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GCSE English Lit (An Inspector calls) Mind Map on An inspector Calls - Key Themes, created by shonarstart on 05/04/2015.

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An inspector Calls - Key ThemesResponsibilityPrimary theme'responsible' and'responsibilty' are used bymost characters throughoutthe playThe inspector wanted eachmember of the family to share theresponsibility of Eva's death"One Eva Smith has gone - but there aremillions and millions of Eva Smiths and JohnSmiths still left with us, with their lives, theirhopes and fears, their suffering and chanceof happiness, all intertwind with our lives,and what we think say and do."ClassCharacter attitudes to socialResponsibilityGenderAgeMr. Birling"a man has to make his own way- has to look after himself - andhis family too, of course when hehas one..."Mrs. BirlingSees social responsibility in a limited way - while she isinvolved with a woman's charity she has a very narrow senseof responsibility. She takes no responsibility for Eva's deathEricSheliadoesn't believe that anindividual has a socialresponsibility to others.Has some innate sense of social responsibility "wht shouldn't they tryfor higher wages."Her sense of social responsibility is awakened throughoutthe play and she feels compassion for workers like Eva “Butthese girls aren’t cheap labour they’re people.”Most the characters in the play arefrom rich, upper classes. However, alot can be learnt about the lowerclasses through the attitudes of thecharacters and their interactions withEva smith.This theme is linked closely withPriestley’s socialist views and thetime periods the play is set in andwritten in.At the start of the play Mr. Birling was keen to cement his social risethrough Shelia’s marriage. He saw the lower classes as cheap labour.Mrs. Birling is the social superior to her husband andgets embarrasses by his social gaffes. She views Evasmith as an upstart who deserves what she gets.At the start of An Inspector calls Shelia is happy takingadvantage of benefits of her social class and see people like Evaas beneath her.Gerald is prepared to marry Shelia even though she has a lower socialstatus then him. However he uses Eva as a mistress to be discardedas he pleases.Eric feels awkward about the benefits from his social status. Hesees Eva as easy sex at the end of a drunken night out.Because of her gender Eva was in an even morevulnerable position. When the play is set women werenot valued in their own right by society and did nothave the right to vote.The old (Mr. and mrs.Birling)The Young (Shelai andEric)They will do anything to protect themselves and theirreputations.They have never been forced to examine theiractions and they cannot do this now “you can’t teachan old dog new tricks.”They are set in their ways. They are confident that they areright and the young are wrong.Eric and Shelia examine their role onEva’s death.They accept responsibility for actions andtheir effects.More open to new ideas. Their views changethroughout the play and they expresssympathy for the striking workers.Double click this nodeto edit the textClick and drag this buttonto create a new node