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An Inspector Calls- Key Quotes and Themes :man_in_business_suit_levitating…
An Inspector Calls- Key Quotes and Themes :man_in_business_suit_levitating: :mag_right:
Social Responsiblity
Capitalism vs Socialism
"A man has to mind his business and look after himself"- Mr Birling
By antagonising Mr Birling's character, Priestley demonises Capitalism so the audience questions the sociey around them as well as their own views as many would align to Mr Birling's beliefs
"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"- dramatic irony. Illustrates naievety and arrogance. It was a shocking event, painting his character as insensitive and audiences would be shocked to hear the tragedy talked about in this way
CONTEXT
Firmly against socialism, the opposing view to Preistley's socialist beliefs. Illustrates his capitalistic views, how success is based on independent work
"His"- links to gender roles and how the man is the head of the house
The Inspector
"He will be taught it in fire, and blood, and anguish"
Gender
The Role of Women :woman::skin-tone-2:
"A pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited"- stage directions about Shelia
"Pretty"- emphasises how women are objectified and often sexualised. An extra to the men in their lives. Illustrates how significant looks are for a woman to be successful
Young, engaged to Gerald Croft "about thirty". Sheila may have married out of love yet Gerald married for her youth and her family
Stereotypical respresentation of young women, "pleased" "excited", extremely naieve
The Role of Men :man::skin-tone-2:
"A man has to make his own way"- Mr Birling
It's a self made world- those who do not work hard will not recieve the benefits like Birling has
Does not recognise the injustices or the obstacles many have to face to try and reach the success Mr Birling has, plus he isn't even the most successful- only being upper-middle class. The Birlings aren't necessarily the height of luxury
Highlights how everyone is part of the problem, not the most elite: if you have power, you have significant responsiblity of those you have power over
"His"- throughout the speech he uses masculine pronouns, holding the belief that the man is the "bread-winner". The man is someone wh9o provides and is the top of the patriarchy
Will defend the patriarchy no matter what
Addressing the men present (Eric and Gerald) in an egotistic speech. Believes he is enlightening them with power and knowledge although at this point, the dramatic irony and ignorance Birling has spewed causes the audience to antagonise his character so his dialogue becomes less and less reliable
Class
Social hierarchy
"Girls of that class" - Mrs Birling
"That"- shows her disdain and judgement of lower classes as if she feel dirty or wrong for talking about the working class
"Girls"- she doesn't consider them to be women, suggests Mrs Birling believes the lower classes are immature and reckless furthering a belief that the lower class are to blame for their position
Mrs Birling does not care for Eva Smith or people like her and is fully supportive of the current hierarchy, slightly hypocritical as she married Mr Birling- someone who was in a lower class than her.
She feels no responsibility in Eva's death or situation: firmly in a belief that those in lower classes have brought this situation upon themselves
Illustrates how her postion in the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation is performative. It looks better on her to others if she fakes sympathy and appears charitable. She only associates with people from lower classes should it benefit her
A "social superior"- class is pivotal to her character, she represents classism, a construct for class
The Character of Edna "The Parlourmaid"
Only addressed by her job, showing her as the lowest of the hierarchy- is is of no importance to characters such as Birling or Gerald
Birling converses fragmetally and with speed to Edna- clear power difference. Use of imperatives in his speech to her clearly shows the power the Birlings have over the working class
"An inspector's called"- introduces the Inspector, perhaps symbolic of how his ideas significantly aid those in Edna's position. Someone like her character would be the most welcoming of the change Priestley hopes to give
Practically says the name of the play, highlighting the significance of the Inspector's ideals on the lives of the working class
Very small role and very small part in the play, perhaps done by Priestley to highlight how insignificant poeple like Edna seem in the lives of the Birlings although they practically rely on her
Age
The Older Generation
The Younger Generation
Shelia
Both represent hope and change in future, they aren't as stuck in the same closested mindset like their parents
Symbolic of Priestley's hope in the younger generation and his wish for change
Perhaps Priestley could be critical of the younger generation. From how he presents these characters, it could suggest both characters are still ecouraging these behaviours
Despite there being a hope for change, the reality is likely that they won't do anything. Perhaps a message for the audience who may not do anything after watching the play
Eric