Deceit Redeem Codes - Useful Information You Should Check (2023)

FAQs

How old is Eva Smith? ›

The Inspector tells Sheila that a girl named Eva Smith, aged twenty-four, has killed herself, and Sheila is appalled to hear it. Sheila is also shocked to learn that Arthur fired Eva after the strike.

Mr Birling is shaken by the investigation and is shocked by the behaviour of his son Eric. However, he doesn't learn any lessons during the course of the play. When it seems that the Inspector might have been an imposter he is overjoyed and mocks the others for having been 'tricked' by the investigation.

Quotes by Mrs Birling:

“That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent Inspector.” “I realise that you have to conduct some sort of inquiry, but I must say that so far you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar and offensive manner.”

The Inspector says that after being sacked from Milwards, Eva Smith changed her name to Daisy Renton. On hearing this, Gerald is shaken and privately Sheila presses him for more information. He admits that he was having an affair with Daisy over the summer and that was why he didn't see Sheila. The first act ends.

Mrs Birling is to blame because she is cruel and snobbish. “girls of that class” = she is snobbish in the sense that she upholds her own class above the lower class. Believes she is better than everyone else. This led to Eva's death as she was in control of Eva's life by either giving her or refusing her aid.

Sheila is shown the photograph and realises that she had Eva Smith sacked from her next job as a shop assistant, because she thought Eva Smith laughed at her. The Inspector reveals that Eva Smith changed her name to Daisy Renton.

Mr Birling is a "heavy-looking man" in his mid-50s with easy manners but "rather provincial in his speech".

The ending of the play is certainly effective in adding to my understanding of the play as a whole as it increases tension, ensures the audience question in more depth the function of Inspector Goole, reinforces characterisation and highlights the key theme of Social Responsibility.

Mr Birling attempts to use his social status to ​intimidate​the Inspector and retain some ​authority​by referencing his irrelevant roles as “​I was an alderman for years – and lord mayor two years ago​”, however, this leaves the Inspector unaffected.

Eric: (miserably) could I have a drink first? Birling: (explosively) No. Inspector: (firmly) Yes. (As Birling looks like interrupting explosively.)

Who is the only character to remain unaffected by Inspector Goole's revelations? ›

' Mrs Birling has been the most resistant to the Inspector throughout the play, but in this act, she has to leave the room, showing that she has been unsettled by what she has heard.

Mr Birling is ​a symbol of upper class privilege, showing how the upper classes used their positions to ​evade conflict and responsibility. Upon meeting the Inspector for the first time, Mr Birling tells him,​ “I was an alderman for years - and Lord Mayor two years ago - and I'm still on the Bench,” (Act 1, pg 11)​.

He reveals the girl's name - Eva Smith, and that she used to work in Mr Birling's factory. Mr Birling had Eva sacked as she was the ringleader of a group of workers who had asked for higher pay.

It turns out that Eric had an affair 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.

Her name is symbolically significant. Eva refers to the first woman and Smith is a common name which could mean any woman. During the years leading up to the First World War there was much industrial unrest with workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

The Inspector was a supernatural being (kind of like the ghosts who visit Scrooge in A Christmas Carol) who took it upon himself to show the Birlings the error of their ways and to get justice for Eva.

He tells them how a girl called Eva Smith has killed herself by drinking disinfectant - he wants to ask them some questions. The Inspector reveals that the girl used to work in Arthur Birling's factory and he had her sacked for going on strike. Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for her death.

Priestley uses Eric as ​symbolic​of ​redemption​; no matter the ​atrocities​committed in the past, he has the capacity to​ change and improve​. Priestley presents Eric in a ​sympathetic light​through Eric's opposition to Mr Birling's capitalist and individualistic​attitudes.

Sheila views Mr Birling's employees as individuals and despises the exploitation of their labour, by her father. She also rejects her mother's use of “​impertinent​” as “​such a silly word​”.

In Act Two, after much coaxing, Gerald finally reveals that Daisy Renton was his mistress. He rescued her in March from an ogling old man in the Palace bar. He noticed that the victim was different to the other girls (prostitutes).

Why does Arthur think he isn't responsible for Eva's death? ›

Q2 Why does Arthur think he isn't responsible for Eva's death? Use a quote to back up your answer. E.g. He believes that his actions were justified in the interest of business; he claims that he has a “duty to keep labour costs down.”

Eric Birling

Son of Arthur and Sybil, and older brother of Sheila.

Sybil Birling, like her husband Arthur, represents a type of middle-class snobbery that existed prior to the World Wars. Priestley hoped that these sorts of attitudes would die out, and uses Mrs Birling to show how they can lead to cold and thoughtless behaviour.

Sheila Birling is Arthur and Sybil's daughter and is in her early 20s. At the start of the play she is celebrating her engagement and she is giddy, naïve and childish.

The Inspector reveals that a girl called Eva Smith, has taken her own life by drinking disinfectant. The family are horrified but initially confused as to why the Inspector has called to see them.

As the Inspector delivers his closing speech, he prophesises a terrible future. "And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."

Chris Power introduces An Inspector Calls as a morality play that denounces the hypocrisy and callousness of capitalism and argues that a just society can only be achieved if all individuals feel a sense of social responsibility.

He refuses to believe that he is responsible for being involved with the case as it would have a big impact on his social status and reputation and this highlights his selfishness and his obsession with society.

An 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.

Who says as if she were an animal a thing not a person? ›

3/4: Eric's Character Development/changes

He treated her 'as if she were an animal, a thing, not a person. ' At the start of the play, he was just like the others – abusing his power over a working class girl.

Both Sheila and Gerald know about Eric's drinking. Sheila says that Eric has been drinking steadily for the past two years. Mr Birling realises at the end of the act that Eric is 'mixed up' in Daisy's story.

Eric is presented as an uncommendable, slightly drunk and uncomfortable character and this is shown when at the start of the play he suddenly laughs for no apparent reason – “I just had to laugh” – which shows that he was a bit “squiffy” as told by his mother, Mrs Birling.

The Inspector is an immortal time traveler who traverses the farthest reaches of time and space, accompanied by his trusted Associates.

She attempts to warn Gerald in a humorous manner not to become a "purple faced old man" from drinking too much Port, yet the stage directions imply that she has a genuine concern of this as she speaks "possessively." Being part of the younger generation and a woman, Sheila is forced to convey her concerns as ...

The Inspector, as Priestley's mouthpiece, is a symbol of Socialism – he wants everyone to look after each other and to view community as very important. He is sent to uncover the family's wrongdoings and to make them see that they should take responsibility for others.

Eva and Eric's baby could be symbolic of a bridge between the upper and lower classes. It has the power to bring them two classes together and yet Mrs Birling destroys the baby because she is only interested in self preservation.

In the play, it is evident that Arthur Birling abuses his authority over people because he is involved in a dispute with Eva Smith concerning her request of a raise of 2.7 shillings. Powered by fury, Arthur Birling refuses her request, and she is fired from Birling and Co.

Mrs Birling refers to Eva Smith as a 'girl of that sort'. She clearly has preconceptions about working-class girls suggesting that they lack morals and will always take money.

This is evident as Eva is referred to as "​pretty​", "​very pretty​" "​a lively, good-looking girl​" by Gerald and Eric. Her ​physical appearance​, rather than her personality, is what matters to them. Gerald dehumanises Eva, referring to her as “​the girl​”, erasing her individual identity.

How does Birling describe Eva? ›

Birling describes her as being troublesome, 'lively good-looking girl – country bred'. Her plans were thwarted and she was sacked from the factory. She was out of work for two months until she got a job at Milwards Department store.

Her name is symbolically significant. Eva refers to the first woman and Smith is a common name which could mean any woman. During the years leading up to the First World War there was much industrial unrest with workers demanding higher wages and better working conditions.

Eva Smith shows that she is strong willed when she organises a strike for higher wages. This shows that she is not afraid to stand up to 'hard-headed' business men like Mr Birling. Birling: "...she'd been working in one of our machine shops for over a year. A good worker too.

Eva and Eric's baby could be symbolic of a bridge between the upper and lower classes. It has the power to bring them two classes together and yet Mrs Birling destroys the baby because she is only interested in self preservation.

Eva got fired from Milwards

After a silly misunderstanding with Eva, Sheila Birling (a regular customer who had a family account at the store) used her influences to get the young girl fired. Sheila later admitted that the real reason was because she was jealous.

It turns out that Eric had an affair 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.

Daisy is a symbol of purity and innocence. She killed herself with bleach, a cleaning liquid, suggesting that maybe she felt she was impure and ruined. Renton is a play on the word renting which was a word used in 1912 when hiring a prostitute.

The Inspector reports that Eva/Daisy has killed herself by drinking “disinfectant,” which has ravaged the inside of her body. This disinfectant should, symbolically, make her “clean,” but it destroys her.

Analysis Essay. Throughout the morality play 'an inspector calls' priestly clearly demonstrates the character of Eva Smith to be a representation of the lives of the working class, and how they were often exploited due to capitalism and the upper class In 1912.

Mrs Sybil Birling is Arthur Birling's wife and right from the opening of the play she is cold-hearted and snobbish despite being a prominent member of local women's charity.

Does Goole mean 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.

Eva Smith is used as a metaphor for the 'millions and millions and millions' of working class population, in the early twentieth century.

The ending of the play is certainly effective in adding to my understanding of the play as a whole as it increases tension, ensures the audience question in more depth the function of Inspector Goole, reinforces characterisation and highlights the key theme of Social Responsibility.

Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

Other characters claim to know different girls of different names, including “Daisy Renton,” who, the Inspector asserts, are all the same person.

Each of the Birlings used some ​form of exploitation ​in their mistreatment of Eva: ● Mr Birling exploited her for ​cheap labour​. Sheila exploited her ​status ​as the daughter of a well-known man to get Eva fired without a sufficient cause. Gerald and Eric exploited her for ​sex​.