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Aic help! (aqa gcse english lit)

Hi, in preparation for Monday's exam I am practicing a question about social responsibility as a theme.
The question I have is this: The Inspector’s closing speech includes the line “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” How is the theme of social responsibility explored in the play?
Could anybody help give me some points that I could cover. Thanks in advance.
The Inspector
The Inspector himself adds drama:

He controls the pace and tension by dealing with one line of enquiry at a time. Slowly the story of Eva's life is unravelled, like in a 'whodunnit'.

He is in command at the end of Act I and the start of Act 2, and the end of Act 2 and the start of Act 3. He is a brooding, inescapable presence, very much in control.

He is very mysterious and seems to know what is going to happen before it does. (To find out more about Inspector Goole, click here.)

Reply 2
Original post by Arvin Bhambra
The Inspector
The Inspector himself adds drama:

He controls the pace and tension by dealing with one line of enquiry at a time. Slowly the story of Eva's life is unravelled, like in a 'whodunnit'.

He is in command at the end of Act I and the start of Act 2, and the end of Act 2 and the start of Act 3. He is a brooding, inescapable presence, very much in control.

He is very mysterious and seems to know what is going to happen before it does. (To find out more about Inspector Goole, click here.)



Hi. I don't think this is relevant to my question on social responsibility, but thanks for the info and reply anyway.
what does social responsibility mean?
then i can possibly help you
Original post by Tom1699
Hi, in preparation for Monday's exam I am practicing a question about social responsibility as a theme.
The question I have is this: The Inspector’s closing speech includes the line “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” How is the theme of social responsibility explored in the play?
Could anybody help give me some points that I could cover. Thanks in advance.


Well there's the whole anti Birling thing - Birling's capitalist, he's socialist. He cut's off Birling's speech at the start, when the doorbell rings, suggesting that capitalism (the opposite of social responsibility) is flawed
Reply 5
Original post by Arvin Bhambra
what does social responsibility mean?
then i can possibly help you

Social responsibility, is like how that people in upper class backgrounds should take some responsibility for the lower class people. Such as giving them higher wages.
Original post by Tom1699
Hi, in preparation for Monday's exam I am practicing a question about social responsibility as a theme.
The question I have is this: The Inspector’s closing speech includes the line “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” How is the theme of social responsibility explored in the play?
Could anybody help give me some points that I could cover. Thanks in advance.


what you could say, is that as Priesty was a socialist and Birling a Capitalist, the inspector ascts as a mouthpiece for Priestly and thus leaves Birling open to critisism. The responsibility element of the quote can be covered by saying that as Birling has been shown to have shelved his moral compass in order to prosper, he has further shelved his responsibility for society and therefore the Inspector has come as a warning for him to take heed upon. Claiming that the inspector is a mouthpiece employed by priestly further backs up this point as it suggests that capitalism does nothing for unitary (one body) responsibility and this can be shown through strikes at Birlings etc

Due to the political sides taken in the play (insoector vs birling), saying anything that relates to Birling (capitalism) not taking responsibility for others will get credited
(edited 7 years ago)
Its important to look at and explore thr inspectors final speech for this question - especially when he says "blood and fire and anguish". This has biblical connotations as well as it could be a reference to ww1 and 2. This gives the sense that the inspector is omniscient/a deity as well as showing how becaise people havent accepted social responsibility, there are dire consequences.
Explore how the inspector is classless - " i never have tried it [golf].

Also look at how the characters develop eg how sheila and eric accept responsibiloty for their actions whereas their parents are negligent and onlu worry about their class. Perhaps bring in old v young theme here to emphasise the point about acceptong social responsibility.

Mention how the inspector is priestlys mouth piece about his ideas on socialism. Thats all ive got .....im not thay good at eng lit so my points may not be too useful. Anyway good luck with the eng lit exam on monday!
Reply 8
Original post by litlanglad
Its important to look at and explore thr inspectors final speech for this question - especially when he says "blood and fire and anguish". This has biblical connotations as well as it could be a reference to ww1 and 2. This gives the sense that the inspector is omniscient/a deity as well as showing how becaise people havent accepted social responsibility, there are dire consequences.
Explore how the inspector is classless - " i never have tried it [golf].

Also look at how the characters develop eg how sheila and eric accept responsibiloty for their actions whereas their parents are negligent and onlu worry about their class. Perhaps bring in old v young theme here to emphasise the point about acceptong social responsibility.

Mention how the inspector is priestlys mouth piece about his ideas on socialism. Thats all ive got .....im not thay good at eng lit so my points may not be too useful. Anyway good luck with the eng lit exam on monday!


Thank you for your information. It has really helped. Don't be hard on yourself. Good luck for your Lit exam too!
Reply 9
Thanks everyone for their replies. They have been helpful. Good luck in any upcoming exams.
Introduction --

contextualize the play and contextualize the question

Paragraph 1 --

How Mr. and Mrs. Birling fail to accept their responsibility

Paragraph 2 --

How Sheila accepts her social responsibility

Paragraph 3 --

Pg 55 Inspector's final speech

Conclusion

What is Priestley ultimately saying about society at the time and how we fail to accept our social responsibility?

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