Dr. Aidan's Guide to Literature: An Inspector Calls

Introduction

• Presenter: Dr. Aidan Elliott
• Objective: Provide an understanding of J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls" through ten key quotations.
• Edition: Quotes and page numbers taken from the Hyneman version of the play.

Key Quotations & Analysis

Mr. Birling's Views

• Quote: "the Titanic...unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable."
  • Technique: Dramatic irony (audience knows Titanic sank in 1912).
  • Purpose: Undermines faith in Birling’s opinions about society.
• Additional Misjudgments:
  • War won’t break out with Germany.
  • Strikes are unlikely.
• Quote: "the way some of these cranks talk... you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else."
  • Summary: Burling dismisses social responsibility; insults those caring for others.

Mr. Birling on Workers

• Quote: "If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth."
  • Context: Said after learning about Eva Smith’s suicide post-dismissal.
  • Insight: Shows lack of empathy and generalization of workers.

Sheila Birling’s Realization

• Quote: "But she was very pretty and looked as though she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her."
  • Context: Eva Smith lost her job due to Sheila’s complaint.
  • Insight: Initial lack of empathy due to Eva's appearance.
  • Development: Sheila begins to change and take responsibility.

Mrs. Birling's Prejudice

• Quote: "I don’t suppose for a moment... girls of that class."
  • Insight: Prejudices against lower-class origins; uses “we” to indicate shared values of her class.

Gerald Croft’s Hypocrisy

• Quote: "I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women... very pretty."
  • Context: Refers to prostitutes; Gerald saves Eva (as Daisy Renton) from harassment.
  • Hypocrisy: Uses prostitutes despite acting superior.
• Quote: "I didn’t install her so that I could make love to her."
  • Context: Moved Eva (Daisy) to an apartment; she became his mistress.
  • Insight: Shows awareness of exploiting her for sex.

Mrs. Birling Again

• Quote: "piece of gross impertinence... naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her."
  • Context: Eva seeks charity help, is rejected.
  • Insight: Prejudice due to social class and perceived disrespect.

Responsibility and Final Speech

• Quote: "If the girl’s death is due to anybody, then it’s due to him."
  • Context: Mrs. Birling blames the father of Eva's child, unaware it’s her son, Eric.
  • Turn of Events: Realization of family's own involvement.
• Inspector's Parting Words:
  • Quote: "millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths... intertwined with what we think and say and do."
  • Insight: Emphasizes interconnectedness and social responsibility.

Ending Questions

• Priestley’s Message: Responsibility for others vs. self-sufficiency.
• Audience Reflection: Challenges audience to consider their own social responsibilities.

Conclusion

• Purpose of Play: To examine and critique social attitudes and responsibilities.
• Audience Action: Reflect on personal views and social duties.