Gcse Aqa English Literature An Inspector Calls
Gcse Aqa English Literature An Inspector Calls
Gcse Aqa English Literature An Inspector Calls
Dramatic Irony The audience knows what happens during and after the
events in the play whilst the characters are oblivious. Mr Birling is part of
this a lot. Could be used to represent the mind-set of 1912 upper class,
shows how truly removed they are from society. Uses this as a way to
attack Birlings views and wants the audience to criticise Birlings
views also. Used on Ms Birling too when calling the father of Evas unborn
child a drunken, young idler.
Final Denouement - The phone call announcing that a police inspector is on
his way to ask some questions about a girl who has just died in the infirmary
is as shocking as it is surprising and ensures that the audience will leave
the auditorium in a state of real shock
Repentance Large part of the play at the end. Inspector, by his visit,
gives the family a second chance which is lost by the failure of the majority to
learn their lesson. The Inspector hopes that this revelation would cause them
to repent and become a better person; have a change of heart. But this
does not happen as their hearts harden causing them to face the
consequences of their actions.
Character Profiles:
Eric:
Act 1:
not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive. = Half shy, half assertive
suggests that one cannot give him a definitive character trait, may not
know his place in society yet.
youre squiffy. = Stated with no emotions as there are no stage
directions, implies that this happens often. May have to drink a lot
be squiffy in order to force out his assertiveness as his domineering
father makes it seem as though his opinion does not matter as his
father doesnt listen to him.
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Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh. = Could silently resent his family
and scoff at them; could also be a form of attention-seeking as he
feels as though he does not get the attention he deserves.
Act 3:
And I agree with Sheila. = Shows how strong Eric and Sheilas
relationship is and also shows that Eric has some sort of moral
compass like Sheila. He wants to change also and represents the
younger generation who will change their mind-set from the older
generation and improve for the better.
That doesnt matter to me. The one I knew is dead. = doesnt matter
to me suggests he still wants to accept blame which contrasts with
Mr Bs views, quite socialist in comparison to conservative, capitalist
views. The one I knew is dead. Suggests he still feels guilt over death
which shows he still has a moral compass. Contrasts with Mr Birling.
Mrs Birling:
Act 1:
a rather cold woman = cold implies an unsympathetic, arrogant
character; cold-hearted?
Husbands social superior. = superior suggests shes possibly quite
pretentious. Mr B may have married her to raise his social class; of a
higher class, could be well-spoken, would not have to try as hard as he
does.
Act 2:
When youre married youll realise that men with important work to do
sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their
business. Youll have to get used to that, just as I had. = Implies that
even though she is of a higher social class by birth, she is still not the
dominant one (inferior) and she still acknowledges gender roles.
Implies she has accepted her role in the family.
Yes of course, dear. = Always agrees with husband; does not offer
own opinion.
Act 3:
Youve argued this very cleverly, and Im most grateful. = Im most
grateful suggests she feels grateful for making sure she feels no
guilt, she didnt want to feel any remorse. She wants to be as removed
from this situation as Mr B.
From the way the children talk, you might be wanting to help him
instead of us. = Suggests that she views this as a divide (Us against
them); wants her children to cover up instead of doing the right thing.
Suggests she has no moral compass.
Inspector Goole:
Feels that everyone should feel responsible for the death of Eva.
Thinks the Birlings (mainly the parents) are self-centred beings who
do not accept blame for anyone else = (p55) each of you helped to
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kill her. Remember that. Never forget it. Feels the need to warn them
explicitly to make sure they do not forget or they could.
The aim of the Inspector is to point out and make the family realise that
they all should have a sense of social responsibility.
Context:
Character Representations:
Gerald:
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Mid generation. Perhaps the patriarchal society, how men think they can
do whatever; he didnt care that he had an affair with someone else
and just wanted to get back with Sheila. ARISTOCRACY. His father is a lord
and he represents the stubbornness of the highest classes. He is
uncomfortable with agreeing with Sheila even though he is her fianc;
he is more inclined to agree with Mr Birling. He agrees with Mr Birling not so
to allow him to marry Sheila but because he disagrees with her. Therefore
Gerald, who grew up and is most probably brainwashed into this class
system, cant let go of that and represents the way in which the upper
classes are completely reliant on the class system staying as it is. Even
the young believe it. The relationship between Sheila and Gerald is this:
Sheila loves him; to her hes a good catch, on the other hand, Gerald sees
mostly the business aspect of the connection -> no deep feelings!
Eric:
Young, progressive generation who will change their mind-set from the
older generation and improve for the better. Has moral compass.
Sheila:
Young, progressive generation who will change their mind-set from the
older generation and improve for the better. Has moral compass. Represents
socialism almost as she accepts responsibility for her actions; even
though she is guilty of envy, wrath and vanity but she feels guilt and shame.
WANTS TO CHANGE; not conservative like her father. PERHAPS
SYMBOLIC OF HOW PRIESTLEY WANTS SOCIETY TO CHANGE. Her
character develops from one who is nave to one who is experienced.
happened. They become self-confident again and thats why the second
phone call takes place: the author wants to prove them wrong!
Eva Smith:
Represents the working-class. She is a symbol of the female working-
class. Attractive but overlooked because of her social status.
Inspector Goole:
Paragon for socialism. Presents Priestleys ideology by conveying
socialist views and opinions of collective responsibility. He mocks
Birlings ideas of using money to cover it up and insists they take
responsibility: Youre offering money at the wrong time, Mr Birling./We are
members of one body. We are responsible for each other. The Inspector,
named Goole, is described as creating an impression of massiveness,
solidity and purposefulness. His role grows as the play unfolds and the story
of each character is revealed. Whilst they are broken down he remains solid
and despite attempts from the others to distract him from his purpose he
stays this way throughout. He is the one who makes things happen in the
play. Were it not for him none of the secrets that the others have would be
revealed and it is he who demonstrates how people are responsible for
the affect they have on the lives of others. His sombre appearance in
the play is in direct contrast to the Birling family.
Could represent the Confessor, a ghost, a convicting spirit etc. The
lessons that Eric and Sheila learn are even more poignant when one realizes
that very soon all classes in England, upper, middle and lower, will be
involved in the same tragic war as the Inspector hinted at. Potentially has
knowledge of the future as he hints at the First World War: If men will
not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish.
The Inspector's final lines, from a longer speech he makes shortly before his
exit, are a blistering delivery of Priestley's socialist message. Moreover,
his promise of "fire and blood and anguish" also looks forward to the First and
Second World Wars, a resonance, which, to Priestley's 1946 audience,
must have been quite chilling.
Cosy but not home like. This description of the room mirrors the lives of
the Birlings. They are outwardly respectable and enjoy a comfortable
and well off way of life and yet their relationships with one and other
are not at all cosy and there are a great number of tensions between them.
The dining room of a fairly large suburban house./ The general effect is
substantial and heavily comfortable The naturalistic setting would be
necessary in order to set the tone of the comfort, success and self-
satisfaction initially required. The realism of the stage set is important as
it gives the audience a sense that they are in the safe confines of
normality. However, the mysterious role of the inspector and the telephone
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call at the end of the play suddenly introduce the audience to an element
of the unreal.
Themes: