Inspector Calls – Key Quotes
Mr Birling:
- “unsinkable, absolutely, unsinkable” – Priestley uses dramatic irony to present Mr B as
arrogant and foolish. Repetition – effect?
- “community and all that nonsense”
- “man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his….”
- “we’ve been had that’s all” – Priestley is highlighting that Mr B has not changed or been
affected by events in any way. What does the phrase “that’s all” reveal?
Mrs Birling:
-“girls of that class” – reveals Mrs B’s superior and pompous attitude. The word “that”
suggests she thinks of working-class people as almost a different species. Priestley is
highlighting the snobbery and judgement towards the lower classes.
-“if you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon my Inspector, you’re quite mistaken”
-“You have no power to make me change my mind”
-“I was the only one who didn’t give in to him”
Sheila:
-“Look mummy, isn’t it a beauty?” – start of the play. “mummy” vs “mother” later in the
play highlights…?
-“I’ll never, never, do it to anybody again” – After she realises what she has done. Change in
attitude. Repetition of ‘never’ highlights what?
-“It frightens me the way you talk” – at the end of the play. Sheila realises what her parents
are really like – loss of naivety
“The point is – you don’t seem to have learnt anything” – to her parents at the end of the
play.
25Eric:
- “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” – when he forces himself on Eva.
Reveals gender and class roles/expectations. Felt he could use Eva as she was lower class.
-“the girl’s dead and we all killed her” – at the end of the play Eric is filled with guilt and
remorse. What does the word “we” reveal? Link to the Inspector’s quote below.
- “you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”
Inspector:
-“It’s better to ask for the earth than take it”
-“We are members of one body” – In his final speech – what does this metaphor suggest? If
we are all connected, what are the consequences if one part of the ‘body’ is damaged?
-“There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still with us” –
Priestley’s wider message about social responsibility is shown here. He uses the repetition
of ‘millions’ to the huge number of working poor who need protection and support. He
chooses the name ‘Smith’ as it is the most common name.
Gerald:
-"She was young and pretty and warm-hearted - and intensely grateful." – wanted to rescue
her for a while
-“It may have all been nonsense” – trying to protect himself and not focusing on his actions
like Sheila and Eric
- “those hard-eyed, dough-faced women” talking about working class prostitutes