Inspector Calls Revision Notes

[pic] Background An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 by J B Priestley, but is set in 1912, so the setting and characters are separated from the audience by two world wars and other historical events. This important fact gives Priestley opportunities to use the key feature of dramatic irony.

The play promotes ideas that were introduced by the Labour government, which was elected in 1945: the Welfare State and the National Health Service. These institutions, which have been a feature of life in this country for over sixty years now, were new and quite controversial when the play was written.They are based on the idea that we are all responsible for helping each other, those in need being looked after from extra money paid in taxes by those with incomes. J B Priestley does not deal directly with these big ideas; instead he looks at the case of one person in need, Eva Smith. She suffers through her various relationships with the Birling family and Gerald Croft.

Although this story might seem unlikely, it reflects how An Inspector Calls is a form of morality play.Eva Smith does not actually appear in the drama, which means she can be seen as a representative for all people in need of help, (and the Birlings as representatives of a society which does not care for its weakest members). The title and the character of Inspector Goole initially suggest that the play is a detective story. The ending (which many do not feel happy about at first) adds a strange, perhaps supernatural element. This ending is linked to the structure of the play, which is based on classical Greek drama, in which the ending (sometimes called the ‘denouement’) is a learning experience for both characters and audience.

Some of the characters in the play clearly have not learned their lesson, and so are doomed to repeat the experience until they do. Key terms Dramatic irony: when a character in the play speaks lines that are understood differently by the audience to the characters on stage – for instance Mr Birling brags about how the manufacturing world to which he belongs has produced the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic, whereas the audience knows the ship will sink on its maiden voyage. Labour government: In 1945 the Labour Party won the general election, despite Winston Churchill, the great leader of the government in the war, leading the Conservative Party.

People felt that this was a great opportunity for the needs of ordinary people to be met – new housing, health, and security if they were out of work. Welfare State: The system of providing money for those who cannot work or lose their jobs, and providing state pensions for retired people. This is paid for by a special tax called ‘National Insurance’. Before the Second World War, people who were out of work had to hope for charity when they ran out of money, or starve.

National Health Service: The system of providing free necessary health care.This originally included dental treatment and opticians. It is paid for by taxes. Before the Second World War, people paid for medical treatment or had to take out private insurance plans (like in America today).

Morality play: A type of popular drama from the middle ages. It has a clear message, guiding the audience to behave in a morally correct way, in line with the teachings of the church. Detective story (or ‘whodunnit’): A story or play, often involving murder, where a mystery is unravelled through questioning by a detective, leading to the unmasking of a criminal.In An Inspector Calls, although no actual murder has been committed in a technical or legal sense, the inspector treats his investigation as though, morally, one has been. None of the characters questions the justification for the investigation taking place (perhaps because of a respect for the authority of a policeman that reflects the times; or because they are all being portrayed as guilty, and so unconsciously tend to recognise the validity of the inspector’s purpose.

) Classical Greek drama: A play that has ‘unity’ of place, time and action – hat is the action all takes place within one day, normally in ‘real time’; the setting remains the same place throughout, and there is only one main storyline. Dramatic (especially violent) action takes place off-stage, and events are told to the audience by the chorus, a performer (or group of performers) who explains what is happening, comments on the characters’ actions, and explains the lessons to be learned. Inspector Goole performs these tasks in An Inspector Calls, so can be referred to as acting as the chorus in the play.Characters and annotations (annotations are shown in italics, next to page references.

) Mr Birling Mr Birling is rich, powerful, and extremely sure of himself. He is, however, a bit less posh than the others. He makes various statements that produce dramatic irony, and this signals to us that the world he thinks he can rely on is not what it seems to him. He is a bully, not completely honest, and too arrogant to learn his lesson.

The setting of the play shows that his house is more for show, to impress visitors, than as a comfortable family home. He also represents the sin of avarice (or greed) Page 4. last 6 lines of long speech): Shows he is vulgar by talking about business, and that his values are based on greed. Pages 6 & 7 (3 longer speeches): Use of dramatic irony .

All the big things Birling believes in will go wrong Pages 9-10 (long speech): Birling represents the case against the welfare state, that everyone is only responsible for themselves. Page 11 (offers a drink): Attempts bribery. Page 13 (top): Treats Eric like a child. Page 14 (Oh well …): He’s unmoved by Eva’s death. Page 15 (Well it’s my duty …): Does not see workers as humans. Page 15 (Rubbish …): Both see workers as the enemy.

Page 16 (Perhaps …): Tries to threaten. Page 33 (What’s the matter …): They both treat Eric and Sheila as children. Page 54 (You must …): His first reaction is to protect his own reputation. Page 56 (Look inspector …): Tries to buy his way out of trouble.

Page 57 (You’re the one …): Refuses to accept responsibility. Page 57 (You! …): Cares only about himself. Page 63 (Of course …): feeling relieved. Page 65 (Well my dear …): So long as things can be covered up, he doesn’t really care. Page 70 (bottom of page):He thinks he can turn back the clock, and everything can be back to normal.Mrs Birling Mrs Birling is rather posher than her husband, but essentially reflects his attitudes and values.

She belongs to a social class that are used to having things their own way, and don’t expect to have to change for anybody or anything. Her ‘charity work’ is an extension of her social life, rather than really doing any good to others. When she does get distressed, it is mostly self pity. She represents the sin of pride. Page 4 (Now Arthur ..

): She decides what is socially correct. Page 31 (I’m talking …) She thinks her social position should protect her from unpleasant things.Page 43 (Yes, I think …): Admits to prejudice against Eva. Page 44 (If you think …): Shows how heartless and unmoved she is.

Page 48 (And if you’d …) Dramatic irony – Eric is the father. Page 55 (No – Eric …) Tries to make excuses – as sorry for herself as anyone else. Page 70 (And I must say …) Doesn’t understand that anything has changed. Eric and Sheila Birling Eric and Sheila represent the next generation: they are still young and can learn from their experiences.

Both have genuine emotional responses to what they hear, and see that life cannot carry on as if nothing has happened.However, they are both spoiled, and treated like children by their parents, but in the end show a greater maturity in their resolutions to change. We might also see Eric as a ‘doomed youth’, only a few years away from the horrors of war, and Sheila as likely to be bereaved – the time frame of the play adds a tragic element to their portrayal. Eric Although Eric has behaved badly, we can see this being a result or a reaction to his upbringing. He has the strongest reason to be upset – the death of his unborn child – and we can sympathise with the way he turns against his parents.

Eric represents lust. Page 3 (ERIC suddenly …): He knows something about Gerald. Page 5 (Steady the Buffs! ) He’s a bit drunk already. Page 11 (My God! ): He naturally feels pity. Page 16 (No, I mean …): Eric sees things from both sides. Page 40 (Stage direction – front door slam): Eric runs off as he realises what is to be revealed about him.

Page 54 (Because …): This is the truth about their relationship. Page 55 (Then – you killed …): He realises the truth, and that both his parents have failed him. Page 58 (Yes, and …): Eric turns Mr B’s arguments against him.Page 59 (He was our …): He sees that they have all been investigated and ‘solved’.

Page 64 (What’s the use …): He sees that what matters is the human tragedy. Page 65 (And I say …): He sees events from the opposite point of view. Page 71 (And I agree …): He lines up with Sheila against the others. Sheila Sheila is the most emotionally responsive character, and has a natural sense of right and wrong. When she finds out about Gerald being unfaithful to her, she is angry, but not very upset – perhaps she realises she was not really in love with him.She sees the lesson that the inspector is trying to teach them first, and in the final section, after the inspector has left, takes over from him as chorus, explaining the moral message.

Sheila’s sin is that of envy. Page 5 (Oh – it’s wonderful …): Seems childlike. Page 19 ((warmly)): She responds to her feelings. Page 19 (But these girls …): She has a natural sense of justice.

Page 24 (from top): Admits that she acted badly, and feels ashamed without being told: Sheila gets what the inspector wants her to understand by herself. Page 25 (Oh don’t be stupid): She guesses Gerald’s secret – she already suspected it.Page 28 (Don’t please …): She accepts her responsibility; the inspector shows her pity. Page 34 (Nothing would …): She is not as upset as others expect.

Page 34 (But you’re forgetting …): She uses his embarrassment to take control. Page 35 (Of course …): Sheila knows more about life than her parents realise. Page 40 (I don’t dislike …): She admits that she knew he lied to her, that their engagement was not based on love, but was meeting social expectations. Page 58 (is that when …): Se sees what the events are really about – that they are supposed to learn about caring for others from them.Page 59 (I’m going …): Acting as chorus. Page 71 (No, because…): She is shocked her parents still don’t get it, that they will suffer if they don’t change.

Page 72 (No, not yet …): She needs to decide if she can trust him and if he can change. Gerald Croft Gerald Croft is from a slightly higher social background than the Birlings, and seems to behave quite well to ‘Daisy Renton’, as Eva calls herself. However, he deliberately deceives Sheila, and like the older Birlings, at the end thinks life can just go back to normal.His offer of the ring to Sheila at the end of the play shows he is insensitive about her, and his views about workers are identical to Mr Birling – really he is just as bad, but with better manners. He is attractive, clever, but unfeeling and selfish.

His sin is not really lust (unlike Eric, he is in control), but gluttony. Page 4 (Hear hear …): His views are the same as Mr B’s. Page 35 (The girl saw me …): He tries to make it seem that he got drawn in by her. Page 36-37 (I discovered …): Keeps making it sound as though he was just being a good Samaritan, not after sex.

Page 37 (Yes, I suppose …): Admits that he really saw ‘Daisy’ as someone to exploit. Page 38 (It’s hard to say …): Admits that he was just using Eva – knows he has lost status in the eyes of the Birlings. Page 66 (No there isn’t …): Gerald uses his discovery to impress the Birlings. Page 69 (Anyway, we’ll see…): He starts to take charge – he is behaving like Mr Birling did (p 62). Page 70 (Thanks.

I think …): Thinks everything is alright again. Page 71 (Everything’s all right …): He is thinking like Mr B – that everyone will carry on as though nothing had happened. Inspector GooleThe inspector is a mysterious presence in the play. His name (a homophone for ‘ghoul’, a ghost), suggests this from the moment he is introduced.

He is seen as being angered by the indifference of the Birlings to the harm they have caused, but shows little emotion otherwise. He ignores any attempts to influence him, and continues his mission inflexibly. To a degree, he is not a proper character at all, but acts as a chorus, letting audience and other characters know what has happened off-stage, and making heavily moralistic speeches. By doing this he can be seen as the voice of the author in the play.Page 11 (I’d like some …; Yes, she was …): Tells them he wants information from them.

Uses a brutally direct description to shock. Page 12 ((cutting through …)): Not impressed by Mr B. Page 19-20 (I’ve had that …): Moral lecture – understands why people act as they do. Page 20 (That’s what …): Acting as chorus – telling the story. Page 25 (That’s what …):Tells story, then traps Gerald with the name ‘Daisy Renton’.

Page 29 (You see,…):Moral message – if we don’t share responsibility, we will be guilty Page 34 (And anyhow …): He convinces Gerald he knows everything, so G. tells truth.Page 45 (That doesn’t …): He is hard on Mrs B, and turns the others against her too. Page 56 (But just remember this …): He reinforces the message of being responsible for each other, and looks forward to the world wars as punishment for failing to do it. Eva Smith Although Eva does not appear in person, we hear a lot about her.

She is both beautiful and resourceful, organises others in the strike at Birlings, and has a clear sense of right and wrong (she won’t take Eric’s stolen money). Despite being essentially an ideal rather than a real person, she is forced to fall back on what is, in effect, prostitution.This is shown to be the result of the behaviour and choices of the Birlings and Gerald, rather than her own actions. Her life ends in despair, abandoned by the people who had a moral duty to help her.

Priestley’s message can be seen as both optimistic and pessimistic: the world is getting better with new institutions to help people like her, but some people will never accept their responsibility to others. ----------------------- An Inspector Calls Background revision material and notes for annotating GCSE exam texts