An Inspector Calls: Character Quotes and Analysis

Vocabulary flashcards analyzing key quotes, character traits, and dramatic techniques for Mr. Birling, Mrs. Birling, Sheila, Eric, and Inspector Goole in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls.

"Just a knighthood"

A quote showing Mr. Birling is desperate to impress Gerald and improve his social status, while also implying that the knighthood award system is corrupt.

"Unsinkable. Absolutely unsinkable"

A quote demonstrating dramatic irony regarding the sinking of the Titanic, used by Priestley to further display Mr. Birling's foolish arrogance.

"I know the Brumley officers pretty well"

A quote showing Mr. Birling attempting to use his power and passive-aggressiveness to overpower the Inspector, but to no avail.

"Look inspector, I'd give thousands, yes - thousands!"

A quote demonstrating Mr. Birling becoming desperate and trying to bribe the Inspector to salvage his reputation, with repetition emphasizing his desperation.

"The famous younger generation who know it all cant even take a joke"

A quote showing Mr. Birling mocking his children for caring about Eva and acting as if her death never occurred.

"Girls of that class"

A quote showing Mrs. Birling attempting to intimidate and further alienate the lower class.

"As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money"

A quote showing Mrs. Birling stereotyping lower-class girls as hard-faced and willing to do anything for money, directly linking a lack of money to a lack of morals.

"I used my influence to have it refused. I did my duty."

A quote showing Mrs. Birling using her social status to deny Eva monetary aid, using 'duty' to justify her actions and make them sound sanctioned.

"They are over-excited. In the morning they'll be as amused as we are"

A quote showing Mrs. Birling sarcastically mocking her children for caring about Eva, mirroring Mr. Birling's attitude.

Mrs. Birling's Key Character Traits

Complacent, snobbish, self-righteous, spiteful, cold, and dismissive.

"Now I really feel engaged"

A quote illustrating that Sheila needs the ring to feel engaged, demonstrating her materialistic nature resulting from her privileged upbringing.

"I'm sorry Daddy, I was actually listening"

A quote highlighting Sheila acting in a childish and submissive manner toward her father, infantilising herself through her childish address.

"I told them that if they didn't get rid of her, I'd never go near that place again"

A quote showing Sheila acting like a spoilt rich child who is overcome by jealousy and anger, using her family's status to get Eva Smith fired.

"I'll never, never do it again. I'm desperately sorry."

A quote showing Sheila redeeming herself by being the most remorseful about what she did, proving that her sorrow is genuine.

"These girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."

A quote showing Sheila as the first to adopt socialist views by sympathizing with the working class, functioning as Priestley's mouthpiece.

"He's giving us the rope so we'll hang ourselves"

A metaphor showing that Sheila is the most insightful character and the first to work out the Inspector's interrogation methods.

Witty (Sheila)

A character descriptor for Sheila, shown by her taunting her father, using sarcasm against Gerald, and making sharp observations.

Dynamic (Sheila)

A character descriptor for Sheila representing her complete change of character over the course of the play.

"half shy, half assertive"

A character description indicating that Eric is initially anxious and uncomfortable, but is finding his place in the world and becoming open to change.

"Squiffy"

A word used by Sheila to hint at Eric's drinking problem, an issue common among wealthy young men.

"Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?"

A quote showing Eric, like Sheila, displaying sympathy toward the lower class.

"I was in the state where a chap turns easily nasty - and I threatened to make a row"

A quote implying that Eric forced himself upon Eva, highlighting his coarse behavior.

"For God's sake! Why does it matter whether they give you a knighthood or no?"

A rhetorical question demonstrating Eric's anger toward his father's obsession with repairing his social reputation.

Eric's Key Character Traits

Insecure, immature, irresponsible, remorseful, and rebellious.

"He creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"

A description showing the Inspector as an imposing figure who cannot be ignored or deflected from conveying his message.

"She lies with a burnt-out inside on a slab"

Blunt language used by the Inspector to make the Birling family feel remorse over the tragedy of Eva's death.

"Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that."

A quote where the Inspector compels everyone in the family to accept that they all contributed to Eva's death.

"We are responsible for each other"

A quote where the Inspector acts as Priestley's mouthpiece to express views on social responsibility, emphasizing that poverty is everyone's responsibility.

"If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in blood and fire and anguish."

A quote with a hell reference predicting a terrible future (WWI) if mankind does not learn social responsibility.

The Inspector's Key Character Traits

Absolute, blunt, and cold.