Responsibility in Inspector Calls
Eric and Sheila take ownership and reponsibility for their actions, more than the adults
Gerald takes responsibility and admits to his affair that he had with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton and appreciates why Shelia wants to cut off the engagement.
inspector is encouraging the birlings to take responsibility
many people in real society are mistreated just like eva smith
trying to make a statement
By the end of the play, we realise that all of the characters eventually take responsibility that they had a small part in Eva Smith killing herself
priestly shows the audience that all actions have concequences
mr birling only cares for himself and refuses to take responsibility throught the play
hes oblivious to what others may be going through- nor does he care
priestly suggests his lack of responsibility and compassion is linked to his upper class
capitalist views
"we employers at last are coming together to see that our interests- and interests of the capital- are protected" Mr Birling
this presents mr birling's interest in money which conveys the capitalist views he has.
'we are all members of one body' - it shows responsibility
mr birling also tells the inspector "it's my duty to keep labour costs down"
money > workers welfare
It shows that they realise that everyone has a part to the bigger image and it all results in one answer
in 1912, society was very patriarchal, women having near to no rights and the suffragette movement happening just 9 years before.
In 1912, there was a strong division between upper and lower classes and women were considered lower then men in general
In the time period of 1912 - 1945 there was a Russian Revolution with the two appalling world wars, the Holocaust and and Atom Bomb
there was a fine divide between the gender roles and low-high class
very hierarchal society
Class
Class
Ending :
Mr Birling
Gerald
Mr Birling
sheila gets jealous of her, because Eva prettier than her, and Eva laughed when Sheila tried on the dress
The Men automatically thought very sexually of eve, including when eric forced himself on her
Gender
this could be because they are younger, and leaning more toward socialism as they go into the newer days
Mr and Mrs birling are almost stuck in the past, with past views
Generation Gap
eric can ask for help or take responsibility because of his fathers views
Family Life
wants to be accepted by father
"If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we'd had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn't it?"
Mr Birling
'all like bees in one hive'