Top 12 MOST IMPORTANT An Inspector Calls Quotes #gcseenglish

Summary

In this video, the speaker explores 12 crucial quotes from J.B. Priestley’s play *An Inspector Calls*, highlighting key themes like social responsibility, class inequality, and morality. Each quote is dissected to show how characters such as Arthur Burling, Sheila, and the inspector reflect societal attitudes towards capitalism, classism, and gender inequality. Through insightful analysis, the video emphasizes the play’s moral lessons, urging audiences to consider the impact of their actions on others and challenging societal norms, especially those that uphold class-based divisions and exploitations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mr. Burling's quote, 'community and all that nonsense,' highlights his capitalist mindset and opposition to social responsibility, which Priestley critiques throughout the play.
• 😀 The stage direction describing Inspector Goole's 'massiveness' implies his authority and potential supernatural qualities, showing he is a force not easily swayed by the Birlings' social status.
• 😀 Mr. Burling's focus on business profits at the expense of workers' well-being symbolizes capitalist greed, while Sheila’s line about 'These girls aren’t cheap labor' contrasts this view with a more empathetic approach.
• 😀 Gerald Croft’s claim that he and the Birlings are 'respectable citizens and not criminals' reflects the class-based assumptions that the upper class is beyond reproach, even when morally wrong.
• 😀 Sheila’s jealousy toward Eva’s appearance reveals the damaging effects of class divisions, where wealthier individuals can ruin the lives of poorer people without fully understanding the consequences.
• 😀 The Inspector introduces the concept of 'shared guilt,' showing that all characters are complicit in Eva Smith's death, urging the audience to embrace social responsibility over personal gain.
• 😀 Mrs. Burling’s dismissal of Eva’s suffering due to her lower social class demonstrates how the upper class often fails to empathize with the struggles of the working class.
• 😀 The contrast between Eric’s admission of wrongdoing and Mrs. Burling's denial highlights the generational divide, with the younger generation (Sheila and Eric) more open to accepting responsibility for their actions.
• 😀 Priestley’s critique of the class system is evident when Mrs. Burling prejudices Eva based on her social status, showing how class divisions lead to systemic inequalities and lack of empathy.
• 😀 The play’s twist — revealing that Eva Smith may not have died — serves as a challenge to the audience, emphasizing that moral responsibility extends beyond legal accountability, urging individuals to examine their actions in the context of societal change.

Q & A

What is the main theme addressed by Mr. Burling's quote, 'Community and all that nonsense, a man has to mind his own business and look after himself'?

The quote reflects Mr. Burling's capitalist perspective, where he prioritizes self-preservation and profit over social responsibility and equality. JB Priestley uses this quote to critique the selfish, individualistic nature of capitalism, contrasting it with the idea of socialism, where everyone should care for the welfare of others.

How does the stage direction describing Inspector Goole ('he creates at once an impression of massiveness') enhance the character's role in the play?

This stage direction highlights Inspector Goole's commanding presence and authority. He is portrayed as a figure who is not easily intimidated, regardless of the Burling family's social status. His 'massiveness' can also symbolize his moral and symbolic role in the play, representing a higher, possibly supernatural power meant to expose the flaws of the characters.

What is the significance of Mr. Burling's view on labor costs and how does it relate to the broader message of the play?

Mr. Burling's focus on cutting labor costs at the expense of workers' well-being emphasizes the exploitation inherent in capitalist systems. Priestley uses this to criticize how the working class suffers under such systems, urging the audience to embrace socialism, where workers' needs should be prioritized.

Why is Gerald's line, 'We're respectable citizens and not criminals,' important in the context of class and morality?

Gerald's statement underscores the class prejudice in the play, where the upper class, such as the Birlings and himself, assume that their social status exempts them from moral or legal accountability. This line challenges the idea that being 'respectable' means being free from wrongdoing, as the characters' actions lead to moral guilt despite their social standing.

How does Sheila's line, 'If she'd been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it,' reflect the societal attitudes of the time?

Sheila's comment reveals the superficial nature of societal views on women, where beauty and social status dictate a woman's worth. Her jealousy and prejudice toward Eva highlight the class divide and how women, especially from lower classes, were judged based on appearance rather than character or circumstance.

What role does 'shared guilt' play in the play, particularly in the context of the Inspector's message?

The theme of shared guilt is central to the play's critique of individualism and class division. The Inspector reveals that all the characters are responsible, in some way, for Eva Smith's death, demonstrating the interconnectedness of society. Priestley uses this to argue that everyone should share responsibility for the welfare of others, not just look out for their own interests.

What does Mrs. Burling's line about 'girls of that class' tell us about her views on class and social inequality?

Mrs. Burling's remark reveals her deep-seated prejudice and inability to empathize with the lower classes. She views people like Eva as inferior and assumes that their lives are not worth considering. This highlights the entrenched class system and the upper class's lack of understanding or care for the struggles of the working class.

What does the Inspector's final speech about 'Fire and Blood and anguish' suggest about the consequences of ignoring social responsibility?

The Inspector's warning emphasizes the dire consequences of neglecting social responsibility, suggesting that ignoring the needs of others leads to disaster. This reference can be seen as a prediction of the social and moral upheaval caused by the world wars, which Priestley believes were fueled by capitalist ideologies and a lack of collective responsibility.

How does Eric's confession about his relationship with Eva Smith challenge societal norms of the time?

Eric's confession about raping Eva and treating her as an object, without love or respect, challenges the societal norms of the time that often placed women in submissive positions. His actions reflect the power imbalance in society, where women had little autonomy, and their lives were heavily influenced by the choices of men in positions of power.

What is the significance of the twist at the end of the play, where it is revealed that the Inspector might not have been real and Eva Smith may not have died?

The twist challenges the audience's perception of the events and serves as a call for introspection. It raises the question of whether the characters should still feel responsible for their actions if Eva did not actually die. However, Sheila and Eric’s insistence on taking moral responsibility suggests that even if the death was not real, the moral implications of their actions still stand, highlighting the play's central message about accountability and social responsibility.