Act 1 Key Quotes

Test yourself

Sheila - Key Quotes

Sheila says the following key quotes in Act 1:

‘Why – you fool – he knows!’

This exclamation shows that Sheila has quickly realised that Goole is shrewd (has good judgment) and smart.
She knows that they cannot hide anything from him, and that he knows all of the answers and how they are all involved.
She knows he is asking them questions to get them to realise their involvement themselves.
She shows maturity and intelligence here.

‘So I’m really responsible?’

Sheila’s first reaction to Inspector Goole’s questioning is to accept responsibility for her actions.
Although she is still very worried about how the experience affects her, she acknowledges that she played a key role in Eva Smith’s suicide.
This contrasts to Mr Birling’s complete denial.

‘Is it the one you wanted me to have… now I really feel engaged’

Sheila doesn’t feel properly engaged until she gets a ring.
Upper-class women got a fancy ring when they got engaged to show that someone new (instead of their father) owned them.
- Now that she's got the ring - the symbol of ownership - she seems to feel the new ownership too.

Mr Birling - Key Quotes

Mr Birling says the following key quotes in Act 1:

‘A man has to make his own way...'

‘A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself – and his family too’
- Priestley uses Birling to highlight selfish capitalist views.
- Right before Inspector Goole arrives, Birling is seen trying to educate Gerald and Eric on how he feels the world should work – he encourages them to only think about themselves and not to help anyone else in society.
- He feels that people can only be responsible for themselves – he feels that everyone is responsible for their own fate.
- He thinks if people fail, it is their own fault.

‘I can’t accept any responsibility’

Throughout the play, Mr Birling refuses to accept that he played any part in Eva Smith’s death.
- He argues that his involvement with Eva was so small and unimportant that it could not have led to her death.
- He implies that Eva’s misfortune was her own fault.
Birling shows upper-class pre-war attitudes of denial (not accepting blame) and refusing to acknowledge the consequences that their actions had on lower-class people.

Mrs Birling - Key Quotes

Mrs Birling says the following key quotes in Act 1:

‘Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things’

Mrs Birling has strong views about appropriate conversation topics, both at the dinner table and in front of company.
She scolds (tells off) Mr Birling many times for what she thinks are inappropriate comments or topics.
But although she is of a higher social class than him, she still has very little power over him because he is the male.
This means he is the head of the household and in charge of the family. The rules of a patriarchal (male-ruled) society were more important than the rules of social standing.

‘When you’re married you’ll realise that men...'

‘When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’
- Mrs Birling highlights the gender differences in pre-war Britain – women generally had much less power and place in society than men.
- Even upper-class women had to live by the rules of men.
- Mrs Birling highlights this by trying to teach her daughter about the expectations for women.

1Plot Summary

1.1Act 1

1.1.1Act 1 Summary

1.1.2Act 1 Key Quotes

1.2Act 2

1.2.1Act 2 Summary

1.2.2Act 2 Key Quotes

1.3Act 3

1.3.1Act 3 Summary

1.3.2Act 3 Key Quotes

1.3.3Act 3 More Key Quotes

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Acts 1, 2 & 3

2Context & Key Themes

2.1Context & Key Themes

2.1.1Social Class & Equality

2.1.2Class Tension

2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption

2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism

2.1.5Blame & Responsibility

2.1.6Attitudes to Women

2.1.7Characterisation of Women

2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters

2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 2

2.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes

3Key Characters

3.1Mr Birling

3.1.1Mr Birling Analysis

3.1.2Mr Birling Quotes

3.2Mrs Birling

3.2.1Mrs Birling Analysis

3.2.2Mrs Birling Quotes

3.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Mrs Birling

3.3Sheila

3.3.1Sheila Analysis

3.3.2Sheila Quotes

3.3.3End of Topic Test - The Birlings & Sheila

3.4Eric

3.4.1Eric Analysis

3.4.2Eric Quotes

3.5Gerald

3.5.1Gerald Analysis

3.5.2Gerald Quotes

3.6Inspector Goole

3.6.1Inspector Goole Analysis

3.6.2Inspector Goole Quotes

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Eric, Gerald & Inspector Goole

3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.7.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Authorial Method

4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play

4.1.1Setting, Lighting & Dramatic Irony

4.1.2Structure & Chronology

4.1.3Structure & Chronology 2

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

Jump to other topics