An Inspector Calls Quotes

Mr Birling: Poor Judgement

“absolutely unsinkable” Russia “will always be behindhand” war is “impossible”

Mr Birling: Foil to Inspector

“community and all that nonsense” “as if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive” “members of one body” “we don’t live alone”

Mr Birling: A Luddite and a Static Character

“there’ll be a public scandal” “I was almost certain for a knighthood”

Sheila: Aligns with the Inspector

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

Sheila: Awareness

“you don’t seem to have learnt anything” “he’s giving us the rope to hang ourselves”

Sheila: Foil to her parents

“so I’m really responsible?” -Sheila “I can’t accept any responsibility” -Mr B

Responsibility: Mr Birling

“community and all that nonsense” “as if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive”

Responsibility: The Inspector

“we are all members of one body” “chain of events” “in fire and blood and anguish”

Responsibility: Sheila

“so I’m really responsible” “I behaved badly too. I know I did. I’m ashamed of it”

The Inspector: Priestly’s mouthpiece

“public men… have responsibilities as well as privileges” “members of one body” “chain of event” “we must share our guilt”

The Inspector: Ambiguity

Goole is similar to ghoul “never takes offence” “I don’t play golf”

The Inspector: Biblical References

“in fire and blood and anguish”

Social Class & Inequality: Mrs Birling

“girls of that class”

Social Class & Inequality: Sheila

“young women ought be protected from unpleasant things” “we all know one young woman who wasn’t”

Social Class & Inequality: The Inspector

“there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths” “all intertwined with our lives”

Mrs Birling: Superiority to Lower Classes

“girls of that class”

Mrs Birling: Denial

“it isn’t true” and “he’s just a boy” “surely you don’t mean Alderman Meggarty”

Mrs Birling: Eric’s Involvement

“I blame the young man who was the father of the child” “he should be made and example of” “I won’t believe it”

Different Generations: The Inspector

“young ones” are more impressionable”

Different Generations: Sheila & Eric

“So I’m really responsible” - Sheila “we did her in all right” - Eric (we being Mrs B and him)

Different Generations: Mr & Mrs Birling

“I can’t accept any responsibility” “community and all that nonsense” “as if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive” - Mr B “I think she only had herself to blame” - Mrs B

Gender: Women can’t cope with unpleasant things

“young women ought to be protected from unpleasant things” “we all know one young woman who wasn’t”

Gender: Gerald Hypocritical description of Eva and prostitutes

“hard eyed, dough faced” “soft brown hair and big brown eyes”

Gender: Sheila’s power

“don’t give it another thought” “he means that I’m getting hysterical now” “you and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner”