An Inspector Calls Key Quotes

English dept. dec25

The Inspector – “We are members of one body.”

Responsibility | Socialism | Community | Morality

The Inspector – “Each of you helped to kill her.”

Collective responsibility | Guilt | Consequences

The Inspector – “It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”

Power | Class | Capitalism | Morality

The Inspector – “There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths…”

Social responsibility | Class | Inequality | Priestley’s message

Arthur Birling – “A man has to mind his own business and look after himself.”

Capitalism | Individualism | Responsibility | Gender

Arthur Birling – “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”

Dramatic irony | Ignorance | Reputation | Authority undermined

Arthur Birling – “Lower costs and higher prices.”

Capitalist greed | Class | Power | Exploitation

Arthur Birling – “I can’t accept any responsibility.”

Denial | Responsibility | Generation divide

Sybil Birling – “Girls of that class—”

Class prejudice | Gender | Superiority | Snobbery

Sybil Birling – “I used my influence to have it refused.”

Abuse of power | Class | Morality | Responsibility

Sybil Birling – “I accept no blame for it at all.”

Responsibility | Stubbornness | Generational divide

Sheila Birling – “But these girls aren’t cheap labour — they’re people.”

Social responsibility | Class | Empathy | Change

Sheila Birling – “I’ll never, never do it again.”

Guilt | Change | Morality

Sheila Birling – “You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.”

Division | Change | Class | Social responsibility

Eric Birling – “You’re not the kind of father a chap can go to.”

Family | Age divide | Masculinity | Responsibility

Eric Birling – “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.”

Guilt | Gender | Power | Masculinity | Responsibility

Eric Birling – “The money’s not the important thing.”

Morality | Responsibility | Change

Gerald Croft – “She was young and pretty and warm-hearted — and intensely grateful.”

Gender | Power imbalance | Class | Morality

Gerald Croft – “I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.”

Gender roles | Power | Responsibility | Relationships

Gerald Croft – “Everything’s all right now, Sheila.”

Denial | Gender (patronising) | No change | Capitalism

Eva Smith (Birling) – “She had a lot to say — far too much — so she had to go.”

Class | Power | Exploitation | Women | Capitalism

Eva Smith – “She was desperately hard up.”

Poverty | Inequality | Class system