QUOTES- ACT1
“The lightning should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives and then it should be brighter and harder”
“pink and intimate” evokes a sense of calm and cosy atmosphere, “pink”- you go pink when you blush, this could show that the Birling family have something to be ashamed of that hasn’t been revealed yet.
suggests that the Birling family are in their own bubbles hidden away from the actual realities of the world. Their own capitalist bubble, they prefer that then confront the realities. They are blissfully ignorant of the struggles of the wider world.
The light being turned “brighter” when the inspector arrives forces the Birling family to see the truth, they cant hide away in the dark, the light could show the interrogation and also could symbolise the light being truth and divinity, the light bears the truth. Light is also used in interrogations and investigations to reveal something that is not seen at the first glance.
The inspector’s entrance changes the whole mood of the night, it shows his status and supernatural qualities. His ability to shift the mood to him and make everyone listen.
“not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive.”
Repetition of “half” shows that Eric is still forming his identity.
possibility to change his views.
Priestley presents the younger generation as still able to change their views about the socialism.
complex character torn between his privileged upbringing and his growing social awareness of social justice
Theme of younger vs older generation
“unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
Priestley mocks Mr Birling and his views.
A 1945 audience knows that the titanic sunk in 1912, and this creates dramatic irony, showing that Mr Birling doesn’t understand what he is talking about
Priestley sets Mr Birling up as a capitalist man who is foolish and unreliable
If the audience is encouraged to be against him, they are to be opposed to be against everything he believes in, Therefore hate capitalism
Priestley ensures that the audience rejects his views
The Inspector can be seen as the iceberg whilst the Titanic can be viewed as the Birling family, what seemed unsinkable before based on superficial things like the size and grandeur turns out to sink rapidly.
Priestley uses the Titanic as an analogy to show how this family and the capitalism they represent can sink quite quickly.
Socialism can be seen as the sea, it’s the wave of change that has taken over and submerged the Titanic (Birling family)
Theme of capitalism vs socialism
“Hard headed practical man of business”
“Hard headed” is a metaphor for Mr Birling’s foolishness and ignorance, also is stubborn and unwilling to change, making his resistant to social progress
The alliteration of “H” shows how excited Mr Birling gets when he’s talking about himself
“man of business” empathies his identity as a capitalist
Theme of capitalism vs socialism
“you’ll hear some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say- fiddlesticks”
The 1945 audience reading this in a post WW1 and WW2 period know that there have been 2 World Wars, this sets him up as someone who speaks nonsense and makes the wrong judgement
“some people” Mr Birling dismisses the some people thinking that his opinion is only relevant, he regards what people think
“I” shows that he only thinks that his opinion is relevant, shows his hubristic nature and arrogance.
The dash creates a long pause, a sense of anticipation, this makes the reader wait for him to finish and curious about his opinion
Mr Birling follows up the statement with an anticlimactic nonsensical word “fiddlesticks” this shows he has no argument to support his predictions therefore his ideologies are absurd
“He speaks carefully, weightily”
contrasts to the way Mr Birling speaks, the inspector gets straight to the point whilst Mr Birling rambles on in long paragraphs.
Mr Birling speech is diluted with dashes and hesitations
The adjective “weightily” suggest the impact of the inspector’s moral message.
Theme of capitalist vs socialist
“as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive- community and all that nonsense”
simile to say that the socialists are bees- they are dangerous and annoying
Mr Birling fails to see that bees produce honey, and that we depend on bees for survival
dismissive of socialism and collective responsibility
“all that nonsense”- contempt for the idea of community and social responsibility, reinforces his capitalist mindset
Theme of socialism, Social responsibility, and capitalism vs socialism
“A man has to make his own way- has to look after himself- and his family, too, of course”
The dash connotes that in capitalism even your own family becomes an afterthought.
reflects his capitalist, individualistic mindset
reinforces that responsibilities is limited to one’s immediate circle, rather than a whole society
Theme of capitalism vs socialism, individuality
“… she’d swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her insides out, of course.”
“disinfectant” becomes a powerful symbol of the proletariat (the working class) treated like dirt.
Eva Smith tries to cleanse herself of her status through death
The Inspector uses graphic and brutal language to confront the Birling family with the horrific reality of Eva suffering.
The inspector’s matter-of-fact tone contrasts with the emotional weight of the situation, reinforcing his role as a truth-teller who refuses to soften the harsh realities of social justice.
Priestley uses this moment to empathies the brutality of Eva’s death making it impossible for the characters to dismiss her as just another nameless worker.
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people”
Sheila recognises how the workers are exploited and dehumanised by their employer
The statement openly contradicts her father and his business methods
Shows that Sheila is already starting to change her beliefs, makes her a dynamic character in the play
Her words challenge capitalist exploitation, she empathises that the workers should be treated as human beings rather than disposable resources
Theme of exploitation, and capitalism vs socialism
“(rather impatiently)
yes, yes. Horrible business. But I don’t understand why you should come here, Inspector?”
The repetition of “yes, yes” shows that Mr Birling is trying to get the conversation over and done with as quickly as possible. This shows his carelessness for the tragic event.
Mr Birling is devoid of thinking of anything outside of money, profit and business. (His own daughter’s engagement as transactional deal).
Priestley uses this lines to highlight Birling’s arrogance and lack of empathy, reinforcing the idea that he prioritises status and reputation over morality.
“she’d has a lot to say, I remember- far too much- so she had to go”
His views of Eva is tainted by his stereotype. Thinks that anyone of a less status than him shouldn’t be speaking. He’s ignorant
Shows irony as Mr Birling has been speaking a lot and has a lot to say
Priestley shows how the working class is silenced when they challenge authority. It reinforces Birling’s lack of empathy and refusal to accept responsibility.
“Get into trouble? Go on the streets?”
Implies that after Eva lost her job at the factory she must have moved on to becoming a criminal or a prostitute
shows his disregard and contempt for the underprivileged
His words reveal his prejudiced assumptions about the working class
Theme of social class and divide
“oh- it’s wonderful! Look- mummy- isn’t it a beauty?”
The word “mummy” shows she is childlike
she get hyperbolically excited over the ring even though she has doubts on where Gerald has been last summer
Rhetorical questions- suggests she needs her “mummy” approval. shows that she can’t form opinions on her own
Theme of materialism and capitalism vs socialism
“why- you fool- he knows! of course he knows… you’ll see. you’ll see”
Sheila may pretend to be playful and bubbly, because that’s how patriarchy wants her to be and how she was raised to be.
signs that Sheila is a lot more intelligent than the other members. she is conscious and aware.
more aware than we assumed her to be and what her family thinks
Theme of responsibility
“a pretty girl”
Sheila asks if Eva was pretty
Priestley uses the same word to describe Sheila and Eva as “pretty”, Sheila was described as a pretty girl in the stage directions at the start of the play
Priestley uses identical description to subtly imply that there was no difference between the girls other than there social class, and the outcome of their lives ended differently. one was engaged and one had her insides burnt out.
Theme of social class and divide