An Inspector Calls

“There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us”

• Signals to the audience that Eva represents the working classes and represents the population who are being exploited by the upper and business classes like the Birling’s and the Croft’s.

• Political message the Inspector leaves the play with

• Creates a rhythmic, incantatory effect, hammering home the idea that Eva Smith is not a one-off tragedy but a representative of countless others suffering in silence.

“We are members of one body”

• Biblical and Christian imagery.  What Jesus said in the last supper when he told the disciples that he was betrayed and was going to die.

• Priestly uses this as most of his audience would’ve been Christians. If Priestly can marry their Christianity to their sense of moral purpose he can say that it’s the exact the same as socialism.

• “We are responsible for eachother” - his message continues. Socialist message. Contradicts what Mr Birling said at the beginning when he says “a man just has to look after his family and himself” 

• An anti-war play. Priestly links war to capitalism. Sets the play before the First World War as he wants to explore why a Second World War happened - because of the political classes who are willing to sacrifice their own children. The warning the Inspector leaves

“If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”

• Fire and blood is a direct reference to the suffering in war

• Priestly is arguing that if the country were socialists there would be no way they would take the country to war as they wouldn’t see human life as expendable. As a balance sheet of profit and loss

• Whereas an interesting explanation for Eric not being able to change the future is, yes he might’ve learnt the Inspectors lesson, but likely he would’ve died in the first world war.

“Burnt her inside out, of course”

• Violence if Eva’s death - the Inspector wants to portray in a gruesome way to shock the Birling’s, but most importantly shock Sheila. Sheila takes on his lessons most and becomes his proxy. He has the most influence over her.

• To the audience it tells us what a terrible crime the Birling’s must of committed for Eva to decide on this method of suicide. The horror and pain she put herself through now is equivalent in her own mind the horror and pain of the exploitation she received.

“Put ourselves in the place of these young women counting their pennies” - Feminist perspective

• Places he play in a feminine context.

• Priestly deliberately choses Eva to represent the working classes. And use Sheila and Mrs Birling to play a significant role in mistreating Eva. 

• He is exploring the role of women before they had the vote. Before 1912 they couldn’t vote. But in 1945, when the play was performed. People’s message is to women that they can change the future as they can now vote. They can change what happens to women like them. Eva is a representation of women used to be. English women of the audience can change that future forever. 

• Eva is similar to “Eve”, the original woman.

• Emphasis the word “pennies”, as it shows how little they were paid. And “counting” to show they were desperate to have enough just to have enough and that it isn’t enough. Eva ends up turning to prostitution to earn an income. Contributes significantly to end her life. Not just a physical hardship but a moral hardship.

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

• Sums up capitalism

• Uses the words “has to”

• Ironic as all their business gets exposed as they don’t mind their business and interfere with Eva smith’s life in one shape or another

• The order of this quote - Business, you, then other people - sums up capitalism. Creates a society where people are selfish and become obsessed with their own desires and becomes obsessed with helping others only if it is in their own interest. Mr Birling sacks Eva because it affects himself and his business. Sheila Birling sacks her because she hates the fact that Eva smith may have insulted her in some way. Mrs Birling can’t handle the fact that Eva is impersonating the name Mrs Birling. she thinks she’s so special in life that how can anyone else use their name. They have been raised that way. If anyone threatened them they kick them out

“You’re not even sorry now…who is to blame then”

• The inspector wants the Birling’s to take the blame. 

• He says this before he leaves

• Links back to the Christian message of the play. God gives instruction to Adam and Eve not to eat from two trees. One of which is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He doesn’t actually remove the tree. It is a test. The whole christian message is; it’s not enough to be good, you have to choose to be good in the face of something evil that seems better. Final choice the inspector is leaving to the Birling’s and Gerald. It’s much easier to live an irresponsible life with huge wealth. Why Priestly removes him from the play. They fail the test. The whole point of being a Christian is returning back to the original state of innocence. Political message is to vote socialist as it will retune you back to that original state of innocence, which will then admit you to heaven. Not only will you be helping the “ millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us”. As well as your own soul. Underlying message for christian audience.

“But each of you helped to kill her…remember…remember…remember what you did”

• He wants to deliver the powerful message OR he distinctively knows he will not remember and not act on what they have learnt. They will forget the lesson.

• It ends just before the First World War. They haven’t learnt their lesson, therefore there is a First World War - equivalent to the first death 0f Eva Smith. However, there is a Second World War, as the society and the capitalist still didn’t learn their lesson. 

• That’s why we have the Second World War - according to priestly. Eric and sheila look like they have learnt their lesson. But haven’t avoided the second world war. This could be; 1. the patriarchy. Shiela has learnt her lesson but she can’t act upon it as she has no power and can’t vote. Has no say that a change the political future. 2. The younger generation of men didn’t improve society as they were killed in the First World War. Therefore people like Gerald were still left to carry on their political and social views and have a much greater influence as the younger generation weren’t coming through in significant numbers.