, An Inspector Calls – Key Concepts
Responsibility can be divided into different categories:
Political - e.g., introducing welfare schemes (1948 – NHS introduced under Atlee)
Societal - e.g., taking collective accountability for injustice (1942 Beveridge Report)
Industrial - e.g., employment support schemes (1946 National insurance Act)
Mrs Birling & Responsibility
Attempts to present herself as a philanthropist through her charitable work – however simply does it
for self-aggrandising purposes
o This is seen in her refusal to help Eva – “I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim”
o Mrs Birling’s help is limited to those who she believes ‘deserves’ help
She epitomises hypocrisy through her apparent use of double standards
o She thought Eva should make the “father responsible” and that “he must at least support
her”
o Mrs Birling initially “blame[d] the young man who was the father”, and states that “he
should be made an example of”.
o Once finding out that Eric was the father, she soon retracts from this stance and declares that
“there must be some mistake”
Class barriers prohibit social responsibility
“…unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”, the titanic serves as a microcosmic illustration, reflecting
broader examples of class division within society
The few affluent people on the titanic were provided with safety boats, whereas the majority lower
class passengers were denied help and as a result suffered
This clearly demonstrates the favouring of upper-class individuals in society, and the consequential
impact it has on lower-class members
Perhaps the titanic reference also serves as a cautionary figure of the class division that will soon, and
unexpectedly be challenged by a metaphorical iceberg, seeking to confront and dismantle oppressing
hierarchical structures
The titanic goes down in the same way as class structure in Britain, that is destabilised as a
consequence of WW1
o This is due to ordinary people being promoted to higher ranks in WW1, which were initially
intended for upper-class individuals
o Also due to the class mixing within the trenches
o There is seismic change post 1912, as a result of WW1
Also demonstrates Mr Birling’s ignorance as the titanic did sink
The “…unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” quote structurally juxtaposes the quote that says, “if we
were all mixed up together like bees in a hive”.
Upper class is entirely exclusive, but money grants you the ability to permeate through
Mr Birling says, “we play golf together sometimes”, and the Inspector responds with “I don’t play
golf”
Golf is an undeniably exclusive sport as it requires expensive equipment
Here golf is symbolic of the exclusivity of class, and the overt arrogance is fosters
The Inspector punctures through Mr Birling’s class arrogance through his lack of desire to play golf,
and therefore lack of desire to transcend class
Gerald’s refusal to accept accountability is because he has the most to lose
Responsibility can be divided into different categories:
Political - e.g., introducing welfare schemes (1948 – NHS introduced under Atlee)
Societal - e.g., taking collective accountability for injustice (1942 Beveridge Report)
Industrial - e.g., employment support schemes (1946 National insurance Act)
Mrs Birling & Responsibility
Attempts to present herself as a philanthropist through her charitable work – however simply does it
for self-aggrandising purposes
o This is seen in her refusal to help Eva – “I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim”
o Mrs Birling’s help is limited to those who she believes ‘deserves’ help
She epitomises hypocrisy through her apparent use of double standards
o She thought Eva should make the “father responsible” and that “he must at least support
her”
o Mrs Birling initially “blame[d] the young man who was the father”, and states that “he
should be made an example of”.
o Once finding out that Eric was the father, she soon retracts from this stance and declares that
“there must be some mistake”
Class barriers prohibit social responsibility
“…unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”, the titanic serves as a microcosmic illustration, reflecting
broader examples of class division within society
The few affluent people on the titanic were provided with safety boats, whereas the majority lower
class passengers were denied help and as a result suffered
This clearly demonstrates the favouring of upper-class individuals in society, and the consequential
impact it has on lower-class members
Perhaps the titanic reference also serves as a cautionary figure of the class division that will soon, and
unexpectedly be challenged by a metaphorical iceberg, seeking to confront and dismantle oppressing
hierarchical structures
The titanic goes down in the same way as class structure in Britain, that is destabilised as a
consequence of WW1
o This is due to ordinary people being promoted to higher ranks in WW1, which were initially
intended for upper-class individuals
o Also due to the class mixing within the trenches
o There is seismic change post 1912, as a result of WW1
Also demonstrates Mr Birling’s ignorance as the titanic did sink
The “…unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” quote structurally juxtaposes the quote that says, “if we
were all mixed up together like bees in a hive”.
Upper class is entirely exclusive, but money grants you the ability to permeate through
Mr Birling says, “we play golf together sometimes”, and the Inspector responds with “I don’t play
golf”
Golf is an undeniably exclusive sport as it requires expensive equipment
Here golf is symbolic of the exclusivity of class, and the overt arrogance is fosters
The Inspector punctures through Mr Birling’s class arrogance through his lack of desire to play golf,
and therefore lack of desire to transcend class
Gerald’s refusal to accept accountability is because he has the most to lose
