AN INSPECTOR CALLS STUDY SET EXAM
Arthur Birling- key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: GREED
Arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow minded
Their provincial accent and vocabulary, stubbornly lacking in subtlety, give
evidence of his upward social mobility
Dominant and controlling
Priestley discredits him using dramatic irony
His view of this future prosperity are naive and with hindsight, unfounded
suggesting...
His political and ideological ideas are flawed
Believes progress is measured by industrial advances
Makes desperate gestures that seem futile in the face of the Inspector- weak and
backward-looking
Demonstrates the generation gap as he has issues with Eric
This causes the audience to respond in frustration
Represents an obstacle HOWEVER reassures us that with the passing of
the Edwardian age and the knowledge of the next 30 years
He is the past
Sybil Birling- Key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: PRIDE
Cold, lacking emotions- a product of Victorian stoicism
Socially superior to her husband
Different to Mr Birling: aware of the differences between the social classes yet
seeks to maintain the status quo
Incapable of humility, self-examination:
, Believes that because of their position in the community they are above
criticism
Insulated by her husbands wealth
Motivated by her controlling nature
Embodiment of what is obnoxious of the ruling class
The most resistant to the Inspector
Grasps eagerly at the idea that if the Inspector is not genuine, they can and
indeed go on behaving as they have
Gerald- key ideas - ANSWER Irresponsible, insulated
His duplicitous and complacent way of life will jeopardise his plan to marry
Sheila- punishment?
To marry Sheila would be to ignore his misbehaviour
Does not admit his involvement at first in an attempt to protect his interests
Gerald drives the theory that the Inspector is fake
Does not change by the end of the play, protects his reputation
Birling's ideal son. To him, Gerald represents integrity and guarantees profit
HOWEVER he repeats an ongoing lie
Eric- key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: Lust
Awkward and unsure of himself- a product of his parent's behaviour
Clear tension between his father, resents him for his coldness and distance
Challenges his father
Has no support, neglected
Frustration motivates his behaviour and heavy drinking
Explosive- unequipped to reach the outside world
Arthur Birling- key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: GREED
Arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow minded
Their provincial accent and vocabulary, stubbornly lacking in subtlety, give
evidence of his upward social mobility
Dominant and controlling
Priestley discredits him using dramatic irony
His view of this future prosperity are naive and with hindsight, unfounded
suggesting...
His political and ideological ideas are flawed
Believes progress is measured by industrial advances
Makes desperate gestures that seem futile in the face of the Inspector- weak and
backward-looking
Demonstrates the generation gap as he has issues with Eric
This causes the audience to respond in frustration
Represents an obstacle HOWEVER reassures us that with the passing of
the Edwardian age and the knowledge of the next 30 years
He is the past
Sybil Birling- Key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: PRIDE
Cold, lacking emotions- a product of Victorian stoicism
Socially superior to her husband
Different to Mr Birling: aware of the differences between the social classes yet
seeks to maintain the status quo
Incapable of humility, self-examination:
, Believes that because of their position in the community they are above
criticism
Insulated by her husbands wealth
Motivated by her controlling nature
Embodiment of what is obnoxious of the ruling class
The most resistant to the Inspector
Grasps eagerly at the idea that if the Inspector is not genuine, they can and
indeed go on behaving as they have
Gerald- key ideas - ANSWER Irresponsible, insulated
His duplicitous and complacent way of life will jeopardise his plan to marry
Sheila- punishment?
To marry Sheila would be to ignore his misbehaviour
Does not admit his involvement at first in an attempt to protect his interests
Gerald drives the theory that the Inspector is fake
Does not change by the end of the play, protects his reputation
Birling's ideal son. To him, Gerald represents integrity and guarantees profit
HOWEVER he repeats an ongoing lie
Eric- key ideas - ANSWER 7 sins: Lust
Awkward and unsure of himself- a product of his parent's behaviour
Clear tension between his father, resents him for his coldness and distance
Challenges his father
Has no support, neglected
Frustration motivates his behaviour and heavy drinking
Explosive- unequipped to reach the outside world
