An Inspector Calls - Themes

An Inspector Calls - Themes

1. Generations

   • Older threat the younger like children
   • Older generations take less responsibility
   • Younger generations want to be better

2. Mystery

   • Supernatural
     • Inspector Goole
     • Phone call
       • Dramatic device to raise tension and questions
   • Is the inspector real?
     • How does he know it

3. Gender

   • Women are protected by men
   • Men and women sit seperately
   • Different roles
   • Different jobs
   • Different ideas
   • Eric rapes Eva and is not punished
   • Women are less important
   • Men tell the women what to do

4. Responsibility

   • Truth about Gerald and Eva
   • A feeling of guilt
   • Makes audience think about their actions
   • They are all supposed to feel responsible for Eva's death
   • All actions have consequences

5. Social Class

   • Everyone is intertwined
   • All members of one body
   • Everyone should be considered and treated well
   • Encourages people to think and treat everyone equally
   • Mr Birling very proud
   • Gerald and Eric take advantage of Eva

6. Discrimination and Equality

   • Age
     • Sheila and Eric
   • Gender
     • Eva and Sheila
     • Mrs Birling
   • Wealth and Class
     • Eva
   • We should all be equal

7. Family

   • Protect the family
   • Meant to be close but don't know much about each other really.

8. Cause and Effect

   • Chain of effects
   • Context (Priestly was very interested in how things effect others)

9. Social Duty

   • We do not live alone
   • We have a duty to other people
   • Owning up to your actions