‘AN INSPECTOR CALLS’ QUOTATIONS BY CHARACTER
MR BIRLING MRS BIRLING ERIC SHEILA GERALD THE INSPECTOR
‘…Crofts and Birlings… working ‘When you’re married you’ll realise ‘What about war?’ ‘Careful! I’ll never let it go out of ‘I’ve told you – I was awfully busy at ‘He creates at once an impression
together, for lower costs and higher that men with important work to my sight for an instant.’ the works at the time.’ of massiveness, solidity and
prices.’ do sometimes have to spend nearly ‘What’s the joke? Started telling purposefulness’
all their time and energy on their stories?’ ‘I can’t help thinking about this girl ‘And I drink to you – and hope I can
‘We’re in for a time of steadily business. You’ll have to get used to – destroying herself so horribly…’ make you as happy as you deserve ‘She’d swallowed a lot of strong
increasing prosperity.’ that, just as I had.’ to be.’ disinfectant.’
‘Yes, you’ve piled it on a bit tonight,
Father’ ‘You talk as if we were responsible.’
‘I’m talking as a hard-headed, ‘Girls of that class-’ ‘You seem to be a nice well- ‘She was in great agony.’
practical man of business. And I say ‘He could have kept her on instead ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour behaved family’
there isn’t a chance of war.’ ‘Though naturally I don’t know of throwing her out. I call it tough – they’re people.’ ‘A chain of events.’
anything about this girl.’ luck.’ ‘Unless Eric’s been up to
There’ll be peace and prosperity ‘So I’m really responsible?’ something. And that would be ‘There are a lot of young women
and rapid progress everywhere.’ ‘We’ve done a great deal of useful ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher awkward, wouldn’t it?’ living that sort of existence in every
work in helping deserving cases.’ wages?’ city and big town in this country.’
‘If I could help her now, I would.’
‘I don’t want to lecture you two ‘It’s a favourite haunt of women of
fellows again.’ ‘I think she had only herself to ‘Could I have a drink first?’ the town –‘ ‘A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively
blame.’ ‘It’s the only time I’ve ever done
anything like that, and I’ll never, sort of girl, who never did anybody
‘Community and all that nonsense’ ‘I was in that state when a chap never do it again.’ ‘I made her go to Morgan Terrace any harm.’
‘I didn’t like her manner.’ easily turns nasty.’ because I was sorry for her… I
‘Just keep quiet, Eric, and don’t get didn’t ask for anything in return.’ ‘If there’s nothing else, we’ll have
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind
excited.’ ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’ ‘She was pretty and a good sport.’ of wall between us and that girl.’ to share our guilt.’
‘I became at once the most
‘It has nothing to do with the ‘I used my influence to have it important person in her life.’ ‘Public men, Mr Birling, have
‘You’re not the kind of father a cha ‘No, he’s giving us the rope – so
wretched girl’s suicide.’ refused.’ could go to when he’s in trouble – that we’ll hang ourselves.’ responsibilities as well as
that’s why.’ ‘She was very gallant about it.’ privileges.’
‘I can’t accept any responsibility.’ ‘You have no power to make me ‘And probably between us we killed
change my mind.’ ‘Then – you killed her. She came to her.’ ‘I’m rather more – upset – by this ‘I shall do my duty.’
‘She was a lively good looking-girl.’ you to protect me’ business than I probably appear to
‘I’ve done nothing wrong – and you be.’ ‘Each of you helped to kill her.’
‘You were the wonderful Fairy
‘There isn’t the slightest reason know it.’ ‘My God – I’m not likely to forget.’ Prince. You must have adored it,
why my daughter should be Gerald.’ ‘That man wasn’t a police officer.’ ‘Remember what you did.’
dragged into this unpleasant ‘Go and look for the father of the ‘The money’s not the important
business.’ child. It’s his responsibility.’ thing. It’s what happened to the girl ‘I rather respect you more than I’ve ‘But how do we know it’s the same ‘There are millions and millions and
and what we all did to her that ever done before.’ girl?’ millions of Eva Smiths and John
‘It isn’t going to do us much good. ‘She was here alone, friendless, matters.’ Smiths…’
The Press might easily take it up-‘ almost penniless, desperate.’ ‘You and I aren’t the same people ‘Everything’s all right now, Sheila.
‘You lot may be letting yourselves who sat down to dinner here.’ What about this ring?’ ‘We are members of one body. We
‘Look, Inspector – I’d give ‘As if a girl of that sort would ever out nicely, but I can’t.’ are responsible for each other.’
thousands – yes, thousands ‘ refuse money.’ ‘I suppose we’re all nice people
now.’ ‘They will be taught it in fire and
‘There’ll be a public scandal.’ ‘I accept no blame for it at all.’ blood and anguish.’
‘The famous younger generation ‘You don’t get drunk.’
who know it all. And they can’t
even take a joke-‘ ‘If you want to know, it’s you two
MR BIRLING MRS BIRLING ERIC SHEILA GERALD THE INSPECTOR
‘…Crofts and Birlings… working ‘When you’re married you’ll realise ‘What about war?’ ‘Careful! I’ll never let it go out of ‘I’ve told you – I was awfully busy at ‘He creates at once an impression
together, for lower costs and higher that men with important work to my sight for an instant.’ the works at the time.’ of massiveness, solidity and
prices.’ do sometimes have to spend nearly ‘What’s the joke? Started telling purposefulness’
all their time and energy on their stories?’ ‘I can’t help thinking about this girl ‘And I drink to you – and hope I can
‘We’re in for a time of steadily business. You’ll have to get used to – destroying herself so horribly…’ make you as happy as you deserve ‘She’d swallowed a lot of strong
increasing prosperity.’ that, just as I had.’ to be.’ disinfectant.’
‘Yes, you’ve piled it on a bit tonight,
Father’ ‘You talk as if we were responsible.’
‘I’m talking as a hard-headed, ‘Girls of that class-’ ‘You seem to be a nice well- ‘She was in great agony.’
practical man of business. And I say ‘He could have kept her on instead ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour behaved family’
there isn’t a chance of war.’ ‘Though naturally I don’t know of throwing her out. I call it tough – they’re people.’ ‘A chain of events.’
anything about this girl.’ luck.’ ‘Unless Eric’s been up to
There’ll be peace and prosperity ‘So I’m really responsible?’ something. And that would be ‘There are a lot of young women
and rapid progress everywhere.’ ‘We’ve done a great deal of useful ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher awkward, wouldn’t it?’ living that sort of existence in every
work in helping deserving cases.’ wages?’ city and big town in this country.’
‘If I could help her now, I would.’
‘I don’t want to lecture you two ‘It’s a favourite haunt of women of
fellows again.’ ‘I think she had only herself to ‘Could I have a drink first?’ the town –‘ ‘A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively
blame.’ ‘It’s the only time I’ve ever done
anything like that, and I’ll never, sort of girl, who never did anybody
‘Community and all that nonsense’ ‘I was in that state when a chap never do it again.’ ‘I made her go to Morgan Terrace any harm.’
‘I didn’t like her manner.’ easily turns nasty.’ because I was sorry for her… I
‘Just keep quiet, Eric, and don’t get didn’t ask for anything in return.’ ‘If there’s nothing else, we’ll have
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind
excited.’ ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’ ‘She was pretty and a good sport.’ of wall between us and that girl.’ to share our guilt.’
‘I became at once the most
‘It has nothing to do with the ‘I used my influence to have it important person in her life.’ ‘Public men, Mr Birling, have
‘You’re not the kind of father a cha ‘No, he’s giving us the rope – so
wretched girl’s suicide.’ refused.’ could go to when he’s in trouble – that we’ll hang ourselves.’ responsibilities as well as
that’s why.’ ‘She was very gallant about it.’ privileges.’
‘I can’t accept any responsibility.’ ‘You have no power to make me ‘And probably between us we killed
change my mind.’ ‘Then – you killed her. She came to her.’ ‘I’m rather more – upset – by this ‘I shall do my duty.’
‘She was a lively good looking-girl.’ you to protect me’ business than I probably appear to
‘I’ve done nothing wrong – and you be.’ ‘Each of you helped to kill her.’
‘You were the wonderful Fairy
‘There isn’t the slightest reason know it.’ ‘My God – I’m not likely to forget.’ Prince. You must have adored it,
why my daughter should be Gerald.’ ‘That man wasn’t a police officer.’ ‘Remember what you did.’
dragged into this unpleasant ‘Go and look for the father of the ‘The money’s not the important
business.’ child. It’s his responsibility.’ thing. It’s what happened to the girl ‘I rather respect you more than I’ve ‘But how do we know it’s the same ‘There are millions and millions and
and what we all did to her that ever done before.’ girl?’ millions of Eva Smiths and John
‘It isn’t going to do us much good. ‘She was here alone, friendless, matters.’ Smiths…’
The Press might easily take it up-‘ almost penniless, desperate.’ ‘You and I aren’t the same people ‘Everything’s all right now, Sheila.
‘You lot may be letting yourselves who sat down to dinner here.’ What about this ring?’ ‘We are members of one body. We
‘Look, Inspector – I’d give ‘As if a girl of that sort would ever out nicely, but I can’t.’ are responsible for each other.’
thousands – yes, thousands ‘ refuse money.’ ‘I suppose we’re all nice people
now.’ ‘They will be taught it in fire and
‘There’ll be a public scandal.’ ‘I accept no blame for it at all.’ blood and anguish.’
‘The famous younger generation ‘You don’t get drunk.’
who know it all. And they can’t
even take a joke-‘ ‘If you want to know, it’s you two
