An Inspector Calls Character +Theme notes, Exam help PEE paragraph notes

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should answer questions from you, Inspector?" Comment / Analysis He makes long speeches at the dinner about things the audience would know were incorrect which works to undermine his character's credibility. Mr Birling is so confident that there will be no 'chance of war' he repeats the idea, considering it 'impossible.' His arrogance and complacency are made very clear to an audience that knows his assertions are wrong - as just two years after World War One will begin. This has the effect of undermining his authority as the audience lose trust in him as a character and do not take him seriously. He claims that the Titanic is unsinkable even though the audience know better. He is trying to impress Gerald and compensate for his middle class origins but exaggerating his prospects. Birling makes some old-fashioned and quite sexist comments by suggesting that clothes are somehow more important to women than to men as they 'mean something.' The fact he thinks clothes 'make em look prettier' objectifies them too. Birling is driven by money and it is clear he is a Capitalist. Priestley has therefore used Mr Birling's character, undermining him and placing him as a commentary to get his views across on how Capitalism is a bad thing. The fact that he sees his daughter's engagement as an opportunity to form a business partnership and push for 'lower costs/higher prices' shows just how greedy he is. On a number of occasions Mr Birling refers to things and people as being 'his.' He emphasises that Sybil is 'his' suggesting that he sees her as a possession. He does not allow Sybil to talk for herself here. Play was written after WW2 in 1945 - there was no form of welfare state and Priestley believed in Socialism - the political idea based on common ownership and that we should look after one another, Mr Birling represents the greedy businessman who only care for themselves. Through ...Social/historical context ..the characterisation of Mr Birling, Priestley uses him to show the audience that the Eva Smith's of the world will continue to suffer if people like Mr Birling remain in positions of power and authority. Priestley also undermines his character to reflect his actions on the audience. Arthur Birling functions as Priestley's personification of capitalism. Priestley's use of dramatic irony allows the audience to recognise the false pride and misplaced arrogance pof Birling as the passage of time has revealed his folly. Referring to extract from play "Well it's my duty to keep labour costs down...if they didn't like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else. It's a free country, I told them.", how does Priestley present Mr Birling? Ignorant and unappreciative, taking advantage of the plight of the workers as they have no alternative social care system to fall back on. No recognition of fair wages for work- its all about keeping 'labour costs down' to increase profits. There are other ways of keeping costs down such as running costs, but Mr Birling 'refused. Said [he] couldn't consider it.' This clearly shows he thinks that his workers are expendable and de-humanises them and de-values the work they do despite the fact that his factory could not run without them! Point bitter Ignorant Snobbish 2. SYBIL BIRLING - Represents the wealthier, privileged classes and their selfish attitudes. She rarely shows any affection, she comes from a higher social class than her husband's. She is also a prominent member of the Brumley Women's Charity Organization. The matriarch of the family THEME: Social responsibility, women's role in the patriarchy, morality, Misogyny Morally Hypocritical Quote / Evidence "a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior." "I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide" "I'll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility." "But I accept no blame for it at all" "Eric, I cant believe it. There must be some mistake," "The most prominent member of the committee" Comment/Analysis Used in the pre-face/prelude of the play. Sybil married down in social class perhaps for financial reasons also suggests that because she's her husband's social superior she uses it as an excuse to be "cold" because she thinks very low of them and thinks very highly of herself. She thinks she's better than her husband and this only makes her want to strive to climb back up the social ladder. Callous refusal to accept and blame for Eva Smith's death. Shifts blame on to the father of the child, not yet knowing that its Eric (ironic), as she believes the father who impreginated Eva Smith should have taken care of her and the child. After also refusing to believe Sheilas contempt She turned Eva Smith away (from her charity) when she needed help. The girl was penniless and pregnant- but Mrs Birling thought she was lying, as no girl 'of that sort' would refuse money. Sybils prejudice against Eva Smith's 'impertinence' in claiming to be Mrs Birling highlights how cold and narrow minding she is as it maybe that Eva actually chose to impersonate Mrs Birling, having been a former employer of Mr Birling out of spite as he fired her BUT it could also be the name she took on feeling so close to Sybil Birling's son, Eric, now that she is also carrying his child. Though it's clear Eva used her name to build credibility as a reference to her current case- so the chair members would feel more obliged to help her, unfortunately Sybil Birling was on the chair board. This further portrays Sybil as stubborn as she refused to even listen to the child, she jumped to the conclusion that shed stolen her identity. Social/Historical Context She sees the lower class as morally inferior-Priestley hated this kind of attitude and believed that people with these attitudes had to change if society was going to work. She allows the audience to see just how awful life was for the lower classes at this time (1912)- the class divide was huge. How far does Priestley present Mrs Birling as an unlikable character? preface Priestley presents Mrs Birling as a cold and narcissistic (egotistical) character and uses her to exemplify those who Priestley views to be morally wrong as her character represents the wealthier, privileged classes and their selfish attitudes... One way in which Mrs Birling is presented as an unlikable character is how she takes great pride in her social status and looks down on everyone as she views them to be lesser and more inferior in comparison to herself. To Priestley's contemporary society, Mrs Birling is perceived to be "a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior." In this, we gain some insight to her personality and presume she holds strong and egotistical beliefs, considering herself to be someone who should be respected. The adjective 'cold' implies that due to her high status she feels that she is not obliged to be courteous or respectful to others and portrays she has a sharp and callous presence. This is further shown in act 1 where Sybil critics her husband for complementing the food Infront of a guest as she believes it rude to recognise and acknowledge the lower class in any way and as she was raised in an upper-class family, she recognises it is impolite to say this. This again supports the idea that Mrs Birling still views herself 'superior', even to her own husband. Clearly, she is prepared to ridicule and humiliate others in order to preserve her own reputation which stands to show she is unlikable, particularly to those close to her. Sybil Birling is a prominent member of the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation; although she claims to support charity, she is not very charitable herself. Mrs Birling says that her charity only serves to aid those who are considered deserving Abused her influence to sway other members 3. ERIC BIRLING - Summary & Theme - Point Lacking confidence Assertive/Shy Quote / Evidence 1) "Not quite at ease, half-shy, half assertive." -preface # 2)"(rather noisily); Comment / Analysis Around the beginning of the play, Priestley repeatedly hints towards Erics drunken state. 1)He is shy as he senses the tension between Sheila and Gerald but is assertive to ensure that his father will see and acknowledge him...clear he is awkward and unsure of what to do, speak up but is often talked down upon by his father. OR (1,2,3) Emotional Insightful Social/Historical Context 3) "Could I have a drink He is drunk and clearly has a problem. Perhaps first?" his drinking problem worsened because he wasn't able to support Eva or his own child. Reliant on alcohol to fill the hole that was conjured by his deep feelings of being powerless and impotent, so he turned to something familiar to fill the separation between him and his child- burying his emotions. "Then- you killed her... and the child she'd have had too- my child- your own grandchild-you killed them both- damn you, damn you" "The money's not the important thing. It's what happened to the girl and what we did to her that matters." His emotions are not balanced, and he displays extremes - drinking. He places all blame on his mother who has shielded him from adulthood and persistently tries to protect him from the world and by extension not allowing anyone to meddle with her portrayal of him, raising him to react rather impulsive and rash when exposed to situations which he has never come into contact with, being unfamiliarised with the true hardships to which people face in the world. Socially inept/paralysed. This shows he has come a long way in the play as before he was eager to be a part of his father's capitalist, business obsessed world, infatuated with the need to be validated in his father's eyes, whereas here we see that he cares very little about money. OR Priestly is showing the audience through the younger Birlings that change is possible. We see the character of Eric develop in maturity and assertiveness. OR Sides with Sheila because he has gained a moral conscience- doesn't want his sis to feel alone after Gerald cheated on/wronged her just as how he doesn't want his child+Eva to b alone after he burdened her, abandoned her (raped - because of power dynamics she would have been in a position where she could not say no )/wronged her showing he is trying to make a change because he regrets not being a part of their lives and being there for Eva when she needed him. Despite his male role in a patriarchal society, his character acts to evidence how it is possible to rebel against and not follow the authoritative placement in society men were expected to take on, being the financial supporters of the family. Further trying to sperate the divide between men and women in terms of their societal idealistic roles. "The money's not the important thing." Shows his insightful views and How does Eric stand up to his parents in Act 3 of the play? 4. SHEILA BIRLING -Summary & Theme character development Quote Point Naive Self-centred Regret supports the idea that his character opposes the male role of being a 'hard-headed man of business' so the audience can see that their duties and lives are not fixed- shows that they overall don't have to fit into these absurd, stubborn standards. Reinforces what the author is trying to portray that society can change. The audience would be able to relate to his character's position and by placing Eric in a fluid/unstable position, Priestly is able to highlight the ills of both a patriarchal society and capitalism through the plight of Eric and Eva. Insightful, sensitive and conscientious "I can't help thinking about this girl- destroying herself so horribly- and I've been so happy tonight." "I'll never, never do it again to anybody." "I know I'm to blame- and I'm desperately sorry." "Don't interfere please father. Gerald knows what I mean and you apparently don't." But these aren't cheep labour- they're people" Comment / Analysis 'I' and 'I've' "- personal pronoun. This shows she cares more about the impact of Eva's death on her by making it all about herself, to the extent where she's blaming Eva for 'destroying herself'. This shows that at this point in the play, (at the beginning) Sheila is incapable of empathy or seeing beyond her own limited experience. Priestley utilises Sheila's polarised(narrow) views to starkly(sharp, obvious) contrast the division between the classes which the audience are also able to identify/see. Repetition of the adverb 'never' emphasises how Priestley aims to highlight her character development in that she has learnt from her mistake. We see acknowledgement and realisation which Sheila herself says has made a difference. By taking personal responsibility using the personal pronoun 'I' Priestley chows through the character of Sheila how change is possible but also infers that 'we...'as a society 'would have to start all over again.' The collective pronoun 'we' gives the possibility between her and Gerald but by extent also implies how there is hope for society at large. The collective pronoun also evokes a sense of responsibility to improve society by taking responsibility and changing. Illustrates the marked difference/change between the older and younger generations as the conjunction 'but' allows for an alternative/different perspective. Around the point in the play where Sheila hands back the ring to Gerald, Mr Birling interjects to which Sheila responds, "Gerald knows what I mean and you apparently don't." This shows how things have changed inbetween the older and younger generations as it would have been Social/Historical Context How does Sheila change over the course of the play? 5. GERALD CROFT -Summary & Theme Point Confident Evasive Honest Sheila handing back the ring. Ignorant and stubborn. Social/Historical Context Quote / Evidence "Sure to be, unless Eric's been up to something." "I don't come into this suicide business" "All right. I knew her. Let's leave it at that." "The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help." "sorry - I - well, I've just realised taken it in properly - that she's dead" unconventional/unacceptable for a child to correct or be abrupt especially to the patriarch of the family. The ring is symbolic of her letting go of her capatilist and selfish ways in favour of accepting the truth. At the beginning of the play, even though Sheila suspects something is wrong her focus is on to the ring as she clings to it whereas at this point in the play she is willing to let it go for the sake of change?+ "I didn't feel about her as she felt about me" Comment / Analysis At the start of the play he seems very comfortable - making himself at home and behaving like a member of the Birling family he even makes fun of Eric. Mr Birling suggests that he is in line for a knighthood so long as the family have behaved themselves. Gerald confidently makes a joke at Eric's expense which is full of irony. Foreshadowing tool used by priestly Audience assume he has learnt his lesson and will change. He initially acted towards eva out of kindness but still look advantage of her, suggests not completely bad, however still cheated on sheila. His attitudes appear to be changing but he doesn't take responsibility. However when he has news the inspector was an imposter he returns to his old ways and changes little in compsarison to sheilas character. He represents the selfish attitudes of the upper class and played a key part in the chain of events contributing to Eva's death. He is a let down as in comparison to characters like Sheila, he ges very little in terms of how much he acknowledges or takes responsibility for his actions. How does Gerald redeem himself in the eyes of the audience in Act 2? 6. INSPECTOR GOOLE-Summary & Theme Quote / Evidence "...he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness." -Stage directions? -Preface? Point Imposing Emotive Prophetic Social/Historical Context "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish." "Her position now is that she lies with a burnt out inside on a slab." "One Eva Smith has gone- but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. We don't live alone. We are members of one body." "And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night." Comment / Analysis The Inspector is given purpose and substance and the audience is encouraged to trust the narrative voice through the preface and how the charter is built up. The use of the collective pronoun 'We' evokes a sense of responsibility in the audience as they are included when the Inspector is talking to the Birlings. Furthermore the use of the metaphor "body" here represents society connoting that just as the body is made up of parts, so is society, likening how all the parts of the body work together to function properly to how all parts of society need to co-operate to also function properly. This metaphor is inextricably (indistinguishable/inseparable) linked to taking responsibility. Like the various body parts, some parts (heart) are more important than others but at the same time they also carry more responsibility (the heart pumps blood round the body and never stops to keep the body going). Similarly the idea is that Society works together and those with greater importance share a greater burden of responsibility. Priestley's socialist voice comes through quite clearly through the voice of the Inspector, reinforcing the main theme of the play that we all have to work together to ensure society functions properly. By setting the play in 1912 Priestley makes the inspector seem prophetic and therefore his lessons of social responsibility resonate harder suggesting g that the inspectors advice that they heed the inspectors advise in the final monologue. So wen the inspector says "THEY will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish," he's not just referring to the Birlings. The Inspector predicts a hell like future, filled with a nightmarish vision of 'fire' and 'blood'. Priestley experienced war first hand, so some suspect that what he saw in wartime influenced the Inspector's final speech The Inspector is an embodiment of the authors views depicting 1912 society within the play as capitalist-led, segregated, and unfair. Uses the Birlings as symbolic of upper-middle class society and it can be argued that the Inspector is the mouthpiece for Priestley's socialist views. Through the entire play themes of class, social injustice and the evils of capitalism are explored. The character is informed (ie influenced by) by Priestley's own experience of war and his views on social responsibility (all actions have consequences / be mindful of own actions ? look after others) The play was written in 1945 but set in 1912 so can be seen as a commentary on where society failed/went wrong given the benefit of hindsight (already known). Play was first performed in 1947, audiences had lived thru the horror of two world wars- context. By setting the play in 1912 Priestley makes the inspector seem prophetic and therefore his lessons of social responsibility resonate harder suggesting g that the inspectors advice that they heed the inspectors advise in the final monologue. So wen the inspector says "THEY will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish," he's not just referring to the Birlings. How does the Inspector's use of language help Priestley to get his message across to the audience and the Birlings in Act 3? 7. EVA SMITH/DAISY RENTON - Secondary Xter Summary & Theme - Point Strong willed/stands up for rights of others Sense of humour Quote Birling: "...she'd been working in one of our machine shops for over a year. A good worker too. In fact, the foreman there told me he was ready to promote her into what we call a leading operator - head of a small group of girls. But after they came back from their holidays that August, they were all rather restless, and they suddenly decided to ask for more money." "Well, when I tried the thing on and looked at myself and knew that it was all wrong, I caught sight of this girl smiling at Miss Francis - as if to say: 'doesn't she look awful' - and I was absolutely furious." Comment From this incident at mr birlings factory we can infer eva is strong willed as she organises a strike for higher wages, what Mr 'Birling describes as being 'restless' and 'asking for more money'). The fact that she asks for more money at the point when she is likely to be promoted shows she cares about other workers as she would have got more money through her promotions so the inference is that Eva was striking for wage rises of all workers and not just herself. Eva shows that she has a sense of humour when she smiles as Sheila tries on a dress that doesn't suit her. The audience warm to Eva and see her as human. Clearly Sheila is offended and has her fired. Later in the play The Inspector questions that Sheila 'was jealous of her' indicating that despite having all the advantages of class and money, sheila still envied Eva's good looks. This also highlights Sheila's sense of self-importance at the beginning of the play - she cannot laugh at Sensitive Inferences Death Objectified Social/historical context Inspector: "She kept a rough sort of diary. And she said there that she had to go away and be quiet and remember 'just to make it last longer'. She felt there'd never be anything as good again for her - so she had to make it last longer". No lines in play "wretched girls suicide" "Very pretty girl"-Sheila Lively good-looking girl" Mr B "pretty", "young, fresh and charming"-Gerald. "Pretty"-Eric No lines in play herself, let alone have Eva of a lower class laugh at her! This extract makes Eva more relatable to the audience as they can see her sense of humour reflected in the sight of this girl smiling' in the reflection of the mirror. The diary is closest we get to knowing Eva in her own words. From her relationship with Gerald, eva changed her name to daisy renton - reveals her sensitivity -daisys linked to death. Her diary shows how she went away to be 'quiet' and to 'remember.' Shows how sensitive and devasted she was when her relationship ended with Gerald - 'nothing would ever be as good again.' The audience is bale to empathise with her predicament as Gerald just carries on with his life whereas Eva lost in love and was taken advantage of by Eric, loses everything, including her life. A lot of what we learn about eva is inferred. Everything we learn about her is from a different character. Powerless. Daisy Renton was chosen as on of her names as pushing up the Daisy's is a Euphemism for death. She represents the working class and the most vulnerable in society. To begin with Eva is blamed by Mr Birling, Sheila and others for her own predicament/demise. The idea that is it was her own fault. Objectified and summed up just by how she looks. However Eva is the main character of the play and despite having no direct lines and not appearing herself, the play is centred around her and her death. Her significance is exemplified by her absence, which I think is the point Priestly tries to make. Eva represents the working classes and most vulnerable in society and by not giving her a part or a voice, Priestly is able to depict the social injustice and how the poor have no voice, power or agency (influence) through her absence. Everything we learn about her is from a different character. Powerless and voiceless. Daisy Renton was chosen as on of her names as pushing up the Daisy's is a Euphemism for death. She represents the working class- vunerable. How is Mr Birling presented in the play? Throughout the play, Mr Birling is transparently presented as arrogant- "And I'm talking as a hard- headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war. The world's developing so fast that it will make war impossible." He makes long speeches at the dinner repeatedly about things the audience would know were incorrect which works to undermine his character's credibility. Mr Birling is so confident that there will be no 'chance of war' he repeats the idea, considering it 'impossible.' His arrogance and complacency are made very clear to an audience that knows his assertions are wrong - as just two years after World War One will begin. This has the effect of undermining his authority as the audience lose trust in him as a character and do not take him seriously. After suspecting Gerald cheeted on her (which was later confirmed) Sheila seeks revenge on Gerald by trying to make him jealous with