An inspector calls TL
Characters
Inspector Goole
Mr Birling
Context
Mrs Birling
Gerald Croft
Shelia Birling
Eric Birling
Eva Smith/Daisy Renton
Titanic and war
Society
When
Summary
Quotes
Mouthpiece
By J.B Priestley
Before the Inspector arrives
During the inspector is there
When the inspector
leaves
After his exit, the Birlings initially fight among themselves. Sheila finally suggests that the Inspector might not have been a real police inspector. Gerald had just been talking to an officer who had not heard of “Goole”.
Realizing that they could each have been shown a different photograph, and after calling the Chief Constable to confirm their suspicions, Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald feel incredibly relieved. Gerald suggests that there were probably several different girls in each of their stories. They call the Infirmary and learn delightedly that no girl has died that night—the Infirmary has seen no suicide for months. Everyone, it throughly relaxed accept Sheila and Eric fail to agree with that sentiment and recognize the overall theme of responsibility.
The police ring revealing the play’s final twist: “That was the police. A girl has just died—on her way to the Infirmary—after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here—to ask some—questions—”
Throughout the middle of the play a lot happens: The Inspector - Goole - becomes very manipulative man . He ask question to every memeber of the Birling family and also Geral Croft (whose there due to his engagement party with Shelia . All of them have some sort of connections to the death of Eva Smith - or to some Daisy Renton.
The family and co show their difference to feel guilty and not guilty of the death of E.S/D.R.. During this climatic part of the play. The family finds out the reality of each memeber and there two-face hidden mischievous background.
Birling makes a lengthy speech, not only congratulating Gerald and Sheila, but also commenting on the state of the nation. He predicts prosperity, particularly referring to the example of the “unsinkable” Titanic, which set sail the week earlier. Birling styles himself as a “hard-headed man of business.”
The women leave the room, and Eric follows them. Birling and Gerald discuss the fact that Gerald might have “done better for [himself] socially”: Sheila is Gerald’s social inferior. Birling confides to Gerald that he is in the running for a knighthood in the next Honors List. When Eric returns, Birling continues giving advice, and he is passionately announcing his “every man for himself” worldview while slating socialism just before the door bell rings.
Set in 1912
Their engagement party
.
Main character
Commits suicide - drinks disinfectant
Has a connection with ever memeber of the Birling family
Very calm and relax character
WW1 is about to start
Mr Birling says the ships is “absolutely unsinkable”
Capitalism
That was the current society
Socialism
Want J.B Priestley wanted
“Millions and millions and millions of Eva Smith and John Smiths”
“We are all members of the same body”
Mouthpiece for Priestley
Socialist
Is father to E.S baby
Fires E.S for protesting about a pay rise at his company.
Her charity rejects to help pregnant woman - E.S
Calls herself Mrs Birling (due to her affair with Eric) to Mrs Birling’s charity
an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
a political and economic social organization which production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. (Equal)
Wrote in 1946
Mr Birling says - “The Germarns don’t want war” and “I say there isn’t a chance of war”
remains assertive throughout the play
"You're not telling me the truth"
A very manipulative man
Confident due to the fact he is speaking to a high-class family in their own house
Shelia to Sybil - “We really must stop these pretences”
Equal
.
Shows that Shelia is mature and knows that her mum should not lie. Also, shows that the Inspector will find out anyway.
Sybil to Goole - “I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation”
Tries to overpower Goole. and show her upper-class advantage (capitalism)
When trying on dresses a worker apparently smirks at her and tells the company (Milwards)
to fire her.
Jealousy - E.S suited the dress better
Uses her power
Gerald was “sorry for her”
Gave E.S/D.R a place to live and cared for her
She is a working class woman
Stole money from his father’s office
Has a drinking problem
Feels appalled by his parents lack of responsibility in the death of E.S/D.R
Shelia/Gerald/Eric - “pretty”
Talking abou E.S/D.R
Mr B - “But the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else”
Ironic- inspector Goole interrupts (rings doorbell)
Slates socialism
Does not feel responsible at all and tries to overpower inspector Goole
Change since the beginning of the play
.
Inspector Goole is very important for Priestley to help promote socialism and equality.
Ironic Titanic sinks.
WW1 starts in 1914
Eric -“(Eagerly) Yes, I remember - (but he checks himself.)
Eric may have wanted to refer to his time with E.S but quickly abrupt what he says keeping it a secret .
Foreshadowing
Very defensive in her case that she had nothing to do with the death of E.S/D.R
Also known as Sybil
Eric - “we all helped kill her”
Eric (a capitalist) saying something a socialist would say
Shows a very capitalist view
Selfish and demanding character
Sybil - “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him”
Snobbish comment towards everyone else
Tries to make others feel weaker and show her class and power
*Toby Locking
An Inspector Calls
10E3
N Harrison
Mr B towards Goole - “is there any reason why my wife should answer..”
Patriarchal head of the household (male ruling)
Mrs B doesn’t need to respond to Goole who is in a lower class
A capitalist society is very controversial in today’s world
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