Studying An Inspector Calls? Here are the Top 5 quotes for every main character

J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls is a powerful exploration of social responsibility, class, and morality. Each character in the play represents different attitudes toward society and their roles within it. The Inspector’s interrogation of the Birling family and Gerald Croft reveals their complicity in the downfall of Eva Smith. Below are the top five quotes for each main character, highlighting their key moments and themes.

Inspector Goole

Inspector Goole serves as the moral compass of the play, challenging each character's sense of responsibility for their actions toward Eva Smith. He represents social conscience and pushes the characters to acknowledge their guilt.

1. “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”This quote encapsulates the Inspector’s key message of social responsibility and the idea that everyone is interconnected.

2. “It's better to ask for the earth than to take it.”The Inspector criticizes Mr. Birling’s exploitation of the working class, pointing out that it's more damaging to take from society than to ask for basic needs.

3. “Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.”This statement reminds Arthur Birling that those in positions of power must also be accountable for their actions, a key critique of capitalist values.

4. “Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it.”The Inspector’s blunt accusation forces the family to confront their collective responsibility for Eva’s death.

5. “If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”This ominous warning suggests that ignoring social responsibility will lead to dire consequences, possibly referencing the wars and revolutions that followed in real history.

Arthur Birling

Arthur Birling represents capitalist greed and individualism. He believes in self-reliance and dismisses the idea of social responsibility, making him a symbol of the upper class's detachment from the struggles of the working class.

1. “The Titanic... unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”This quote demonstrates Birling’s arrogance and misguided confidence in progress and technology, foreshadowing the downfall of his worldview.

2. “A man has to make his own way—has to look after himself—and his family too, of course.”Birling’s philosophy of individualism reflects his belief that people should focus solely on their own success, ignoring wider social responsibilities.

3. “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”This statement shows Birling’s disdain for the working class, believing they are greedy and undeserving of better conditions.

4. “I can’t accept any responsibility.”Birling refuses to acknowledge his role in Eva Smith’s death, symbolizing the upper class’s refusal to accept responsibility for their actions.

5. “The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else.”Birling mocks the idea of social responsibility, highlighting his capitalist belief in self-interest over collective welfare.

Sybil Birling

Sybil Birling represents the hypocrisy and moral blindness of the upper class. As the head of a charitable organization, she refuses to help Eva Smith, showing her lack of empathy and social responsibility.

1. “I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame.”Sybil coldly dismisses her role in Eva’s downfall, blaming the girl entirely for her own misfortune.

2. “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”This comment reflects Sybil’s prejudice against the lower class, assuming that poor women are greedy and dishonest.

3. “I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.”Sybil's lack of remorse and self-awareness highlights her moral hypocrisy. She refuses to accept any blame for Eva’s death.

4. “Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.”Sybil unknowingly condemns her own son, Eric, by insisting that the father of Eva’s child is solely responsible for her situation.

5. “You’re quite wrong to suppose I shall regret what I did.”Even after the Inspector’s revelations, Sybil remains unrepentant, showing her deep-seated arrogance and refusal to change.

Eric Birling

Eric is the most troubled character in the play, representing the younger generation’s guilt and potential for change. His actions contribute significantly to Eva Smith’s downfall, and he struggles with guilt throughout the play.

1. “You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.”Eric’s strained relationship with his father highlights the emotional distance between them and the lack of guidance he feels he receives.

2. “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty—and I threatened to make a row.”Eric’s confession of how he treated Eva reveals his abusive behavior and his deep remorse for his actions.

3. “The fact remains that I did what I did.”Unlike his parents, Eric accepts responsibility for his actions, showing a willingness to confront his guilt.

4. “We did her in all right.”Eric bluntly acknowledges the family’s collective role in Eva’s death, contrasting sharply with his parents’ denial.

5. “It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters.”Eric’s focus on the consequences of their actions demonstrates his moral growth and his understanding of the importance of social responsibility.

Sheila Birling

Sheila represents the younger generation’s ability to change and accept responsibility. Over the course of the play, she moves from being a naive, self-centered girl to a morally aware individual who is deeply affected by the Inspector’s revelations.

1. “But these girls aren’t cheap labour—they’re people.”Sheila’s early recognition of the humanity of working-class women shows her growing awareness of social issues and her compassion.

2. “I know I’m to blame—and I’m desperately sorry.”Sheila’s immediate acceptance of her role in Eva’s downfall sets her apart from her parents, showing her willingness to learn and change.

3. “You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.”Sheila criticizes her mother’s attempts to distance themselves from Eva, understanding that they are all connected by their actions.

4. “It’s you two who are being childish—trying not to face the facts.”Sheila calls out her parents’ refusal to accept responsibility, showing her maturity and insight.

5. “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody.”Sheila’s vow reflects her genuine remorse and her determination to change her behavior going forward.

Gerald Croft

Gerald represents the privileged upper class, who, while initially appearing more sympathetic than the Birlings, ultimately seeks to distance himself from responsibility. He is the link between the Birlings and Eva’s downfall.

1. “I don’t come into this suicide business.”Gerald initially tries to distance himself from Eva’s death, refusing to see his part in her tragic fate.

2. “She looked young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there.”Gerald’s description of Eva highlights his attraction to her, but also his objectification of her as someone to be saved or controlled.

3. “I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.”Gerald admits that he did not love Eva, despite the affair, showing his emotional detachment and how his actions impacted her deeply.

4. “Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?”This quote shows Gerald’s desire to return to the status quo after the Inspector’s departure, demonstrating his failure to truly learn from the experience.

5. “I became at once the most important person in her life.”Gerald’s self-aggrandizing remark reflects his belief in his own superiority, even as he recognizes that his affair with Eva was not built on mutual respect.

Eva Smith

Although Eva never appears on stage, she is the symbolic victim of the play, representing the struggles of the working class and the consequences of the Birling family’s actions.

1. “She had a lot to say—far too much—so she had to go.” (Arthur Birling)Birling’s justification for firing Eva highlights the power imbalance between employer and employee and how Eva’s attempts to stand up for herself were punished.

2. “She was very pretty—soft brown hair and big dark eyes.” (Gerald Croft)Gerald’s description of Eva emphasizes her physical beauty, but also shows how she was often valued only for her appearance.

3. “She felt there’d never be anything as good again for her.” (Gerald Croft)This reflects Eva’s despair after her relationship with Gerald ends, showing how her life had been a series of hardships.

4. “I wasn’t in love with her or anything—but she was pretty and a good sport.” (Eric Birling)Eric’s objectification of Eva shows how she was mistreated by those around her, even by those who claimed to care for her.

5. **“She asked for assistance and we refused her.” (Sybil Birling)Sybil’s refusal to help Eva in her time of need ultimately seals her fate, showing the cruelty of the upper class.

Each character in An Inspector Calls reveals different attitudes toward responsibility and society, from the selfish individualism of Arthur and Sybil Birling to the potential for change seen in Sheila and Eric. Inspector Goole serves as the catalyst for these revelations, forcing each character to confront their role in Eva Smith’s demise. Through these quotes, Priestley critiques class inequalities and calls for a more compassionate and socially responsible society.