2.1.5
Blame & Responsibility
Blame and Responsibility: Characters
Blame and Responsibility: Characters
Priestley uses An Inspector Calls to highlight the unfair attitudes in society. Generally, the upper-class people refused to acknowledge how their actions affected the lower classes. The following characters accept no responsibility:
![Illustrative background for The Birlings](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/5ba3a7ad-31b9-447c-ac3b-6e22d16a39b9/shutterstock_165722939,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for The Birlings ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/5ba3a7ad-31b9-447c-ac3b-6e22d16a39b9/shutterstock_165722939,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
The Birlings
The Birlings
- Priestley uses Mr and Mrs Birling to highlight the belief that lower-class people deserve their misfortune, and that upper-class people are entitled to (have the right to have) fortune, wealth and easy lifestyles.
![Illustrative background for Mr Birling](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/2d8706af-970a-45d2-bc25-b59d1a7def2a/shutterstock_320323256,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Mr Birling ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/2d8706af-970a-45d2-bc25-b59d1a7def2a/shutterstock_320323256,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Mr Birling
Mr Birling
- He refuses to accept any responsibility. Instead, he sees Eva as a troublemaker for wanting a pay raise.
- He dismisses (plays down) the issue.
- At the end, he is happy to forget the whole thing.
![Illustrative background for Mrs Birling](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1f997e5b-3dde-4ea6-a7bb-712cea465277/shutterstock_81483472,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Mrs Birling ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1f997e5b-3dde-4ea6-a7bb-712cea465277/shutterstock_81483472,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Mrs Birling
Mrs Birling
- She refuses to accept any responsibility.
- She feels that the father of Eva’s child should be the one responsible – until she realises it is her own son.
- She then pushes the blame onto Eric.
- She still refuses to accept that she did anything wrong even in her charitable role.
![Illustrative background for Gerald](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ed84ac7a-03bf-4e58-bef0-88c6820c0ff8/shutterstock_549881620,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Gerald ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/ed84ac7a-03bf-4e58-bef0-88c6820c0ff8/shutterstock_549881620,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Gerald
Gerald
- He refuses to accept any responsibility.
- He feels that he did his part in helping Eva. He does not feel guilt over making her his mistress.
- He does not feel that he did anything wrong. He is very happy to forget the whole thing when he thinks the inspector is fake.
Blame and Responsibility: Characters
Blame and Responsibility: Characters
Priestley uses An Inspector Calls to highlight the unfair attitudes in society. Generally, the upper-class people refused to acknowledge how their actions affected the lower classes. But Priestley also uses the younger Birlings to suggest that the younger generation give some hope for society:
![Illustrative background for Sheila](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/1724ab0a-8502-4813-b8f1-8e674a6b54b4/shutterstock_702613939,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Sheila ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/1724ab0a-8502-4813-b8f1-8e674a6b54b4/shutterstock_702613939,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Sheila
Sheila
- She is shocked when she learns what happened to Eva because of her actions.
- She feels extreme guilt and accepts responsibility for her actions.
- Although she acted like a spoilt child, she matures in the play and accepts the role she played in Eva’s suicide.
- She even tells her parents off for refusing to accept responsibility for their own actions.
![Illustrative background for Eric](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/03a325c8-c85d-4da2-98a1-213f8ed820fa/shutterstock_1094402255,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Eric ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/03a325c8-c85d-4da2-98a1-213f8ed820fa/shutterstock_1094402255,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Eric
Eric
- He acknowledges that his actions were wrong.
- He accepts responsibility for the role he played in damaging Eva’s life and for contributing towards her suicide.
- He also tells his mother she should accept responsibility as well.
![Illustrative background for Inspector Goole](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/25860e8c-e9f5-4501-8d2f-b8639d3ea4cd/shutterstock_664099129,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Inspector Goole ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/25860e8c-e9f5-4501-8d2f-b8639d3ea4cd/shutterstock_664099129,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Inspector Goole
Inspector Goole
- His role is to help each character to understand the consequences of their individual selfishness.
- His role is also to try to encourage them to accept some responsibility. He hopes this will change their attitudes and help them to become less selfish.
1Plot Summary
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
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
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
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play
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