The theme of social responsibility in the play is directly tied to these conditions. The Inspector repeatedly emphasizes that everyone in society, regardless of their social status, has a responsibility to care for others. This message directly contradicts the values held by many in the Edwardian upper class, like Mr Birling, who believe in looking out for their own interests without considering the impact of their actions on the lower classes. Eric: Yes, I insisted – it seems. I'm not very clear about it, but afterwards she told me she didn't want me to go in but that – well, I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty – and I threatened to make a row. Carl: The inspector delivers an ominous message to all before he leaves where he references the hell that awaits men who do not learn a lesson. Major conflict Eva Smith/Daisy Renton’s death implicates the entire Birling family, who sort out their culpability in her downfall.

An Inspector Calls at The Royal Exchange 1986". www.abouttheartists.com . Retrieved 20 January 2023. Carl: We also learn a lot about the inspector through Priestley’s stage directions, specifically the way the inspector speaks and interacts with the other characters. The inspector is cutting through massively. Jean: No, they're not and in the next episode of the podcast, we're going to be talking about the key themes in An Inspector Calls.

Curriculum

Jean: He didn't grow up wealthy, like his wife or Gerald. And during quite a few moments in the play, he comes across as insecure and self-conscious about this. Carl: He's happier that he's reputation isn't going to be ruined than he is that Eva Smith might still be alive, which tells us a lot about his character. He's selfish, he's arrogant, he's unremorseful. Highly successful after its first and subsequent London productions, the play is now considered one of Priestley's greatest works, and it has been subject to a variety of critical interpretations. Judgment and Consequence: The arrival of Inspector Goole forces the characters to face judgment for their actions. The prospect of public scandal reflects the societal judgment they fear, while the repeated phone call at the end of the play suggests that actions have consequences.

Jean: There's such a problematic power dynamic in this relationship. Eva/ Daisy is totally dependent on Gerald for money and shelter. So the play does hint at the ways that society is unfair to women. This kind of relationship is not healthy. Jean: The apple does not fall very far from the tree in this case. But unlike her mother, Sheila immediately feels guilty for her actions and takes responsibility for the negative effect they had on Eva's life. The Stephen Daldry production went on a tour of the UK in 2011 and continued to tour into 2020, [23] with Tom Mannion and Liam Brennan among the actors playing Inspector Goole. [24] The production returned to the Playhouse in London's West End in November 2016, with Liam Brennan in the name part. [20] Brennan once again starred as Inspector Goole in a 2022 tour of the UK billed as the production's Thirtiest Anniversary Tour. Jean: After getting her pregnant, Eric tried to take some responsibility for Eva and the unborn child. But instead of earning his own money, he stole it from his father's business so Eva refused to take it. The booklet could be used for a research lesson or for homework.Knowing some facts about J B Priestley's life can help to answer questions on the GCSE English Literature exam as they constitute part of the play's context.

SparkNotes—the stress-free way to a better GPA

Jean: In the BBC Sounds app, there's loads of other things you can use to help you with your revision. Full versions of some of the text you might be studying, revision playlists and other Bitesize podcast series to help with different GCSE subjects. Sheila: Yes, but it didn't seem to be anything very terrible at the time. Don't you understand? And if I could help her now, I would--- Gerald and the elder Birlings celebrate in relief, but Eric and Sheila continue to rue their and the family's actions. Birling is then rung by the police, who explain that a young woman has just died at the infirmary in a suspected suicide, and that the police are on their way to question the family. The Inspector's identity is left unexplained, but it is clear that the family's confessions over the course of the evening have all been true, and that public disgrace will soon befall them. Eric Birling, the Birlings' son, also had an affair with Eva, resulting in her pregnancy. He stole money from his father's business to support Eva, but she refused to accept it once she knew of its origins.