The inspector calls and how it relates to biblical parables.
The Parable Of The Sower
There was a farmer who went to sow some corn. He scattered
the seeds in the field and the seeds fell in various places. Some of the seed
fell on the path where it was eaten by birds and stepped on. Some of the seed
fell on rocky ground, and the plants sprouted but dried up because the soil had
no moisture. Some of the seed fell in a thorn bush and grew up but were choked
by the thorns. Lastly some seed fell on good soil and the plants grew and
produced lots of grains.
Jesus then explains the parable and says:
- The
seeds that fell on the path represent those who hear, but the devil comes
and takes the message from the hearts and stops them from being saved.
- The
seeds that fell on the rocky ground represent the people who except gods
message gladly but it doesn’t sink in and when there faith is on the line
they fade away
- The
seeds that fall among thorn bushes represent the people who hear the word
of god but the riches and pleasures of life choke them.
- The
seeds that fall on the good soil represent the good people who hear the
word of god and absorb it and have an obedient heart and they do good
things.
The Good Samaritan
The parable of the Good Samaritan is a response to one a
Pharisee came to Jesus and asked who is my neighbour? Jesus then said there was
once a man who was travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho but then robbers
attacked him, beat him down, stripped him and left him half dead. After a while
a priest came along on that same route from Jerusalem
to Jericho and
he saw the man and he didn’t want to get involved so he just walked on by on
the opposite side of the road. Next a Levite (a Levite is a high person in
Judaism and is someone who helps read the scripture) walked by and looked at
the injured man and saw that he needed help yet walked by because he didn’t
want to get involved. Then a Samaritan came by and saw the Jew on the floor
(Jews and Samaritans weren’t very friendly with each other and should a Jew see
a Samaritan he would walk on the other side of the road.) the Samaritan poured
oil on the Jew’s wounds and bandaged them, took the man to an inn and paid for
him. In case more money was needed the Samaritan said he would pay him next
time he comes round.
The Prodigal Son
This parable is about a father who had two sons and the
younger of the sons asked father for his share of the property now. The father
was very sad but gave the younger son half of the property. After a few days
the younger son sold his half of the property and fled to a distant land with
lots of money. This younger son wasted his money and spent it recklessly. Then
the younger son was forced to work in a farm and wished that he could get even
the food that the pigs were getting. The younger son came to his senses and
said that even my fathers servants get more food and do not get hungry.
So he got up and went to his father.
While the younger son was a long way from the house the
father saw him and ran out and greeted him and hugged him. Then he told his
servants to kill the prize calf and cook it and have a big party for his son
had come back alive. The older son who had been working in the fields heard the
music so he asked one of the servants what was the meaning of this. The servant
said your brother has come back. He was furious! The older son went to his
father and said all these years I have worked long and hard, never disobeyed
your orders and you have given me nothing not even a calf to share with my
friends but for this other son of yours who sold half your house you kill the
prized calf for him. The father then replied my son, what is mine is yours and
you have always been with me but we have to celebrate for your brother is dead
and know is alive.
How the parables could be related to the inspector calls
I think that the parable of the sower is related to the
inspector calls through the various types of seeds. I think that the seed that
fell on the path represents Mr and Mrs Birling who know what is right and what
is wrong but they aren’t sorry for what they did and wouldn’t change what they
did if they had the chance to. I think that the seed that fell amongst the
thorns represents Gerald as he wants to do what is right but in the end he is
sorry to Sheila and not to Daisy Renton.
I think that the good Samaritan is related to the inspector
calls through the fact how Mrs Birling who was supposed to be someone who is
helping the poor rejects Eva smith just like how the priest or the Levite did.
I think it could be related to the inspectors speech in which he says there are
thousands of Eva smiths… and I think that because when the family realise that Eva
smith didn’t die they don’t feel any remorse and they don’t care about the
thousands of other Eva smiths in the world or you could say they don’t care
about the thousands of other injured Jews.
I think that the parable of the prodigal son could be
related to the inspector calls through Eva smith. Eva smith asked for extra
wages just like the younger son asked for his share of the properties (under
different circumstances). After Eva smith left Mr Birlings Company she had a
nice life working at Millwards just like how the younger son was happy with all
his money when Eva smith loses her job she gets herself in trouble just like
when the famine came the younger son was in trouble. When she goes back to Mrs Birling
she receives nothing the only contrast is that the younger son goes to get help
and he does receive his fathers love.