QUOTES- ACT2

Gerald speaks for Sheila to leave the room

audience knows he wants Sheila to leave so he can confess of the inspector his affair with Daisy Renton (Sheila)

triplets of the adjectives, elongating how fatigued Sheila must be as a woman with so drama

highlights the gender expectations of the time, where women were often seen as needing protection from unpleasant realities

Priestley challenges the idea that women should be protected from the harsh truths, reinforcing the message that everyone must face the consequences of their actions

Theme of gender roles and control

Her response to Gerald after he wanted her to leave the room.

Gerald assumed Sheila should be protected from the harsh truths being revealed but Sheila rejects

Sheila speak her own mind and is growing as a character.

Sheila is no longer the naïve, sheltered and young woman

Theme of gender roles

Eva forced into prostitution to make ends meet

Euphemism (mild way of expressing something that might be unpleasant, harsh or embarrassing), Gerald’s choice of words softens the reality of Eva’s situation, showing how the upper class distances itself from the harsh truths of working-class life.

The phrase highlights the vulnerability of woman like Eva, who are forced into desperate situations due to economic hardship.

Reflects the way upper-class characters in the play avoid direct or crude language when discussing uncomfortable topics

Theme of class, and exploitation

verb “install” objectifies women, implies that Gerald saw Eva as someone he could place in a situation, almost like an object. This reflects the power imbalance between them.

The phrasing of the quote suggests that Gerald held control over her situation, reinforcing the theme of class inequality

Priestley’s message is that the upper class often excuses their actions rather than take full responsibility, Gerald’s attempt to distance himself from wrongdoing

Theme of exploitation and gender role

Gerald like the other men at the time, would have had a mistress, because they all did it.

“wonderful fairy prince” highlights how he played the hero but ultimately abandoned her

“you must have adored it” suggests that Gerald enjoyed the power he had over Eva

Sheila’s growth, Sheila is no longer naïve and starts challenging Gerald’s actions.

Theme of gender role

Eva acted differently to when Gerald ended the affair with her, he didn’t except Sheila to be understanding and thought she would have blackmailed him.

adjective “gallant” used to describe a brave medieval heroic knight, the audience get the idea that Daisy (Eva) was trying so hard to fight for a better life, she had a strong moral compass.

By empathising Eva’s gallantry, Gerald tries to justify his actions, portraying her as a strong enough to handle the situation, this could be seen as an attempt to ease his own guilt.

Theme of gender role

Sheila is maturing and almost becomes the voice of the inspector.

Sheila is speaking out against her mother and her beliefs.

Sheila is perceptive, intelligent and accurate despite her mother continuous patronising attitude towards her.

Sheila had begun to reject her family’s ignorance and embrace social responsibility.

The metaphor “wall” is for the class divide, it implies society is constructed to block certain people from reaching the same level of success and wealth as others: the hierarchy is rigged.

Theme of social responsibility

This quote shows Sheila’s metamorphosis (transformation)

Priestley uses the stage directions to juxtapose Sheila’s earlier stage when she was excited to receive the ring.

Sheila’s rejection of that ring symbolically displays her growth and her rejection of materialism and capitalism, the dismissal of capitalism. Alleviating herself of the capitalist values she was brought up with and asserts her independence.

Not dependent on her parents like she used to be, she can form her own opinions.

The way Sheila gains a voice and gains power as the play progresses mirrors the feminist movement, Sheila’s transformation seems to mirror the rise of the suffrage movement.

The Edwardian audience was experiencing some radical changes in women demanding and gaining more rights so Sheila as a character is a microcosm, she is a small symbol for the beginning of feminism.

Priestley uses her character as a vehicle to covey the message to the audience that just like Sheila gained a voice, the other women should gain a voice too.

Theme of gender role, change and independence

The commas show Asyndetic listing which demonstrates all the things going on in Sheila’s mind

Inspector is able to empathise with women as effectively as he empathies with the working class therefore he is a voice for all the voiceless minority groups not just the poor

Inspector empathises that if Sheila leaves now, she will feel isolated in her own guilt, the Inspector makes her stay so that everyone takes responsibility and not just one person. Theme of social responsibility

Theme of social responsibility

Priestley uses the inspector to voice his opinions about the role the rich should also play, he says that they responsibilities for everyone too, just like everybody else

“p” plosive alliteration demonstrating the inspector’s disapproving tone for the rich

The inspector argues that with great power comes great responsibility. Priestley’s message which promotes social duty over individual gain

Highlights the contrast between what Mr Birling believes and what the Inspector believes, reflects their opposing views

The play was written after WWII when Britain was reconsidering its social structure. Priestley wanted to encourage a more equal society and wanted the wealthy to care more about the welfare of everyone

Theme of capitalism vs socialism and social responsibility

Mrs Birling’s narrowed, ignorant mind cannot process that an alderman can be a rapist, as he harasses Daisy at the Palace bar

The family are learning truths, which should have been obvious. This shows that capitalism blinds the rich in seeing anything wrong with the people in their class.

Priestley conveys that just because you are rich doesn’t mean it makes you a better and more respectable person. He shows that the rich are blind sided to believing that

Ironic as Mrs Birling prides herself on her social class and is surprised to hear that someone of the same class of her is involved in such scandalous behaviour

Theme of reputation and social class

empathies the message that it’s the future (younger) generation who can make the change and will not repeat the same mistake as the older generation

Foreshadows that Sheila and Eric will reject their parents’ views , reinforcing social change.

Sheila and Eric learn from the inspector and feel remorse for their actions

Theme of younger vs older generation and social change

Mrs Birling cannot comprehend that a working class person would ever reject money.

Her stereotype of the working class

Mrs Birling’s disdain for the working class, she assumes that women like Eva are morally weak, reinforces class divide

Ironic because Mrs Birling runs a charity yet she lacks empathy for Eva’s situation

Priestley critiques the upper class’s ignorance and arrogance, showing how they judge the poor unfairly

Theme of social class/ divide

Mrs Birling thinks she’s very smart. she is hubristic

The conjunction “but” dismisses the part of what she was saying, she didn’t actually mean what she had said.

Empathises her selfish and detached nature

Priestley critiques the upper class’s refusal to accept responsibility

Theme of social class and capitalism vs socialism

The conditional clause “if” shows she is doing the inspectors’ job.

The alliteration of the hard “c” sound demonstrates how excited she is that she’s saving her family’s reputation.

“his responsibility”- she doesn’t care who’s other’s future she is ruining as long as she is saving hers.

Priestley shows the selfishness of capitalism as the young idler who Mrs Birling said should take responsibility is her own son.

Mrs Birling has caused her own son’s downfall by putting all the blame on her son.

Her demand for a public confession backfires as she unknowingly sets up Eric’s downfall, when she realises it she is shocked and horrified

Priestley’s message is that the upper class judge others harshly while failing to recognise their own flaws

Theme of capitalism vs socialism

Repetition of “you”, directly addresses Mrs Birling, it’s accusatory and it forces her to reflect on the part she has played to lead Eva Smith to die

compels her to think about her maternal role as a mother and her lack of compassion which she stills maintains

Symbolism of the “door” is both literal and metaphorical, representing the upper class’s refusal to help the working class

Priestley shows the selfishness of the upper class

Theme of social responsibility