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28 Dec 2025
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Character Analysis and Key Quotes in 'An Inspector Calls'
ayman
@ayman.fr
1 / 7
Inspector Goole's Key Messages
Inspector Goole serves as Priestley's moral voice, challenging the Birling family's selfish attitudes. His famous line "One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us" uses repetition to emphasise how widespread social injustice really is.
The Inspector's message is crystal clear: collective responsibility matters more than individual wealth. When he declares "We are members of one body," he's using a metaphor that shows how everyone's actions affect others. This directly challenges Mr Birling's capitalist "every man for himself" attitude.
His warning about "fire and blood and anguish" becomes especially powerful when you remember Priestley wrote this after two world wars. The Inspector isn't just talking about Eva - he's warning about what happens when society ignores its most vulnerable members.
Top tip: Inspector Goole never appears in official police records - his supernatural qualities help Priestley deliver his socialist message more dramatically.
Sybil Birling's Prejudices Exposed
Sybil Birling embodies the worst aspects of upper-class entitlement and social prejudice. Her dismissive comment "Girls of that class often do" reveals how she sees working-class women as inherently different and inferior to herself.
Her refusal to take responsibility is shown through "I've done nothing wrong - and you know it." This defensive language demonstrates her complete inability to recognise how her charity work actually reinforces class divisions rather than helping people.
Sybil's victim-blaming reaches its peak with "But I think she had only herself to blame." This shows how the privileged classes avoid confronting systemic problems by making individuals responsible for their own suffering.
Key insight: Sybil represents the hypocrisy of Edwardian charity - helping the "deserving poor" whilst judging and rejecting those who don't meet their moral standards.
Sheila Birling's Transformation Begins
Sheila Birling undergoes the most dramatic character development, representing hope for generational change. Her initial praise of Gerald as a "real gentleman" shows how she's been raised to value superficial social appearances over genuine character.
However, Sheila quickly demonstrates her capacity for growth. Her admission "I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it" shows genuine accountability - unlike her parents, she doesn't try to excuse her actions.
Her powerful declaration "these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people" directly challenges the capitalist mindset that dehumanises workers. This recognition of shared humanity marks her moral awakening.
Character growth: Sheila moves from privileged ignorance to social awareness, making her Priestley's symbol of hope for the future.
Eric Birling's Struggles and Awakening
Eric Birling starts as an awkward young man described as "half shy, half assertive." His uncomfortable body language and position "downstage" immediately establish him as an outsider within his own family.
His early criticism "you've piled it on a bit tonight, father" foreshadows his later rejection of his parents' values. Even whilst drunk, Eric recognises his father's pretentiousness and finds it embarrassing.
Eric's view of Eva as "pretty and a good sport" reveals how upper-class men objectify working-class women. The word "sport" suggests he saw her as entertainment rather than a person with real feelings and responsibilities.
Social context: Eric represents how toxic masculinity and class privilege combine to create dangerous power imbalances in Edwardian society.
Mr Birling's Capitalist Values Exposed
Mr Birling represents everything Priestley despised about capitalism. Described as "portentous" and "provincial," he's immediately established as pompous yet lacking genuine sophistication.
His proud declaration "I'm talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business" reveals how he sees ruthless capitalism as a virtue. The repetition of this phrase shows how much his identity depends on his business success.
Birling's excitement about "working together - for lower costs and higher prices" exposes the exploitative nature of capitalist economics. Even at his daughter's engagement, he only thinks about profit opportunities.
Dramatic irony: Birling's confident predictions about the Titanic being "unsinkable" and there being no war immediately discredit his judgement to the audience.
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4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Character Analysis and Key Quotes in 'An Inspector Calls'
ayman
@ayman.fr
Ever wondered how characters' words reveal their true nature? This revision guide breaks down the key characters from J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" through their most important quotations, helping you understand their roles, motivations, and what they represent in this... Show more
Inspector Goole's Key Messages
Inspector Goole serves as Priestley's moral voice, challenging the Birling family's selfish attitudes. His famous line "One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us" uses repetition to emphasise how widespread social injustice really is.
The Inspector's message is crystal clear: collective responsibility matters more than individual wealth. When he declares "We are members of one body," he's using a metaphor that shows how everyone's actions affect others. This directly challenges Mr Birling's capitalist "every man for himself" attitude.
His warning about "fire and blood and anguish" becomes especially powerful when you remember Priestley wrote this after two world wars. The Inspector isn't just talking about Eva - he's warning about what happens when society ignores its most vulnerable members.
Top tip: Inspector Goole never appears in official police records - his supernatural qualities help Priestley deliver his socialist message more dramatically.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
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Sybil Birling's Prejudices Exposed
Sybil Birling embodies the worst aspects of upper-class entitlement and social prejudice. Her dismissive comment "Girls of that class often do" reveals how she sees working-class women as inherently different and inferior to herself.
Her refusal to take responsibility is shown through "I've done nothing wrong - and you know it." This defensive language demonstrates her complete inability to recognise how her charity work actually reinforces class divisions rather than helping people.
Sybil's victim-blaming reaches its peak with "But I think she had only herself to blame." This shows how the privileged classes avoid confronting systemic problems by making individuals responsible for their own suffering.
Key insight: Sybil represents the hypocrisy of Edwardian charity - helping the "deserving poor" whilst judging and rejecting those who don't meet their moral standards.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sheila Birling's Transformation Begins
Sheila Birling undergoes the most dramatic character development, representing hope for generational change. Her initial praise of Gerald as a "real gentleman" shows how she's been raised to value superficial social appearances over genuine character.
However, Sheila quickly demonstrates her capacity for growth. Her admission "I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it" shows genuine accountability - unlike her parents, she doesn't try to excuse her actions.
Her powerful declaration "these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people" directly challenges the capitalist mindset that dehumanises workers. This recognition of shared humanity marks her moral awakening.
Character growth: Sheila moves from privileged ignorance to social awareness, making her Priestley's symbol of hope for the future.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Eric Birling's Struggles and Awakening
Eric Birling starts as an awkward young man described as "half shy, half assertive." His uncomfortable body language and position "downstage" immediately establish him as an outsider within his own family.
His early criticism "you've piled it on a bit tonight, father" foreshadows his later rejection of his parents' values. Even whilst drunk, Eric recognises his father's pretentiousness and finds it embarrassing.
Eric's view of Eva as "pretty and a good sport" reveals how upper-class men objectify working-class women. The word "sport" suggests he saw her as entertainment rather than a person with real feelings and responsibilities.
Social context: Eric represents how toxic masculinity and class privilege combine to create dangerous power imbalances in Edwardian society.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Mr Birling's Capitalist Values Exposed
Mr Birling represents everything Priestley despised about capitalism. Described as "portentous" and "provincial," he's immediately established as pompous yet lacking genuine sophistication.
His proud declaration "I'm talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business" reveals how he sees ruthless capitalism as a virtue. The repetition of this phrase shows how much his identity depends on his business success.
Birling's excitement about "working together - for lower costs and higher prices" exposes the exploitative nature of capitalist economics. Even at his daughter's engagement, he only thinks about profit opportunities.
Dramatic irony: Birling's confident predictions about the Titanic being "unsinkable" and there being no war immediately discredit his judgement to the audience.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Join milions of students
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We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: An Inspector Calls
Most popular content in English Literature
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user