GCSE Grade 9 Understanding & Analysis of the Ending to An Inspector Calls

Summary

This video provides an insightful analysis of the ending of J.B. Priestley’s play *An Inspector Calls*. It explores the ambiguous identity of the inspector and the moral and criminal responsibilities of the Birling family. The analysis delves into the contrast between the characters’ responses to the inspector’s questioning, highlighting how the younger generation (Sheila and Eric) show moral growth, while the older generation (Mr. and Mrs. Birling) remain focused on their social status. The video also discusses Priestley’s use of realism, time theory, and the cliffhanger ending to call for societal change and reflection on class dynamics.

Takeaways

• 😀 The ending of *An Inspector Calls* raises questions about the inspector's identity, causing the audience to wonder if he is real, a ghost, or a trickster.
• 😀 The play ends with a cliffhanger, leaving the fate of the Birlings unresolved, which challenges traditional expectations of closure in theater.
• 😀 The play explores three types of responsibility: moral responsibility (doing what is right), criminal responsibility (doing what is legal), and social responsibility (being accountable to society).
• 😀 Mr. and Mrs. Birling prioritize criminal responsibility and reputation over moral accountability, while Sheila and Eric focus on the moral consequences of their actions.
• 😀 The inspector represents both the law and moral conscience, questioning the Birlings about their actions and responsibility, but his identity remains ambiguous to emphasize deeper societal themes.
• 😀 Sheila and Eric show growth and maturity by recognizing their moral responsibility and understanding the consequences of their actions, unlike their parents.
• 😀 The inspector’s role is also seen as symbolic, representing societal conscience, and by questioning his identity, Priestley critiques how society deals with responsibility.
• 😀 Priestley uses the cliffhanger to suggest that societal issues, such as class and inequality, will continue to repeat themselves unless the characters (and by extension, the audience) learn from their mistakes.
• 😀 The play disrupts the realism of typical drama by introducing surreal elements (the inspector’s ambiguous identity), which challenges the audience's perception of reality and reflects the cyclical nature of social injustice.
• 😀 The play ends with a symbolic cycle restarting, implying that unless the audience challenges the status quo, history will repeat, and society will fail to progress.
• 😀 By subverting the structure of the well-made play, which typically provides a neat resolution, Priestley encourages the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about social responsibility and class inequality.

Q & A

Why does Priestley question the identities of the inspector and Eva in the play's ending?

Priestley raises questions about the inspector and Eva's identities to challenge the audience's perception of reality and morality. By doing so, he highlights the discrepancy between the characters' criminal responsibility and moral responsibility, showing how the Burling family evades accountability when the inspector's identity is questioned.

What is the significance of the cliffhanger at the end of *An Inspector Calls*?

The cliffhanger is crucial in emphasizing the cyclical nature of the mistakes made by society. The phone call announcing another inspector suggests that the cycle of moral and social failures will continue, reinforcing Priestley's call for societal change.

How does the play explore the themes of responsibility?

The play explores three types of responsibility: criminal responsibility (following the law), moral responsibility (doing what is right), and social responsibility (recognizing the impact on others). The Burling family’s responses reflect how these responsibilities clash, particularly when criminal responsibility is removed, but moral responsibility remains.

Why does the inspector hold power throughout most of the play?

The inspector holds power because of his role as a police officer, symbolizing the law and the legal system. This allows him to challenge the Burling family, pressuring them into confronting their immoral actions.

How do Sheila and Eric's responses to the events differ from those of Mr. and Mrs. Burling?

Sheila and Eric demonstrate moral responsibility by reflecting on their actions and expressing regret, while Mr. and Mrs. Burling are more concerned with criminal responsibility and their reputations. They downplay the significance of their immoral behavior once they realize there is no legal consequence.

What does Mr. Burling prioritize in his final response about the inspector's identity?

Mr. Burling prioritizes his reputation and social status. He downplays the moral implications of the events, focusing instead on the potential social scandal and the damage to his reputation, should the truth come to light.

How does the disruption of realism affect the play's message?

By calling into question the inspector’s identity, Priestley disrupts the play’s realism, highlighting that the moral lesson of the play — the need for social change — is not part of the 'real' British society. This disruption serves to challenge the audience's expectations and draw attention to the fantasy of justice in a capitalist society.

What role does Ospensky's time theory play in the play's ending?

Ospensky's time theory, which suggests that life repeats in cycles, is reflected in the play's ending. The inspector’s potential return symbolizes the possibility of change, and the cliffhanger implies that society's failures will continue unless individuals learn from their mistakes.

Why is the well-made play structure significant in *An Inspector Calls*?

The well-made play structure, which typically resolves with a return to order or a happy ending, is subverted in *An Inspector Calls*. Priestley disrupts this tradition by ending on a cliffhanger, refusing to offer a neat resolution, which serves to emphasize the unresolved social issues and the need for progress.

How does the play criticize the British class system?

The play critiques the British class system by exposing the selfishness and moral blindness of the upper class, as represented by the Burling family. Priestley contrasts their attitudes with the more socially responsible views of Sheila and Eric, urging a shift towards a more just and egalitarian society.