An Inspector Calls Quotes

Generational divide, opening stage directions “cosy”

“Not cosy and homelike” shows that the Birlings are not even comfortable in their own home. The older generation forces them to constantly put up a front.

Responsibility, Inspector, opening stage directions “lighting”

“The lighting should be pink and intimate, until the inspector arrives, then it should be brighter and harder.” mirrors interrogation room lights. Shows the Birling's discomfort in having the truth revealed, but also the power of the inspector to control the environment

Social class and Gender, Mrs Birling, opening stage directions “social”

“And her husband's social superior” social class trumps Mrs Birlings gender, and she is still seen as better than Mr Birling.

Shiela, Gender, opening stage directions “pretty”

“Shiela is a pretty girl in her early 20s, very pleased with life and rather excited” immediately objectified in the opening lines

Eric, Opening stage directions “assertive”

“Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”

Sheila, act 1, relationship with Gerald “summer”

“Except for all last summer when you never came near me” shows tenuous relationship fro the the start and foreshadows the play

Mrs B, patriarchy, act 1 “used”

“You'll have to get used to that, just as I did” shows her, as a woman upholding the patriarchy, but also almost expecting men to be distant and disloyal, showing that maybe her and Mr B's relationship isn't perfect

Mrs B, avoiding issues, generational difference, act 1 “toast”

“What about this famous toast of yours?” Avoiding Eric's drunkeness.

Mr B, class division, workers Act 1 “prices”

“Lower costs and higher prices” shows Mr B's blatant disregard for the lower classes

Shiela, generational divide, infantilisation, act 1 “wanted”

“Is this the one you wanted me to have?” controlled by her family, and fiancé, and infanticises herself also, willingly giving up control

Mr Birling, dramatic Irony, act 1 “steadily”

“We’re in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity” dramatic irony, loses Birling's credibility with the audience, by showing him as stupid.

Mr Birling, socialism, act 1 “himself”

“A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too” cares only for himself. His family is even an afterthought, shown by the dashes

The Inspector, power/social class, act 1 stage directions “solidity”

“He creates at once a sense of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness” shows that the inspector has power despite his “lower” status.

Mr Birling, power/social class, act 1 “mayor”

“I was an alderman for years - and lord mayor two years ago - and I'm still on the Bench” Mr B is trying to assert himself over the inspector, but it doesn't work on him, showing that Mr B's class and status don't and shouldn't have any effect on him

The Inspector, power 2, act 1 stage directions “cutting”

“Cutting through massively” has control over the situation, and the power to talk over the Birlings

Mr B, responsibility, act 1 “duty”

“It's my duty to keep labour costs down” sees it as his perogative to control and suppress the lower classes

The Inspector, responsibility/power , act 1 “earth”

“It's better to ask for the earth than take it.” Immediately rebukes Mr B, suggesting he is abusing his power

Sheila, social class, act 1 “people”

“But these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people” She, unusually for her family, cares for the lower classes, she views them as people, which is more than can be said for her family

Sheila, generational divide, Infantisisation, act 1 stage directions “stifled”

“gives a half-stifled sob and then runs out.” Sheila is shielded from society, and reacts childishly when that ends

Gerald, responsibility, act 1 “criminals”

“We're respectable people not criminals” attempting to be factual, knowing what he has done. Has a high opinion based on social class.

Sheila, responsibility, act 1 “responsible”

“So I'm really responsible?” Suggests caring and growth out of her wrongdoing

Sheila, patriarchy, act 1 “pretty”

“She was a pretty girl too” objectifying other women, only cares because she was pretty

Sheila, patriarchy 2, act 1 “plain”

“If she'd been a miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it.” objectifying other women, only cares because she was pretty

Gerald, Gender roles, act 1 “darling”

“Now listen, darling-” trying to control Sheila using their romance

Sheila, generational divide, act 1 “knows”

“Why - you fool - he knows. Of course he knows.” Shows that Sheila has grown as a person, and also understands the gravity of the situation.

Sheila, patriarchy, act 2, stage direction “laugh”

“with hysterical laugh” the word hysterical has historically been used to describe women as insane, which is ironic as Sheila is the most clear headed in this situation

Gerald, infanticisation of Sheila, generational difference, act 2 “exciting”

“She's had a long, exciting and tiring day” treats her like a child, despite the fact this is his future wife. Should be an equal, not a lesser

Responsibility, Sheila and Gerald's relationship, Gerald, act 2 “through”

“You've been put through it, now you want to see someone else put through it” shows the breakdown of Sheila and Gerald's relationship, at the thought of anyone being in the wrong

Responsibility, communism vs capitalism, Inspector, act 2 “share”

“If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt” challenges Mr Birling’s capitalist ideas

Generational difference, social class, Mrs Birling, act 2 stage directions “briskly”

“Now Mrs Birling enters, briskly and self confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed.” because of her class, she believes she can control the room, despite the very different situation that is occurring.

Generational difference, infantilisation, Mrs Birling, act 2 “impression”

“You seem to have made a great impression on this child inspector” infantilsing Sheila, despite the fact that she is trying to marry her to Gerald. Perhaps shocked to see her teaching undone so quickly

Social class, Mrs Birling, act 2 “that”

“Girls of that class” looks down on Eva Smith because she is of a lower class, an idea which Sheila immediately rebukes

Power, social class, Mrs Birling, act 2 “magistrate”

“My husband was lord mayor only two years ago and that he's still magistrate” she tries to sieze control using her husband’s social status, exactly the same as Mr Birling did when the Inspector first arrived

Gender, Gerald, act 2 “soft”

“She was very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes” first thing Gerald says about Eva is about her looks

Gerald, act 2 “return”

“I didn't ask for anything in return” either continuing to lie, or had no bad intentions

Patriarchy, Gerald, act 2 “any”

“I did for a time. Nearly any man would have done” Gerald implies that what he did was normal for any man.

Gerald and Sheila's relationship, Sheila, act 2 “same”

“You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here” shows their relationship changing, and Sheila being one of the few people who understands the adult effects of the situation

Responsibility, Mrs Birling, act 2 “don't see”

“I don't see any particular reason why I should-” Mrs Birling is in denial that she could have any involvement with Eva's death, believes she is completely innocent.

Responsibility, Inspector, Act 2 “privilages”

“Public men have responsibilities as well as privilages” The Inspector is used to inject Priestley's view into the narrative

Social class, Mrs Birling, Act 2 “deserving”

“Yes, we've done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases” implies that Eva's case wasn't deserving, but also that they frequently deny those that need help.

Power, Mrs Birling, act 2 “prejudiced”

“And naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case” admits to her prejudice, showing how shallow and vain she is to have effectively killed someone as a result of her vanity

Responsibility 2, Mrs Birling, Act 2 “father”

“Go look for the father of the child, it's his responsibility” shows how she will try everything to lose the blame.

Social class, Mr Birling, act 2 “press”

“The press might easily take it up” Mr Birling doesn't care about Eva, only his image.

Responsibility 3, Mrs Birling, act 2 “began”

“it wasn't I who had her turned out of her employment - which probably began it all” blaming everyone else, rather than taking responsibility

Responsibility 4, Mrs Birling, act 2 “believe”

“I don't believe it, I won't believe it…” refusing to believe that her son could be involved. She is speechless at the fact that her son is anything but perfect.

Responsibility, Eric, act 3 “know”

“You know, don't you?” Still careful with his words, still hoping he isn't exposed

Generational gap, Mrs Birling, Act 3 “drunk”

“You're not the type - you don't get drunk” still denying that Eric could be a bad person, despite all the evidence against him.

Responsibility 2, Eric, act 3 “nasty”

“Well, I was in that state when a easily turns nasty” shows that Eric thinks this is normal. Shows his lack of understanding of what he has done

Gender, Mr Birling, act 3 “take”

“Sheila, take your mother along to the drawing-room -” shows his sexist disposition to protect even adult women from grotesque things, even during the family drama

Gender, Eric, act 3 “sport”

“she was pretty and a good sport” objectifies Eva for her beauty and sexual use

Generational gap, Eric, act 3 “chap”

“You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble” shows that there is very little care amongst the family.

Responsibility 3, Eric, act 3 “killed”

“You killed her” shows that Eric is trying to avoid responsibility, and immediately blames his mother when threatened

Social class, The Inspector, act 3 “millions”

“There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us” suggests to the audience that everyone is effected by their actions

Responsibility, Mr Birling, late act 3 “blame”

“(to Eric) You’re the one I blame for this” Shows that Mr Birling’s guilt was merely a front put up for the Inspector, and that his apologies truly held no meaning

Responsibility, Social Class, Mr Birling, Act 3 “knighthood”

“I was almost certain for a knighthood on the next honours list” Shows he only cares, after all this, for his reputation, and the potential of recognition

Responsibility, late Act 3, Mrs Birling “ashamed”

“I’m absolutely ashamed of you” Shows that she herself has no remorse for her actions, and doesn’t appreciate Eric

Responsibility, Generational difference, Late Act 3, Sheila “behaved”

“I behaved badly too, I know I did” Sheila, unlike her parents accepts that she has done something wrong, and wants to make amends

Responsibility, Generational Difference 2, Late Act 3, Sheila “childish”

“It’s you two that are being childish - trying not to face facts” Sheila criticises her parent for not feeling remorse toward what they have done. Shows growth in her character

Responsibility 2, Late Act 3, Mr Birling “bother”

“(hastily) now - now - we needn’t bother him with that” still trying to protect his reputation

Responsibility, Late Act 3, Gerald “wasn't”

“That man wasn’t a police inspector” Gerald is hanging too every last hope that what he has done will not be exposed

Responsibility, Late Act 3, Sheila “learnt”

“The point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything.” Sheila sees her experiences as a lesson, unlike her parents

Responsibility, Generational Difference, Eric, Late Act 3 “pretend”

“You're beginning to pretend nothing’s really happened at all” Eric agrees with Sheila that their parents are ignoring problems

Generational Difference, Mr Birling, Late Act 3 “understand”

“They just won't try to understand our position” Mr Birling is a hypocrite

Gerald and Sheila's relationship, Gerald, Late Act 3 “ring”

“What about this ring?” Gerald truly doesn't believe that Sheila would see him any differently, despite him having done what he did and admitted to it

Responsibility, Act 3, stage directions “guiltily”

“They stare, guiltily and dumbfounded” closing quote!