AN INSPECTOR CALLS - QUOTATION ANALYSIS

AN INSPECTOR CALLS - QUOTATION ANALYSIS

1. Mr. Birling

   • "Lower costs and higher prices"
     • Capitalism
     • Bosses exploit their workers
   • "Hard-headed business man"
     • He repeats this to show his ego and capitalism
   • "The German's don't want war" "War's inevitable...fiddlesticks!" "Unsinkable,,,absolutely unsinkable"
     • Dramatic irony
       • Self assuring
       • Looks like a fool
   • "Next Honours list...a knighthood"
     • Wants to be at a higher class
     • Arrogant
   • "I'd give thousands"
     • Capitalist
       • He would give thousands for nothing to happen as a consequence of what they all did
   • "Community and all that nonsence"
     • Criticising socialists

2. Mrs. Birling

   • "Girls of that class"
     • She is suggesting Eva is at a lower class than them and sees her differently
     • Looks down at her
   • Only had herself to blame"
     • She thinks Eva is the only one responsible fo rher own death
   • "As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse stolen money"
     • Tells use a lot about her
       • Anyone with a lower class will take any chance to steal money
       • Arrogant

3. Sheila

   • "Squiffy"
     • Euphamism
     • Describes her childish language
   • "It was my own fault" "I'll never, never do it again"
     • She feels guilty
     • Taking some responsibility
     • Her conscience has go the better of her
   • "You mustn't try to build a kind of wall between us and that girl"
     • She feels sympathy for Eva Smith
     • Younger generation feel more for others
   • "You never came near me" (to Gerald)
     • Seems to be trouble and secrets between Gerald and Sheila

4. Eric

   • "Yes I remember
     • Eric is keeping secrets about knowing Eva
   • "You killed her" "your own grandchild"
     • Blames his mother for Eva's death and is upset at her because he loved Eva very much

5. Gerald

   • "She knew it couldn't last"
     • If she knew the he definitely knew. Says a lot about him.

6. Eva Smith

   • "Swallowed a lot of disinfectant. Burnt her inside out."
     • How she died
       • Straight to the point. No euphamism
   • "They had decided to ask for more money"
     • She died because she was fired after asking for a raise
   • "She died in misery and agony - hating life" "Alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate"
     • Strong, shocking verbs/listing
       • Shows how awful her life was and to emphasise the Inspector's point

7. Inspector

   • "We'll have to share our guilt"
     • Not fair for Sheila
       • Everyone was involved, not only Sheila
   • "Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privilages."
     • Mr. Birling shouldn't just be about the Lord Mayor stuff
   • "It's better to ask for the world than to take it"
     • Disagreeing with what Mr. Birling did to Eva Smith
   • "Each of you helped to kill her"
     • They all played a part in Eva's suicide
   • "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."
     • Repetition of 'we'
       • They all payed a part in her death
   • "They will be taught in fire and blood and anguish"
     • There will be war between everyone

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