Analysing Quotes

All analysis should try to link to:

Ideas/ techniques/ characterisation/ structure/ historical context  both of author and the setting

An Inspector Calls

Sheila being told to go from the room by Gerald, and so Inspector questions Gerald on his motives.

Inspector to Gerald

“And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things?”

·        There is irony in the Inspectors words to Gerald as the Inspector is already aware that Gerald has not protected Eva sufficiently.

·        The use of the leading question highlights what should happen but also what has not (in respect to Eva).

·        The word choice of disturbing has suggestions of causing trauma, disorder and pain hence highlighting the difficulties present in society at that time, and the lasting effects that such difficulties can have on young women.

·        The phrasing “young women” highlights through the word choice of young the vulnerability of these women, also perhaps this separates them from older women showing the generational gap and that perhaps older women are unable to be protected against “unpleasant and disturbing things”. This also highlights Priestley’s message of the need for change for the current generation in the wake of WWII.