What Does An Inspector Calls Teach Us?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

In An Inspector Calls, the central theme is

responsibility

. Priestley is interested in our personal responsibility for our own actions and our collective responsibility to society, to take care of one another.

What is the message of An Inspector Calls?

Priestley's Main Aim in An Inspector Calls JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls' to enhance the message that

‘we don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other'

.

What is the moral of the play An Inspector Calls?

An Inspector Calls is a morality play

because all of the Birlings and Gerald Croft commit crimes which are similar to the seven deadly sins

. Mr Birling is greedy because he wants more money, Sheila is guilty of wrath and envy when she spitefully complains about Eva Smith and so on.

What are the three main themes in An Inspector Calls?

  • Wealth, Power, and Influence. The Birlings are a family of wealth and power, who take pride in their high social position. …
  • Blame and Responsibility. …
  • Public versus Private. …
  • Class Politics. …
  • Morality and Legality.

Is Inspector Goole a ghost?

It can definitely be interpreted that he is a supernatural figure because of his name: Goole. This is generally seen as a homophone for ghoul which is another word

for a ghost

. His name is Inspector Goole, which initially sounds rather like a ghostly figure.

What does the ending of An Inspector Calls mean?

The characters of the play learn the earlier events of the day are fake, and they quickly forget their guilt. But at the end,

the fake events prove to be a foreshadowing of what's to come, with the news of a girl who died and an inspector on his way to question them about it.

What did Eric do to Eva Smith?

It turns out that Eric

had an with Eva Smith

and that she was pregnant with Eric's baby when she committed suicide. Eric stole money from his father's business to help Eva. In the final act Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents and their values and shows that he can be assertive.

What is Priestley's main aim in An Inspector Calls and how successfully does he achieve it?

Priestly's main aim in An Inspector Calls is

to draw attention to the roles and consequences of capitalism in society and he achieves this successfully

. … J.B. Priestly was born in 1894 and lived through the war. This is important as he witnessed changes in peoples' attitudes before and after the year.

Who says we are members of one body?

Priestley.

An Inspector Calls

“We don't live alone. We are all members of one body.

What themes does Eric represent in An Inspector Calls?

Eric and themes The younger generation vs the older generation Eric represents the younger generation

(like Sheila) and their greater sense of responsibility

. Eric and Sheila At the start they bicker like children. By the end they agree about their responsibility and together they oppose the older generation.

How is the theme of guilt presented in Inspector Calls?

Guilt. Arthur, Sybil, Sheila, Eric, and Gerald

must come to terms with their guilt, leading to Eva/Daisy's demise

. The Inspector wants the family to accept the pain it has caused Eva/Daisy. In this way, guilt plays an important role in the Inspector's politics.

What themes are explored through Eva Smith?

Exploitation links to the themes of

social class, Capitalism vs. Socialism, and gender

. Eva is ​vulnerable ​because she is a ​working class woman​. Even though as an individual she is strong and assertive, her position in society means she has ​no power​and faces discrimination ​from others.

Did Inspector Goole killed Eva Smith?

After

Goole left the Birling household he killed Eva by forcing her to drink disinfectant

. She turned up at the infirmary and it was declared a suicide.

Is Inspector Goole a time Traveller?

4) The Inspector Goole

may have been a time traveller and not a real inspector

because of the timing of his entry, which is seemed to have been made exactly while Birling was making a very capitalist speech and he would have very much have liked to spoil their celebrations. …read more.

Who does Inspector Goole represent?

The Inspector represents

Priestley's voice

– he conveys Priestley's strong socialist views. He challenges the characters, and therefore the audience, about their treatment of the working class.

What does Eva Smith represent?

Eva smith, represents not only responsibility but forces the Birling family to feel and accept their guilt. She is the symbol of

the working class within a capitalist society

; ‘smith' being a common surname represents the common working man and more specifically woman.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.