An inspector calls

Context

• Priestly was a socialist:

• Wrote the play to criticise the capitalist Edwardian system at the time.

• Lack of rights women had during this time (among all classes):

• Lack of rights women had during this time (among all classes): Women needed the protection of marriage of a husband to guarantee some kind of stability for them. Also women at this time did not get equal pay.

• Edwardian England was a time of deep class divisions:

• Priestly wanted to highlight how a few upper class and upper middle class people had disproportionate and vast power which they used to exploit the working classes.

• Prevailing View and idea of the ‘undeserving poor‘:

• Idea that a lot of upper class people held that the poor somehow were undeserving of Aid and charity because they were somehow immoral and they put themselves in that position where they were in poverty and in need. They saw them as the undeserving poor.

• Play set just before the start of World War 1:

• The play is set in 1912 and WW1 lasts from 1914-1918. The play was trying to highlight that an Edwardian society had the seeds of instability which inevitably led to the WW1.

Themes

• Class:

• This idea that Priestly is trying to illustrate especially through the sympathetic characters if both Eva and Daisy Smith the deep class divisions that existed in Edwardian England and how people like Mr Birling abused their power. Equally all the Birlings abuse their power and their privilege as part of the upper middle class society but of course also Gerald being part of upper class Edwardian England he also abused his power.

• Age:

• Priestly was very pessimistic when he considered the older generation. Priestly felt that social change towards equality was going to be driven by the younger generation. That’s why by the end of the play there’s a split/ divide between Mr and Mrs Birling who don’t want to see any change they rigidly stick to the old values and they want society to stay the same versus Eric and Sheila who want to change they symbolise the young generation who are most likely to inspire change.

• Social responsibility:

• One of the core messages of an Inspector calls is Priestly wanted to illustrate especially to his wealthier audience that they had a duty, their social responsibility to use their money and their resources to help the poor. To pay them more equally, to also help them with charities and so on. It was their social responsibility not a choice, a duty.

Arthur Birling- key ideas

7 sins: GREED
Arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow minded
Provincial accent and vocabulary, stubbornly lacking in subtlety, give evidence of his upward social mobility
Dominant and controlling
Priestley discredits him using dramatic irony
His view of this future prosperity are naive and with hindsight, unfounded suggesting...
His political and ideological ideas are flawed
Believes progress is measured by industrial advances
Makes desperate gestures that seem futile in the face of the Inspector- weak and backward looking
Demonstrates the generation gap as he has issues with Eric
Brings the audience to respond in frustration
Represents an obstacle HOWEVER reassures us that with the passing of Edwardian age and the knowledge of the next 30 years
He is the past

Sybil Birling- Key ideas

7 sins: PRIDE
Cold, lacking emotions- a product of Victorian stoicisim
Socially superior to her husband
Different to Mr Birling: aware of the differences between the social classes yet seeks to maintain the status quo
Incapable of humility, self-examination:
Believes that because of their position in the community they are above criticism
Insulated by her husbands wealth
Motivated by her controlling nature
Embodiment of what is obnoxious of the ruling class
The most resistant to the Inspector
Grasps eagerly at the idea that if the Inspector is not genuine, they can and indeed go on behaving as they have

Gerald- key ideas

Irresponsible, insulated
His duplicitous and complacent way of life will jeopardise his plan to marry Sheila- punishment?
To marry Sheila would be to ignore his misbehaviour
Does not admit his involvement at first in an attempt to protect his interests
Gerald drives the theory that the Inspector is fake
Does not change by the end of the play, protects his reputation
Birling's ideal son. To him, Gerald represents integrity and guarantees profit HOWEVER he repeats an ongoing lie

Eric- key ideas

7 sins: Lust
Awkward and unsure of himself- a product of his parent's behaviour
Clear tension between his father, resents him for his coldness and distance
Challenges his father
Has no support, neglected
Frustration motivates his behaviour and heavy drinking
Explosive- unequipped to reach the outside world
Sense of sympathy shared with Sheila, both ashamed of their parents
A sense of responsibility upon discovering Eva's pregnancy
Guilty and remorseful HOWEVER unhappy, rebellious, weak young man. Not a leader who can drive forward reform

Sheila- key ideas

7 sins: ENVY
Frivolous, carefree, vain, jealous, vengeful
Voice of conscience and guilt
Compassionate
Remorseful
Perceptive
Her anger with her parents is born of frustration at their lack of remorse- the audience relates
Shown to be more impressionable, receptive than the older generation
Accepts the notion of social responsibility and changes as a character becoming:
Less emotional and superficial, more judgemental and challenges
Represents the idea that social change will only be possible if we adjust our social morality
A leader? Birling's view is that she is young and unexperienced WHILE she is presented as a much stronger character after the Inspector

The Inspector- key ideas

Massive, portentous, lugubrious
Dominant and forceful character
Drives the central conflict of the play- must now take action
Purpose is to establish guilt to reform their values, behaviour and morality
Methodical and systematic- adds tension, mystery and gives him control
Authoritative figure, unintimidated
Struggled to separate respectable citizens and criminals
Deliver's Priestley's central message of social responsibility
The close of the play emphasises the mystique of his character
Doctrine of individualism
Authenticity of the Inspector doesn't matter, their consciences have been inspected

How does Eric show he is neglected by his parents?

'Not the kind of father a chap would go to when he's in trouble'
'Mother never did... Understand anything'
RELATIONSHIPS, YOUTH AND AGE

What quote embodies the ideas of Eric possibly being a leader?

'Not quite at ease, half-shy, half assertive' Act 1
POWER

How does Eric show he is remorseful?

'My God- I'm not likely to forget'
RESPONSIBILITY

How is Eric's attitude shown towards his parents by the end of the play?

'I'm ashamed of you as well- both of you'
'The girls dead and we helped to kill her'
RESPONSIBILITY, RELATIONSHIPS, YOUTH AND AGE

Which quote shows how Sheila behaves before the Inspector arrives?

'I'm sorry, Daddy. She looks attentive, as they all do.'
POWER, RELATIONSHIPS, YOUTH AND AGE

'But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people.'
SOCIALISM, CLASS, RESPONSIBILITY

'But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people.'
SOCIALISM, CLASS, RESPONSIBILITY

How does Sheila demonstrate she has changed?

'You and I are not the same people who sat down to dinner here'
RELATIONSHIPS, RESPONSIBILITY

How does Sheila show remorse?

'I'll never, never do it again to anybody'
RESPONSIBILITY

How does Sheila warn her family?

'He's giving us the rope- so that we'll hang ourselves'
RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIALISM

What quote embodies the ideas of Sheila possibly being a leader?

'Not yet'
'It's too soon. I must think.'
RELATIONSHIPS

How does Gerald describe his relationship with Eva?

'Inevitable'
'I didn't feel the same about her as she did about me.'
RELATIONSHIPS

On the one hand, how is Gerald shown to be not guilty?

'She didn't blame me.'
'made her happy for a time.' 'At least you cared'
RESPONSIBILITY, RELATIONSHIPS

On the other, how is Gerald shown to be involved and attempt to hide, being guilty?

'I don't come into this suicide business.'
'we can keep it from him'
TRUTH AND LIES, POWER, RESPONSIBILITY

How is Mrs Birling's relationship demonstrated?

'Arthur- you're not supposed to say such things!'
POWER, CLASS

How does Mrs Birling show that she is not empathetic?

'Put up with it'- check!
Mrs Birling may have been cheated on in the past, but turns to her own daughter and says this. Covers
Gerald
'You've had children. You must know what she was feeling'
RELATIONSHIPS, POWER

How is Mrs Birling's attitude towards the lower class demonstrated?

'Girls of that class'
CLASS

How is Mrs Birling made to look idiotic through dramatic irony?

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

How is Mrs Birling shown to have been unaffected by the Inspector?

'I accept no blame for it at all'
RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIALISM

How are Mr Birling's capitalist views highlighted?

'For lower costs and higher prices'
CAPITALISM

How does Mr Birling challenge socialist views?

'Cranks'
'Community and all that nonsense'
CAPITALISM

How is Mr Birling portrayed as idiotic through dramatic irony?'

'Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable'
'If you don't come down sharply on these people they'd soon be asking for the Earth'
DRAMATIC IRONY
CAPITALISM

How is Mr Birling shown to be unimpressionable?

'Hard headed man of business'
POWER, CAPITALISM

How is Mr Birling shown to be unchanged?

'But the whole things different now.'
'There's every excuse for what your mother and I did'
'I've got to cover this up as soon as I can'
TRUTH AND LIES, RESPONSIBILITY

How is Mr Birling shown to criticise the younger generation?

'The famous younger generation who know it all'
YOUTH AND AGE

How does the Inspector highlight the Birling's hypocrisy?

'But after all it's better to ask for the world than to take it'
SOCIALISM

How does the Inspector show the difference between him and Mr Birling?

'I don't play golf'
SOCIALISM

How does the Inspector highlight the damage the Birling's irresponsible behaviour has resulted in, and show that Eva is a victim?

'A nice little promising life there... And a nasty mess somebody's made of it'
CLASS, POWER

How does the Inspector present the Birlings as criminals?

'I wouldn't know where to draw the line' (between respectable citizens and criminals)
POWER, RESPONSIBILITY, TRUTH AND LIES

How does the Inspector encompass the socialist view?

'If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt.' Act 2
'We are members of one body'
SOCIALISM, RESPONSIBILITY

How does the inspector compare Sheila and Eva and show they're not so different?

'Your daughter isn't living on the moon.'
RELATIONSHIPS, CLASS

How does the Inspector warn the Birlings of the future?

'Fire and blood and anguish'
Biblical reference
SOCIALISM

How does Eric challenge his father?

'What about the war?'

Which quotes speak of Eva/Daisy?

'she had a lot to say- far too much'
'I didn't feel the same about her as she did about me.'
'she didn't blame me'
'a good worker'
'a good sport'
'a very pretty girl too- with big dark eyes'

How is Eric's attitude to women portrayed?

'As if she was an animal, a thing, no a person.'

Description of the Inspector

'An impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness'

Stage directions, beginning

Warmly lit- rose tinted?
Harsh light of the inspector