A summary of themes that appear in An Inspector Calls + Quotes to support the themes + detailed explanations and contexts for each theme. Specifically made for AQA GCSE English Literature.
THEMES
Selfishness
Gender relationships / inequality / women / men
Social responsibility
Political ideas / beliefs
Old vs new generations
Social class
Relationships / friendships / love / family
Blame / responsibility
Conflict
Power /control
,SELFISHNESS
POINT QUOTE ANALYSIS
A product of • Mr B: “A man has to mind his own • “mind his own business” → literally mind your own business AND “business” as in “work”.
capitalism – business, take care of himself and his Demonstrates the idea of Mr. Birling being the perfect embodiment of capitalism as it is clearly
MR. BIRLING own.” (the inspector appears right prioritized in his mind – it is the first thing mentioned.
ESPECIALLYY after) • “Take care of himself and his own” → shows how capitalism creates selfishness. Capitalism
•Mr. B: “I’m talking as a hard-headed, conditions people into believing that they are most important, and should look after themselves
practical man of business”. before anyone else.
• CAPITALISM IS SELFISH!
• Mr. B describes the engagement party • (im talking as a..) Priestley uses language of the Labour Party manifesto – to turn it into a drama
as “one of the happiest nights of my his audience can relate to
life.” *BATHOS ! • Allusion of the language of Sir Stanley Baldwin (3x Prime minister 1912-1939) which is the period
• “Crofts and Birlings are no longer that the play covers. Everyone would have known about Sir Stanley Baldwin’s words, about the
competing”. “hard-headed businessmen”, as he accused them of profiting off of war.
• Mr. Birling describes the engagement party as “one of the happiest nights of my life”. Naturally,
the audience understands why he is happy - his daughter is getting engaged, after all. However, it is
then revealed that he simply views the engagement as a business transaction.
• Treats Sheila’s marriage as a business → Sheila is ‘his own’, linking her to ‘business’.
• The words “hard-headed” “practical” are repeated. (Repetition) to show Birling’s obsession with
business. Shows how capitalism can corrupt someone’s mind, causing them to be selfish and only
think of themselves.
Mr. Birling Birling: “I’d give thousands –yes, • Mr. Birling is offering the Inspector “thousands” to cover up this “Scandal”.
and the thousands-“ • Ironic, because he didn’t want to raise Eva’s salary/other worker’s salary
workers Inspector: “You’re offering money at • Inspector interrupts, showing he has more power than Birling
the wrong time, Mr. Birling.” • “wrong time” → inspector is suggesting that Birling should’ve raised the salaries instead of paying
thousands to cover up this situation. If he had just raised the salaries, none of this would’ve
happened. This shows that the inspector is an ally of the working class.
• He is selfish because he didn’t want to help others when he could – he clearly has enough money
to do so. He is selfish because he is paying such a large amount to avoid responsibility and shame.
Sheila – • “I went to the manager at Milwards • 7 Deadly Sins → Envy
selfish AT and I told him that if they didn’t get rid
FIRST. of that girl..”
, • “I was furious with her. I’d been in a • Arguably, Sheila’s actions were worse that her father’s. Eva previously worked at a factor
HOWEVER, bad temper anyhow”. (Birling’s), and her working environment at Milward was clearly much better – much cleaner, and
SHE MAY • “So I’m really responsible?” calmer.
ALSO COME • Sheila: “And I believe what you told us • Sheila uses her social status to her advantage – she is a higher class than Eva.
ACROSS AS about the way you helped her at first.
SELFLESS Just out of pity. And it was my fault • She takes the blame for why Daisy was so desperate. (“and it was my fault really..”). This is
DUE TO THE really that she was so desperate when partially true, as she got her sacked from Milwards, but she is blaming herself more than she blames
PATRIARCHY. you first met her.” (act 2) Gerald – symbolic of how women behave in patriarchal society. Women were raised to excuse the
actions of men.
The • Eric: “She wasn’t the usual sort” • “usual” → Eva was not like the others. Suggests getting with prostitutes is a common occurance
exploitation • “Yes, I insisted, it seems” for him.
of women - • “Yes. I wasn’t in love with her or • “insisted” → he indirectly admits he forced himself onto her. “It seems” reinforces the idea that
Eric anything – but I liked her – she was he was drunk, accentuating the fact that he is an alcoholic, and shows how he is distancing himself
pretty and a good sport –“ from guilt. However, “it seems” also suggests he may be willing to accept responsibility.
• He was “in that state when a chap • “I wasn’t in love with her or anything” → admits that he was just using her. “pretty and a good
easily turns nasty” sport”
• “Not really” (when asked if he stole
the money) • “in that state” → normalizes his disgusting behavior. He is justifying his actions, blatantly
admitting that his behavior is common to all men.
• “chap” → he distances himself from his actions – he refers to himself as “chap”.
• “not really” → he doesn’t admit that he stole money – he is not willing to change, even though he
learns the inspector’s lesson.
The •Sheila: “You were the wonderful Fairy • Kind, but deceitful – manipulative.
exploitation Prince. You must have adored it, • He is not cruel as the others. Despite this, he is capitalist, so his actions are cruel. (Daisy appears
of women - Gerald” to love him, but he still treats her as a commodity just as Birling does since he ends the affair and
Gerald Gerald: “All right – I did for a time. “discharges” her, just as Birling.
Nearly any man would have done.” • Gerald admits that he exploited Daisy (Eva) for his own benefit
Gerald: “Daisy knew it was coming to an • “Nearly any man would have done” → exposes how they live in a patriarchal society in which men
end”. exploit women for their own pleasure.
Gerald: “she’d lived very economically • “allowed her” → shows control of her
on what I’d allowed her.” • When his friend returns (who he got the flat from + where Daisy stayed) he gets rid if her – she is
not worth the rent of a flat – not worth anything at all. He may have made it appear as though she
was worth something to him – he manipulated her. Gerald is then shown as a despicable character,
even if he was her “fairy prince”.
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