Quotation Bank: ‘an inspector calls’

Act 1 Act 2 Act 3

1. ‘heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle 1. ‘And you think young people ought to be protected 1. ‘I was in that state where a chap easily turns nasty’
fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his against disturbing and unpleasant things?’ 2. ‘she was pretty and a good sport’
speech’ 2. ‘I must obviously be a selfish, vindictive creature’ 3. ‘fat old tarts’
2. ‘a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior’ 3. ‘we’ll have to share our guilt’ 4. ‘you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he
3. ‘a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life 4. ‘the young ones. They’re more impressionable’ is in trouble’
and rather excited’ 5. ‘girls of that class’ 5. ‘you killed them both- damn you damn you’
4. ‘attractive chap… too manly to be a dandy… well bred’ 6. ‘you mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and 6. ‘each of you helped to kill her. Remember that’
5. ‘half shy, half assertive’ that girl’ 7. ‘just used her… as if she was an animal, a thing, not a
6. ‘you’re squiffy’ 7. ‘he’s only a boy’ person’
7. ‘Birlings and Crofts… working together - for lower costs 8. ‘No he’s a young man’ 8. ‘But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone - but
and higher prices’ 9. ‘stop these silly pretences… He’s been steadily drinking there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths
8. ‘Now I really feel engaged’ too much for the past two years’ and John Smiths left with us, with their lives, their hopes
9. ‘a hard-headed practical man of business’ 10. ‘he’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves’ and fears, their suffering and a chance of happiness, all
10. ‘war impossible’ 11. ‘hard-eyed dough-faced women’ intertwined with our lives and what we think and say and
11. ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ 12. ‘young and fresh and charming’ do. We don't live alone. We are members of one body.
12. ‘just a knighthood, of course’ 13. ‘nothing less than a cry for help’ We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the
13. ‘clothes… token of self-respect’ 14. ‘your mistress’ time will soon come when, if men will not learn that
14. ‘cranks’ 15. ‘it was inevitable’ lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and
15. ‘community and all that nonsense’ 16. ‘she was young and pretty and warm-hearted – and anguish. Good night’
16. ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after intensely grateful’ 9. ‘I’m ashamed of you as well’
himself and his own – and –‘ 17. ‘I protest against the way in which my daughter, a young 10. ‘you don’t seem to have learnt anything’
17. ‘creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity unmarried girl, is being dragged into this’ 11. ‘(she looks at them reflectively)’
and purposefulness’ 18. ‘(sharply) your daughter isn’t living on the moon’ 12. ‘he was our police inspector alright’
18. ‘suicide, of course.’ 19. ‘I’m not a child, don’t forget’ 13. ‘probably a socialist or some sort of crank’
19. ‘like a lot of these young women who got into various 20. ‘you were the wonderful fairy prince’ 14. ‘just remember your own position young man’
kinds of trouble, she’d used more than one name’ 21. ‘any man would have done’ 15. ‘it doesn’t alter the fact that we all helped to kill her’
20. ‘a chain of events’ 22. ‘We’d have to start all over again’ 16. ‘no proof’
21. ‘I can’t accept any responsibility’ 23. ‘public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as 17. ‘(triumphantly)… The whole story's just a lot of
22. ‘If we were all responsible for everything that happened privileges’ moonshine… Gerald, have a drink’
to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be 24. ‘she only had herself to blame’ 18. ‘So there's nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn.’
very awkward’ 25. ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of… I did my duty’ 19. ‘Everything's all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring.)
23. ‘a lively good-looking girl’ 26. ‘you have no power to change my mind’ What about this ring?’
24. ‘it’s my duty to keep labour costs down’ 27. ‘she needed not only money but advice, sympathy and 20. ‘That was the police. A girl has just died –‘
25. ‘She’d had a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go’ friendliness’
26. ‘It’s about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities’ 28. ‘cruel and vile’
27. ‘There are a lot of young women living that sort of 29. ‘I’m losing all patience with you people’
existence in every city and big town in this country’ 30. ‘I blame the young man who was the father… he should
28. ‘but these girls aren’t cheap about – they’re people’ be made an example of’
29. ‘it was my own fault’
30. ‘‘A different sort of life’
 linking Quotations
Simply, write the number of the quote under the appropriate categories (see example). Then begin thinking and linking: what patterns/trends can you identify? How
else are the quotes within the same category connected? What is being revealed about the writer’s interests/priorities? Why is he doing this? Annotate sheet with ideas.

characters themes methods context

Arthur birling Responsibility Irony / dramatic irony Priestley’s life & values
1.1

Sybil birling
Inequality (class Stagecraft Post-WW2 Austerity /
/gender) social unrest

Sheila birling 1.1

Repetition / parallelism
Capitalism vs socialism Capitalism vs socialism
Eric birling
1.1 1.1

Contrast
Gerald croft Gender matters
Older vs younger
generation

Inspector Goole symbolism

Literary realism
1.1
Family relationships
Eva smith / daisy Renton