An Inspector Calls Quotes

'You ought to like this port, Gerald'

Authority, power, sucking up to Gerald. MR BIRLING

'You're just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted'

Better than your own son? Sucking up to Gerald - he is of higher status. MR BIRLING

'Just a knighthood of course'

Smug, pompous. MR BIRLING

'A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course'

Selfish, foreshadowing, ironic - Inspector comes in just after. MR BIRLING

'Yes, you don't know what some of these boys get up to nowadays'

Foreshadowing, ironic - Eirc. MR BIRLING

'Still, I can't accept any responsibility'

Theme of responsibility, contrasting to Sheila/Eric. Selfish. MR BIRLING

'Mr Gerald Croft - the son of Sir George Croft - you know, Crofts Limited.'

Showing off, high social class, Gerald is higher than him but getting married to his daughter. MR BIRLING

'Obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl's suicide'

Social Class, doesn't care about her death, she is of lower class. MR BIRLING

'Most of this is bound to come out. There'll be a public scandal.'

Social class is all he cares about, doesn't want to ruin his reputation. MR BIRLING

'Now, Arthur, I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this'

Likes to keep order, control, shows her higher status. MRS BIRLING

'Girls of that class-'

Snob, wall between her class and lower class (metaphorical). MRS BIRLING

Eric, who seems to be in an excitable silly mood'

Treats him like a child. MRS BIRLING

'Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility'

father of Eva's child... Eric. Ironic and foreshadowing. No responsibility taken. MRS BIRLING

'I think she had only herself to blame.'

No responsibility taken. MRS BIRLING

'feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position'

Wall between higher class and lower class. Shows cold, heartless nature and how she thinks the lower class have less feelings or are unable to feel in the way higher class people can. MRS BIRLING

'prejudiced me against her case'

cold hearted, no remorse, heartless - Eva's just died a horrible death. MRS BIRLING

'Yes - except for all last summer, when you never came near me'

Throw away line, foreshadowing, where was Gerald? SHEILA

'You're squiffy'

To Eric, hints at his alcoholic nature, teasing - brother/sister relationship. SHEILA

'is it the one you wanted me to have?'

Context of the time - man controls relationship, doesn't even get to choose her ring. She doesn't seem to mind. SHEILA

'I'm sorry daddy'

'Father' at end of the play - shows her growth and change from childish and naïve to adult. SHEILA

'these girls aren't cheap labour'

Caring, different morality to that of her father. SHEILA

'So I'm really responsible?'

Takes on responsibility, feels remorse. SHEILA

'I'm trying to tell the truth.'

Values honesty/truth. SHEILA

'Well Gerald?'

Becoming Inspector. Technique to increase tension. SHEILA

'But at least it's honest'

A trait she values greatly and makes the reader admire her honesty. SHEILA

'Don't interfere, please, Father'

No longer 'daddy', taking control. SHEILA

'I'm afraid you'll say something or do something that you'll be sorry for afterwards'

Foreshadowing, warning mother of inspector, picks up on things quickly/first. SHEILA

'Mother - stop - Stop!'

Realising its Eric who's the father, mother is putting him in 'hot water'. Picks up on things first/quickly. SHEILA

Unless Eric's been up to something. That would be awkward, wouldn't it?

Eric has been up to something - foreshadows
GERALD

After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals

Ironic, they're the ones who were apart of the chain of events which killed Eva
GERALD

'what?'

When inspector says 'Daisy Renton-'
Gerald immediately gives himself away

Let me have the key of a nice little set of rooms he had

Why would he need the rooms? Has he had more women? GERALD

But how do you know it's the same girl?

Still looking for excuses, trying to let himself off the hook

A lively, good-looking girl
A good worker too

About Eva - Mr Birling

What she let slip - though she didn't mean to

Gerald talking about her being hungry and having a bad/no place to live
Brave, selfless, courageous, not bitter

I couldn't get any exact details from her past life

Gerald - shows Eva is private, not wanting to talk about herself

She was - very gallant - about it

Gerald about breaking off the relationship - Shows Eva's bravery and level-headedness

I think she went away - to be alone, to be quiet, to remember all that had happened between you

Inspector about Eva going away on holiday. She knew it wouldn't be as good for her again.

'I don't know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh'

Childish, drunk, 'squiffy'. Eric

He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out

cares, morals differ from father ERIC

Why shouldn't they try for higher wages

morals differ from father, sees class divide as less of an issue. Sticking up for lower class ERIC

(involuntary) My God

Not afraid to speak out, morals, cares ERIC

eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed

knows what he's done, feels awful, responsibility ERIC

You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't. Nor can mother

Responsibility. ERIC

I stole some money, Gerald, you might as well know

Eric doesn't want anymore secrets - learnt his lesson

You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble

damaged relationship with his father

A chain of events

INSPECTOR

They might. But after all, it's better to ask for the earth than to take it

INSPECTOR's wisdom, unreal feeling, intelligence

One person and one line of inquiry at a time

How INSPECTOR works

So you used the power you had

INSPECTOR power/class

yes, but you can't. She's dead

Emphasis on it's too late, actions have consequences INSPECTOR

Each of you helped to kill her

INSPECTOR on who killed her - everyone's responsibility

Don't stammer and yammer at me, man!

INSPECTOR finally losing patience - Shocking, usually calm

They'll be taught it in blood and fire and anguish

INSPECTOR's message - predicting world war?

It frightens me the way you talk

SHEILA, caring, shocked at her family, scared that they have no morality