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Does that satisfy you? So I refused." - asks a question and then answers it himself. Not interested in the views of others. Just keep quiet, Eric.", "Look - just keep out of this." Birling is contently trying to undermine Eric opinions and shove them away, as he thinks his opinion is the correct one, portentous. After this she tells the inspector that the one to blame is the father of the child (not knowing it is Eric):
After this Eric offered her money, but she refused and she didn't want to marry him, Eric says: "She treated me - as if I were a kid" showing his immaturity. In today's talk I shall analyse a segment of 40 lines from An Inspector Calls. These lines appear from Mrs Birling's quote (pg. 200) “I'm sorry she c... The stage directions 'laughs rather hysterically' suggests the inspector is having a profound affect on Sheila. Sheila's progression to adhering and sharing the same views as the inspector is surprising and strange; it's almost as though the inspector has invaded her conscience and causing her to behave erratically. In a society where females are subservient to males, particularly their spouses, it is strange for Sheila to undermine Gerald's dominance and eminicance by using the noun and adjective 'you fool'. Or perhaps 'laughing rather hysterically' is Sheila's response to the very thought that she has to marry someone who is deeply unfaithful. 'And I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see': it's almost as though she and the inspector's minds are connected and alludes at the idea of the inspector being supernatural and omniscient. She sees a deeper purpose in the Inspector's visit than the investigation of a death. startled) What?""(pulling himself together) D'you mind if I give myself a drink, Sheila?"- The slang "D'you" shows his distress as being upper class he wouldn't normally say that. Analyse the character of Inspector Goole. Focus on his role in the play, his stage presence and how he is used by Priestly to convey his socialist message.
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You mustn't try to build up a wall between us and that girl." Sheila realises that there is no difference between her and Eva Smith, so building up a wall that will be broken down by the inspector is pointless Because your not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble." - Eric. -The quote from Eric, his own son, highlights how Birling is closed off from his own children, and is stubborn in his own beliefs.
Oh - how horrible! Was it an accident?" - Shows how sheltered she is, she couldn't imagine someone wanting to end their life as she hasn't experienced anything bad in her whole life.We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." Short sentences emphasise the importance of each point. Tricolon. However, During their relationship, Gerald made her happy and saved her from Old Joe Meggarty. He cared for Eva: Before the play, she is described as being very innocent and sheltered from the outside world, cares a lot about looks: "Oh - it's wonderful! Look - Mummy - isn't it a beauty?" Broken speech shows how excited she is for a ring. Sometimes there isn't as much difference as you think." What inspector says in response to Gerald's: "We're respectable citizens and not criminals." Sorry - I - well, I've suddenly realized - taken it in properly - that's she's dead." - Gerald liked and cared for Eva
Eric is constantly challenging his father's views and showing independence from him throughout the whole play, even though Birling shuts him down every time: Repetition of the word 'did'. Shows how the Inspector, and Priestly, can except past actions have occurred and you cannot change them now. However it is these actions that they 'did' that will allow them to reflect and change their moral viewpoint. The world is changing, what people 'did' believe in before the war has adapted, and whilst what they 'did' was wrong it could be excusable as originally these were the excepted actions and attributes of the upper class. Priestley revealing the ring itself serves as situational irony. A circle has no beginning or end and is therefore a symbol of infinity. It is endless, eternal, just the way love should be. It is a symbol of devotion and an agreement between two parties to love and cherish one another for the rest of their days; they will be committed to one another. Unbeknownst to the audience, this vow has already been broken due to Gerald's infidelity.The fact that Gerald chose the 'ring' is equally symbolic of his dominance within the relationship. A ring is a symbol of not only love, but a covenant between two parties- it is supposed to be emblematic of a mutual agreement between two people. Conversely, since Gerald had the final say on which ring he presents to Sheila as a supposed token of their love, this implies that their relationship isn't reciprocal in nature, but is in fact controlled entirely by Gerald. Mrs Birling doesn't say much throughout the whole play, except when she is being interrogated. When she is being interrogated, we find out her attitudes towards class and privilege.
She offers hope for the future and Priestley uses Sheila as an example of people's changing attitudes towards those less fortunate than themselves. She is sympathetic towards Eva and other girls in her position, recognising that they were "not just cheap labour but people". She accepts that her actions impacted on Eva's life and that she cannot disconnect her actions from the effects these have on others. She recognises and understands the Inspector's message that we are all collectively responsible for all that happens in the world: 'we are members of one body. We are responsible for eachother'. At times she acts as almost an assistant to the Inspector, in that she supports his criticism of the other characters, becoming his mouthpiece when he has left the stage. When the inspector arrives, the lights should get much more "brighter and stronger" to show that the inspector is here to expose the Birling's soon or later.... The play an ‘inspector calls’ divulges the truth and teaches the moral message about responsibility, warning the consequences if the message is not heeded. ... The stage directions when Sheila is 'half serious, half playful' suggests that the actress says this line seriously and playfully as this is Priestley's dramatic intention. This suggests that Sheila's character, although appearing cheerful, is actually sensible. The quote also suggests that she holds grudges as she still holds this knowledge from 'last summer' against her soon to be husband. The first of many hints that all is not as perfect as it seems, in this case a hint that Gerald might be hiding things. Sheila has genuine concerns about the relationship and actions but she covers this with a flirtatious and jestful tone. Such hints builds tension in the audience and drive the play forward; foreshadows the conflict that is to come. As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense." - Priestley presents Birling as a caricature of Capitalism, and pushes his own views through Birling's childish critique.Socially anxious, Portentous (thinks he is always right and is ready to share his views)- "There won't be a war." Oh-it's wonderful! Look- Mummy- isn't it a beauty? Oh - darling - : Language is fragmented and broken up, perhaps showing the gesture was unexpected as 'all last summer' Gerald never 'came near' Sheila. Fragments show level of excitement and inability to express her gratitude. The pronoun 'you' implies that not only is Gerald in control of their relationship, but he also controls Sheila's mindset. The fact that she poses a convergent question (closed-ended question) connotes to the reader that she adheres to not only Gerald's preferences, but her outlook on life also revolves around her husband, and she obeys the way in which the ruling class should conduct themselves within society. But these girls aren't cheap labour-they're people" - Left wing notion, foreshadows her siding with the inspector, but also just shows how she cares for people more than Mr B and others.
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