the end of the play?
At the end of the play Sheila is wiser. New perspective on her parents and Gerald. Great change in herself; social conscience, awakened and aware of her social responsibility.
Sheilas transformation
Context and themes: socialism, social responsibility and power
AO3: Sheila represents socialism
How is Gerald described at the start of the play?
He is described as “ an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be dandy but very much the easy-well-bred man about town.”
Large age gap between him and Sheila
Respected and popular with a high status
What is the Croft’s social status?
He is an aristocrat- the son of Lord and Lady Croft. The Crofts gained nothing from Sheila’s engagement dinner therefore declined the invitation to dinner.
Aristocrat: highest class in society, power held in nobility
Crofts are socially superior to the Birlings
How does Gerald react to his investigation?
He is not as willing as Sheila to admit his part in the girls death, and initially pretends he never knew Daisy. He shares similar views with Mr Birling on reputation, social responsibility and capitalism.
Context and themes: older generation and age gap
What was Gerald’s relationship with Daisy?
He had some genuine feeling for Daisy Renton. He tells the Inspector he arranged for Eva to sleep in his friends flat “ because I was sorry for her” she became his mistress because “ she was young, pretty and warm-hearted- and intensely grateful “
Made him feel good because he saved Daisy
Boosted his ego because he used his money to help the poor pretty girl in the lower class.
Themes and context: class systems, patriarchal society, rights of women
Daisy’s beauty meant she deserved help
Lower class women being used for pleasure was a normal thing to a 1912 audience when the play was set.
What was Gerald like at the end of the play
In act 3 he tries to come up with as much evidence as possible to prove that the Inspector is fake-because that would get him off the hook. Gerald confirms the local force has no officer by the name of Goole, he who realises it may have not been the same girl, who finds out from the infirmary that there had not been a suicide case in months. He seems to throw his energies into protecting himself rather than changing himself.
Cares about protecting his reputation
Does not change his views on social responsibility
Sheila gives back their engagement ring because of their differences on views
context and theme: older vs new generation
AO3: Sheila vs Gerald
How is the atmosphere described when the Inspector enters?
He is described on entrance as creating “ an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit. He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he is addressing before actually speaking.
Takes up a lot of space
strong and stable structure
causes them to feel unsettled
How does the Inspector’s questioning work?
He works systematically, he likes to deal with “ one person and one line of enquiry at a time “
Holds the power
Gets the information he wants
How does the Inspector deal with the family?
He is a figure of authority. He deals with each member of the family very firmly and several times we see him “ massively taking charge as disputes erupt between them”. He is not impressed when he hears about Mr Birling local standing and influential friends and he cuts through his obstructiveness
Remains in control in all the caos
Does not get threatened and keeps the light on the person he is investigating
What is odd about the Inspector?
Hey seems to know and understand and extraordinary amount. He knows the history of Eva and the Birlings involvement in it. He knows things are going to happen “ Im waiting… to do my duty” just before Erics return like he expected Eric to return at that very moment. He is obviously in a great hurry towards the end of the play: he stresses “ I haven’t much time” Does he know the actual Inspector in on his way?
Well prepared and planned
Knew how to fool the Birlings and keep them under the spotlight without any suspicion
What is the Inspectors final message?
His final speech is like a sermon or a polititons. He leaves the family with a message: “ Tea re all responsible for each other” and warns them of the “ fire and anguish and blood” that will result if they do not pay attention to what he has taught them.
socialism
Hints at cyclical structure
All of this mystery suggests that the Inspector is not a real person. So what is he?
A ghost, suggested by Goole?
Is he the voice of Priestly?
Note
Flashcard