Inspector Goole
Creates an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness(11)
(Cutting through, massively) (12)
We have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt. (29)
Shelia: He’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves. (33)
Don’t stammer and yammer at me again, man. I’m losing all patience with you people. (46)
There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their
hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives (56)
We don’t live alone. We are members of one body … If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in
fire and blood and anguish (56)
Eva
Mr B: She had a lot to say – far too much (15)
Inspector: cheap labour (19)
Inspector: A nice little promising life there I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it (21)
Gerald: young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there. (35)
Inspector: alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate. (45)
Mr Birling
lower costs and higher prices (4)
a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capital verses Labour agitations and all these silly little war scares. (7)
- a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own – and – (10 Then the doorbell rings)
If we were responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it’d be very awkward (14)
talk this over quietly in a corner – (18)
There’ll be a public scandal – unless we’re lucky – and who will suffer from that more than I will? (58)
Look at the pair of them – the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke – (72)
Mrs Birling
cold woman and her husband’s social superior (1)
Really the things you girls pick up these days! (3)
You’re looking tired dear. I think you ought to go to bed – and forget this absurd business. (30)
I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand (30)
You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate – (31)
On E’s drinking: (staggered) It isn’t true. You know him Gerald – and you’re a man – you must know it isn’t true. (32)
It wasn’t me who had her turned out of her employment (46)
claiming fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position (46)
Ins G to Mrs B: No hushing up, eh? Make an example of the young man, eh? Public confession of responsibility? (48)
Shelia
A pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited (1-2)
Half playful, half serious (5)
Yes that’s what you say.
Oh – it’s wonderful! – Look – Mummy – isn’t it a beauty? (5)
- and I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me. What was she like? (17)
You talk as if we were responsible – (18)
But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people (19)
Why – you fool – he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet.
You’ll see. You’ll see. (26)
But now you’re beginning to all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened – (57)
(flaring up) I’m not being. If you want to know, it’s you two who are being childish – trying not to face the facts (59)
Eric
Note quite at ease, half shy, half assertive (2)
Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices? (16)
Yes, I insisted – it seems. I’m not very clear about it … I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty – and I
threatened to make a row. (51)
You killed her – and the child she’d have had too – my child – your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn
you, damn you. (55)
He was our police inspector all right. (59)
(shouting) and I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her – and that’s what matters (65)
Gerald
You couldn’t have done anything else (15 – about Mr B sacking Eva)
We’re respectable citizens and not criminals (22)
So – for God’s sake – don’t say anything to the Inspector. (26)
Insp to G: and you think women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things? (27)
I insisted on a parting gift of enough money - though it wasn’t so very much – to see her through (39)
Everything’s alright now Shelia. (Holds up the ring) What about this ring? (71)
