Mr Birling - He is talking about the Titanic in this quotation. The technique used is dramatic irony as the audience know the Titanic has sunk.

Sheila - In this quotation tension and distrust between sheila and gerald can be seen, which foreshadows at what may be revealed later on in the play. 

“yes - except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and i wondered what had happened to you”

Mrs Birling - This quotation highlights the patriarchal society and suggest the wives have to be submissive to their husbands, and also implies that women have no need to work.

“men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had”

Mr Birling - once again use of dramatic irony as the audience already know that WW1 is coming and that there will be a second one after that. It makes Mr Birling seem uncreditable from the start.

“Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war”

sheila - this quotation shows sheila’s reaction to her engagement ring, this present the childish behaviour sheila has it also suggests she had a sheltered upbringing and is quite a materialistic person because of the excitement she got from seeing the ring.

“Oh - it’s wonderful! Look - Mummy - Isn’t it a beauty”

Mr Birling - It shows his little care for the lower class as he is dismissive of the subject and holds no empathy towards the situation.

Eric - Presents the younger generation changing to have more socailst views on society. It shows him going against his parents.

“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible price”

Sheila - Priestly using sheila to present his own views also highlighting the change of the younger generation, them starting to become more socialist. 

“These girl’s aren’t cheap labour - they’re people”

Mr Birling - It makes it seem as though Mr Birling feels he has to be rich and has to keep getting richer, presents the capitalist views that he has and implies he thinks that it what keeps society going.

“well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down”

The Inspector - Shows how the Birling share nothing with others but if they did they should share the guilt over their actions or else they will be unable to cope with what they had done. It also suggests the ideas of socialism and how things should be equal for all.

“You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt”

English (UK)

Important quotations from Act One in An Inspector Calls with who said them and explanations of each. 

Flashcard

Jess Doyle

United Kingdom

important quotations from act one in an inspector calls with who said them and explanations of each. 

Flashcards

English

an inspector calls quotations - act 1

DEFAULT (England)

English Literature

AP English Literature

An Inspector Calls Quotations - Act 1

Discover important quotations and their meanings from Act 1 of An Inspector Calls! Includes key quotes from Sheila Birling, Inspector Goole, and more. Find out who said what with easy explanations, perfect for quizzes and essays. Free PDF and Act 1 questions and answers included!

an inspector calls quotations - act 1

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an inspector calls quotations - act 1

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