An Inspector Calls key quotes

"unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"

("I say there isn't a chance of war")

-An ignorant prediction by Mr Birling about the Titanic.

-The repetition and intensifier in this declarative sentence highlight his confidence in his prediction. This makes him seem more ignorant, naive and arrogant. Dramatic irony.

Birling: "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and -"

( We hear the sharp ring of a door bell. Birling stops to listen)

-Mr Birling's capitalist ideas. They are interrupted by a doorbell. This implies that the visitor is going to challenge these capitalist views with socialist ideas.

-The adjective 'sharp implies something painful and intruding. It foreshadows the discomfort the characters will soon feel.

"All mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense"

Mr Birlings simile about socialism

-Simile agrees with birlings idea that it can be claustrophobic with them all living together.

-Bees all work together for one aim but they still have a hierarchy so birling is wrong.

-This demonstrates his ignorance which could indicate that what he thinks is right - capitalism - is actually wrong.

-Bees can be vicious?

-"nonsense" dismissive. Doesn't exist. OR he dismisses it quickly so is he jealous?

"If you don't come down sharply on these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth."

-Describes Birlings view on dealing with the lower class

-The adverb could perhaps link to when the inspector comes down sharply on Birling. It seems painful and harsh.

-"these people" stereotypes the lower class. It categorises them to dismiss them as anonymous and unimportant.

-They

(Pointing at Eric and sheila) "the famous younger generation who knows it all. And they can't even take a joke-"

//The telephone rings sharply//

-Mr Birling criticise Sheila and Eric for being too serious.

-This seems inappropriate and even shocking considering a young girl has just committed suicide.

-Birlings sarcasm actually highlights that maybe the younger generation do know it all

-Then the telephone stage directions

-"sharply". Adverb. Implies a sudden interruption bringing responsibility. A loud and harsh sound that highlights it to the audience. Similar to the doorbell.

"Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of (...) you have no power to make me change my mind"

Mrs Birling not only deflects responsibility but she also puts the responsibility onto her family.

Theme of responsibility

"She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"

Mrs Birling about Eva's claims to her

- "elaborate". adjective. Luxury. Suggests Eva gave too much detail to be believable for Mrs Birling

-"absurd" exaggerated. Insult to lower classes

-"girl" is belittling and "her position" implies her situation of being pregnant or her lower class status

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

Mrs Birling shows her negative stereotypical view of the lower class - especially girls

"Look - mummy - isn't it a beauty?"

Sheila's attitude before the inspector arrives

"Mummy"= before the change. Seems shallow and immature

"But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people"

Sheila challenges her Father’s capitalist views and underpayment of the workers

(Bursting out) "You're beginning to pretend as if nothing's really happened at all. And I can't see it like that. The girl's still dead, isn't she?"

Eric shouting at his parents after they believe no one has died and they have no responsibility.

-(Bursting out) verb, adverb -Eric can't contain his anger.

-"you're" and "I" are separate to show the difference between Eric and his parents

- "The girl's" - Eric is still disrespectful OR he uses his parents language to make them understand

-"still dead" - blunt like this inspector. Eric has taken on the inspectors role

- the rhetorical Question is used to persuade his parents. It points out how they have all still behaved badly and even if the inspector isn't real, they still must accept responsibility

"Everything's alright now Sheila(...) how about this ring?" (Sheila: "no not yet. It's too soon")

Gerald to Sheila.

He thinks nothing has changed between them.

Sheila says "not yet" but not no.

Birling: " (...) he's an old friend of mine (...) we play golf together"

Inspector: "I don't play golf"

Birling trying to show his social class to the inspector. golf = metaphor for high social standing/class system

" She was here alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate. She needed not only money, but advice,

sympathy, friendliness. (...) you slammed the door in her face"

Description of Eva smiths hardships and Mrs Birlings lack of help. The inspector to Mrs Birling

-The list of emotive adjectives emphasises his point

- repetition of "you" highlights how the inspector thinks it is all her fault. To persuade

- Verb "slammed" is agressive and shows her lack of care of the impact of not helping Eva

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other"

Inspectors final speech. Socialist ideas

Metaphor for every part working together for one cause

"if men don't learn that lesson, then they shall be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Goodnight"

The inspectors final speech.

-"Fire..." dramatic irony - world wars? Emphasises inspector prescience

-Short sentence is blunt to create a sense of finality. It ends priestly's didactic tone

(Miserably) "So I'm really responsible?"

Use of "?" is significant as it demonstrates Sheila doesn't yet understand that her actions have consequences.

- yet she says it "miserably". Adverb shows she is changing slightly

"It's what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters(...) that's why I don't feel like sitting down and having a nice cosy talk"

Eric gets angry that everyone is acting like it never happened.

- Eric still calls her "the girl".

- "We all" implies he is taking responsibility for his own actions and everybody else.

-"Nice, cosy talk" is sacrcastic and angry. It links to the pink intimate light at the beginning of the play - the way things were at the start of the play they can't go back to.

"there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths (...) all intertwined with our lives"

Theme of responsibility

The inspectors final speech

-The repetition emphasises the amount of people. It shows the inspectors passion and even reflects preiestlys passion.

-"Eva smith and John smith" are common lower class English names.

-Even in a capitalist society we are all in one community living together even if people don't realise it so we need to work together.

-Like a vine growing round a tree we all need support and to work together

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

Pg 22. Repetition of 'never' shows that Sheila has now taken responsibility and has regret. She promises to not do it again.

"You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and

that girl"

Pg 21 Sheila. Them of class divides

- "wall" is metaphorical for the class divide.

-Sheila agrees with priestly ideas.

-"That girl" is dismissive, disrespectful and belittling.

-Shows she still has her old ideas even if she has somewhat changed

"No, he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang

ourselves"

Pg. 22 Sheila realising that they are all implicated

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

responsibility" or " i blame the young man who was the father of the child"

Pg 39 Mrs Birling

By putting the responsibility on the father of the child Mrs Birling unknowingly puts responsibility straight on Eric, her own son

"You began to learn something. And now you've stopped. You're ready to go on in the same old way"

Theme of the generation gap and unchanging older Birlings

Sheila

//The lighting should be pink and intimate until the INSPECTOR arrives and then it should be brighter and harder.//

Lighting described on page 1

Pink + intimate seems cosy. Rose tinted glasses - the Birlings only see the positive things

Bright per and harder shows how the inspector is interrogating them and allowing them to see the truth