An Inspector Calls
Context:
❏ Play written by J.B Priestley in 1945 but set in 1912 in an industrial city in North Midlands.
❏ Was Priestley's plea for a fairer and more equal society
❏ Play was to inform post-war society about socialist values
❏ Individual desire vs. societal expectations
Quotes:
❏ “Pink and intimate”
❏ “Brighter and harder” when inspector arrives- he’ll put the Birling family under a harsh light
❏ “Good solid furniture”
❏ “As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded the curtains rise”
Mr Birling Mrs Birling Gerald Croft
❏ “I'm talking as a hard-headed, ❏ “No-Eric please- I didn’t ❏ “The girl gave me a glance
practical man of business” know- I didn’t understand” that was nothing less than a
❏ "Clothes mean something ❏ “You have no power to make cry for help”
quite different to a woman. me change my mind” ❏ “Young women ought to be
Not just something to wear - ❏ “I consider I did my duty” protected against
and not only something to ❏ “Well why shouldn't we?” unpleasant and disturbing
make 'em look prettier'" ❏ “When you’re married you’ll things”
❏ "Is there any reason why my realise that men with ❏ “Everything’s alright now,
wife should answer questions important work to do Sheila”
from you, Inspector?" sometimes have to spend ❏ “We’re respectable citizens,
❏ “A man has to make his own nearly all their time and not criminals”
way, has to look after himself” energy on their business” ❏ “She didn’t blame me at all.
❏ “A man has to mind his own ❏ “Girls of that class” I wish to God she had now”
business and look after ❏ “Absurd in a girl in her ❏ “I don’t come into this
himself” position” suicide business”
❏ “Community and all that ❏ “Go and look for the father ❏ “I didn’t ask for anything in
nonsense” of the child. It’s his return”
❏ “I’ve got to cover this up as responsibility” ❏ “She was pretty- soft brown
soon as I can” (Eric’s money ❏ “I did nothing that I’m hair and big dark eyes”
problem) ashamed of” ❏ “We’d have done the same
❏ “There’ll be a public scandal” ❏ “As if a girl of that class thing”
❏ “There’s every excuse for both would refuse money” ❏ “I wasn’t telling you a
what your mother and I did” ❏ “I don’t suppose for a complete lie”
❏ “There’ll be a public scandal” moment why the girl ❏ “I was sorry for her”
❏ “I was almost certain for a committed suicide” ❏ “I didn’t install her there to
knighthood” ❏ “She only has herself to make love to her”
❏ “Unsinkable, absolutely blame” ❏ “It’s what happened to her
unsinkable” ❏ “He’s only a boy” after she left Mr Birling’s
❏ “A man should make his own ❏ “I am sorry she had to come workplace that matters”
way” to such a horrible end but I ❏ “I didn’t feel about her as
❏ “Wretched girl’s suicide” accept no blame in it at all” she felt about me”
❏ “Cover this up” ❏ “Please don’t contradict me ❏ “I’m rather more upset
❏ “Socialist views and all that like that” than I seem to be”
nonsense” ❏ “It’s disgusting to me” ❏ “I’ve just taken it in- she’s
❏ “All nonsense” dead
Sheila Birling Eric Birling Inspector Goole
❏ “We really must stop these ❏ “I wasn’t in love with her, I ❏ “We are all part of one
Context:
❏ Play written by J.B Priestley in 1945 but set in 1912 in an industrial city in North Midlands.
❏ Was Priestley's plea for a fairer and more equal society
❏ Play was to inform post-war society about socialist values
❏ Individual desire vs. societal expectations
Quotes:
❏ “Pink and intimate”
❏ “Brighter and harder” when inspector arrives- he’ll put the Birling family under a harsh light
❏ “Good solid furniture”
❏ “As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded the curtains rise”
Mr Birling Mrs Birling Gerald Croft
❏ “I'm talking as a hard-headed, ❏ “No-Eric please- I didn’t ❏ “The girl gave me a glance
practical man of business” know- I didn’t understand” that was nothing less than a
❏ "Clothes mean something ❏ “You have no power to make cry for help”
quite different to a woman. me change my mind” ❏ “Young women ought to be
Not just something to wear - ❏ “I consider I did my duty” protected against
and not only something to ❏ “Well why shouldn't we?” unpleasant and disturbing
make 'em look prettier'" ❏ “When you’re married you’ll things”
❏ "Is there any reason why my realise that men with ❏ “Everything’s alright now,
wife should answer questions important work to do Sheila”
from you, Inspector?" sometimes have to spend ❏ “We’re respectable citizens,
❏ “A man has to make his own nearly all their time and not criminals”
way, has to look after himself” energy on their business” ❏ “She didn’t blame me at all.
❏ “A man has to mind his own ❏ “Girls of that class” I wish to God she had now”
business and look after ❏ “Absurd in a girl in her ❏ “I don’t come into this
himself” position” suicide business”
❏ “Community and all that ❏ “Go and look for the father ❏ “I didn’t ask for anything in
nonsense” of the child. It’s his return”
❏ “I’ve got to cover this up as responsibility” ❏ “She was pretty- soft brown
soon as I can” (Eric’s money ❏ “I did nothing that I’m hair and big dark eyes”
problem) ashamed of” ❏ “We’d have done the same
❏ “There’ll be a public scandal” ❏ “As if a girl of that class thing”
❏ “There’s every excuse for both would refuse money” ❏ “I wasn’t telling you a
what your mother and I did” ❏ “I don’t suppose for a complete lie”
❏ “There’ll be a public scandal” moment why the girl ❏ “I was sorry for her”
❏ “I was almost certain for a committed suicide” ❏ “I didn’t install her there to
knighthood” ❏ “She only has herself to make love to her”
❏ “Unsinkable, absolutely blame” ❏ “It’s what happened to her
unsinkable” ❏ “He’s only a boy” after she left Mr Birling’s
❏ “A man should make his own ❏ “I am sorry she had to come workplace that matters”
way” to such a horrible end but I ❏ “I didn’t feel about her as
❏ “Wretched girl’s suicide” accept no blame in it at all” she felt about me”
❏ “Cover this up” ❏ “Please don’t contradict me ❏ “I’m rather more upset
❏ “Socialist views and all that like that” than I seem to be”
nonsense” ❏ “It’s disgusting to me” ❏ “I’ve just taken it in- she’s
❏ “All nonsense” dead
Sheila Birling Eric Birling Inspector Goole
❏ “We really must stop these ❏ “I wasn’t in love with her, I ❏ “We are all part of one
