Inspector calls

Theme - resposibility

• "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." - Inspector Goole - act 3

• "A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself." - Mr birling - act 1

• "We all helped to kill her." - Eric - act 3

• "Each of you helped to kill her." - inspector - act 3

• "Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges." - inspector - act 2

Theme - class

• "Girls of that class" - Mrs birling - act 2

• "These girls aren't cheap labour – they're people." - sheila - act 1

• "If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth." - Mr birling - act 1

• "As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive." - mr birling - act 1

theme - generational divide

• "The younger generation who know it all." - Mr birling - act 3

• "You're beginning to pretend now that nothing's really happened at all." - sheila - act 3

• "It frightens me the way you talk." - sheila - act 3

• "We all helped to kill her." - eric - act 3

Theme - Socialism vs Capitalism

• "We are members of one body." - inspector - act 3

• "A man has to mind his own business." - mrBL. - act 1

• "It's better to ask for the earth than to take it." - Ins - act 1

• "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us." - ins - act3

theme - guilt

• "I'll never, never do it again to anybody." - sheila - act 1

• "I know I'm to blame." - sheila - act 2

• "We all helped to kill her." - eric - act 3

• "Remember that. Never forget it." - ins. - act 3

“A man has to make his own way- has to look after himself.”

• Character: Mr Birling

• Theme: Responsibility, Capitalism

• Language: The repetition of "has to" suggests Birling sees his beliefs as absolute and unquestionable. The reflexive pronoun "himself" emphasises selfishness and individualism.

• Context: Birling represents wealthy Edwardian businessmen who prioritised profit over social welfare.

• Big Idea: Priestley presents Birling's views as flawed because they ignore how people's actions affect others. The audience is encouraged to reject selfishness and support collective responsibility.

"If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth."

• Character:Mr Birling

• Theme: Class, Power

• Language:The phrase "these people" creates a division between classes, while the hyperbole "asking for the earth" exaggerates workers' demands.

• Context: Employers often opposed workers asking for better pay and conditions.

• Big Idea:Birling fears losing power and sees workers as a threat rather than equals.

"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable."

• Character: Mr Birling

• Theme: Pride, Ignorance

• Language: Repetition emphasises Birling's certainty. Priestley uses dramatic irony because the audience knows the Titanic sank.

• Context: The Titanic disaster happened in 1912 but Priestley's audience knew this in 1945.

• Big Idea: Priestley makes Birling appear foolish to encourage the audience to question his views from the very start.

“The germans dont want war”

• Character:Mr Birling

• Theme: Ignorance, Power

• Language: The confident declarative statement reflects Birling's arrogance.

• Context: The audience knows World War One began shortly afterwards.

• Big Idea: Priestley presents Birling as unreliable and out of touch.

“Community and all that nonsense”

• Character: Mr Birling

• Theme: Capitalism, Responsibility

• Language: The dismissive word "nonsense" shows Birling's contempt for collective responsibility.

• Context: Priestley supported socialist ideas and believed communities should support one another.

• Big Idea: Birling rejects the values Priestley wants the audience to accept.

“These girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people”

• Character: Sheila

• Theme: Class, Responsibility, generational divide

• Language: The contrast between "cheap labour" and "people" highlights how workers are often dehumanised.

• Context: Working-class women were frequently exploited by employers in 1912.

• Big Idea: Sheila recognises Eva's humanity and begins to change.

“I’ll never, never do it again to anybody”

• Character: Sheila

• Theme: Guilt, Responsibility

• Language: Repetition of "never" emphasises her sincere remorse and desire to change.

• Context: Priestley believed people should learn from mistakes and improve society.

• Big Idea: Sheila accepts responsibility rather than making excuses. - contrast w mr birling refusing resposibility

“I’m not a child, don’t forget”

• Character: Sheila

• Theme:Gender, Generational Divide

• Language: The imperative "don't forget" demonstrates confidence and independence.

• Context: Women in 1912 were expected to obey male authority.

• Big Idea: Sheila challenges traditional expectations and matures throughout the play.

“you musn’t try to build up a kind of wall”

• Character: Sheila

• Theme: Responsibility, Family

• Language:The metaphor of a "wall" suggests denial and emotional barriers.

• Context: Priestley wanted people to face social problems rather than ignore them.

• Big Idea: Sheila understands that honesty is necessary for change.

“It frightens me the way you talk”

• Character: Sheila

• Theme:Generational Divide

• Language: The emotive verb "frightens" reveals Sheila's disappointment and concern.

• Context:Priestley presents the younger generation as more open-minded than the older generation.

• Big Idea: Sheila recognises the danger of refusing to learn from mistakes.

“We all helped to kill her”

• Character: Eric

• Theme: Responsibility, Guilt

• Language: The inclusive pronoun "we all" spreads blame across the entire family. The verb "kill" is deliberately shocking.

• Context: Priestley believed society shares responsibility for vulnerable people.

• Big Idea: Eric fully understands and accepts the Inspector's message.

“The fact remains that i did what I did”

• Character: Eric Birling

• Theme: Responsibility, Guilt, Generational Divide

• Language: The repetition of "did" emphasises Eric's willingness to accept responsibility for his actions. The phrase "fact remains" suggests he cannot change the past and refuses to make excuses.

• Context:Priestley wrote the play after WWII and believed people should acknowledge their mistakes and learn from them. Eric represents the younger generation, who are more willing to accept blame than their parents.

• Big Idea: Priestley presents Eric as morally mature because he accepts responsibility for his actions. Through Eric, Priestley suggests that real change can only happen when people admit their mistakes instead of denying them.

“Your’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”

• Character: Eric Birling

• Theme: Family, Generational Divide, Responsibility

• Language: The direct accusation "You're not" exposes the emotional distance between Eric and his father. The phrase "in trouble" highlights Eric's need for support and guidance.

• Context: In Edwardian society, fathers were often strict authority figures rather than emotionally supportive parents.

• Big Idea: Priestley exposes the weaknesses of the Birling family and suggests that a lack of communication and support can lead to harmful consequences.