Inspector Calls - English Literature Paper One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH-W7HKBfrU

• ideology, belief

• every man for himself

• money is the most important

• Birlings are capitalist

• Inspector Goole is the socialist that questions them

Context: Capitalism

• Priestley was so anti-war that churchill banned him from the BBC as he was seen as a threat to the war effort

Context : Anti-war

• male dominated society

• women are weaker, objectified, etc. “was eva smith prettier?”

• victim → must follow rules

Context: Patriarchy

• Desire/Instinct → worship

• Worship → God, Money, People

• Capitalists worship money

Context: Freud - id

“Man has to make their own way, has to look after himself - and his family too”

• rule of three

• repetition

• importance

• capitalism “bulldozer”

• id

• family is an afterthought

“there isn’t a chance of war”
“unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”

Birling being proved wrong of his arrogance as play is set in 1912 when the audience is 1945 onwards. (WWI and Titanic sunk)

• repetition

• dramatic irony

• titanic was a symbol of capitalism

• capitalism is unsinkable

• foreshadowing

“When you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business”

• marriage

• work

• business

“We are members of one body”

• metaphor

• importance on community

• socialism

• direct opposite

“She looked young and fresh”

• adjectives

• patriarchy

• talks to her as if she is a piece of meat, perfect for patriarchy

“Taught in fire, blood and anguish”

• socialist ideals

• a warning to the birlings that if they dont listen, there will be consequences

“sharp”
“cutting in”

• form

• stage direction

• at least 3-4 times

• talks about how the inspector is like an axe chopping at the tree; birlings/capitalism

• D-didactic

• A-aristocrat

• M-microcosm

• P-petulant

• P-patriarchal

• I-imperious

• C-culpable

DAMPPIC

Didactic

Intended to teach

Aristocrat

A member of the upper class, usually from a noble or wealthy family.

Microcosm

Small version of a larger
Birlings are a smaller version of Edwardian society

Petulent

easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child

Imperious

Arrogant, commanding and expecting obedience

Culpable

Deserving blame or responsibility for something bad

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour”
“It’s you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts”

Sheila moves to socialism, rejects capitalism

“I wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport”
“You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t”

Eric also matures

“I accept no blame for it all”

Mrs birling is cold and unrepentant

“Girls of that class”

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?”

Gerald doesn’t learn either.

“We are responsible for each other”

Social Responsibility

“Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”

Inspector challenges capitalist selfishness

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

Working class still suffer and this needs to be stopped

"The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything." (Sheila)

Younger generation learns, while older generation remains stubborn

“We all helped to kill her”

Eric accepts blame, unlike his parents

“I don’t come into this suicide business”

Gerald denying responsibility

“Go and look for the father of the child”

Mrs. Birling denying responsibility and pushing it to others

“I will give thousands”

Mr Birling SEEMING to learn

Complacency

Self-satisfied ignorance of danger/oblivion