An Inspector Calls - Quotes and Context

An Inspector Calls - Quotes and Context

1. Sheila Birling

   • "I suppose we are all nice people now"
   • "It frightens me the way you talk"
   • "All last summer when you hardly ever came near me"
   • "But they are not just cheap labour, they're people"
     • Old vs. Young, generation gap
   • "So, I'm really responsible"
     • Links to Priestley's views on social responsibility

2. Eric Birling

   • "It's still the same rotten story"
   • "We did her in all right"
   • "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?"

3. Mrs Birling

   • "Girls of that class"
     • Social Ranking System, stereotyping
   • "Her husband's social superior"
   • "I did nothing I'm ashamed of"
     • Against Priestley's views, old vs. young generations

4. Inspector Goole

   • "Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges"
   • "Fire and blood and anguish"
   • "One line of inquiry at a time"
   • "One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"

5. Mr Birling

   • "Unsinkable"
   • "You're the one i blame for all this...there'll be a public scandal"
     • Goes against how Priestley refused a knighthood
   • "Lower costs and higher prices"

6. Gerald Croft

   • "What about this ring then?"
   • "We've been had"
   • "You seem like a nice well behaved family"