An Inspector Calls - Act One

When and where is “An Inspector Calls” set?

1912, in the dining room of the Birling family (town of Brumley)

How does the play open?

Around the dinner table, they start with Mr Birling and Gerald talking about port: Birling being gauche

What does Gerald say he was doing last summer, so couldn’t come near Sheila?

He was very busy at the works

How does Sheila react when Gerald gives her the ring?

She is very happy, and it shows her materialist views at the start of the play which will change

What wrong predictions does Mr Birling make?

• No chance of war

• Russia will always be backwards

• Titanic is unsinkable

• No more problems with labour

• Rapid progress everywhere

What is Mr Birling expecting?

A knighthood as long as nothing major happens to slip it up (dramatic irony)

What ideas does Mr Birling criticise just before the Inspector rings the bell?

Collectivism and socialism

What writers does Mr Birling criticise?

(George) Bernard Shaw and H.G. Wells

How does the Inspector speak to Mr Birling?

Simply, showing he isn’t impressed by Birling’s gaucheness

What does the Inspector reveal?

A young woman has died by suicide in the local infirmary after drinking disinfectant

What was the young woman/girl’s original name?

Eva Smith

What did Mr Birling do that contributed to Eva’s death?

With poor pay, Eva demanded more and was fired for being the ringleaders of a strike and “[having] far too much [to say]”

How does Sheila react when she enters the room and learns?

Immediately sympathetic and looking for more information

What happened to Eva in the two months after she was fired?

She didn’t have much money from Birling and Co and was in a desperate situation but was eventually taken on in the shop Milwards

What is Sheila’s reaction when she sees the photograph?

Runs out of the room crying

What did Sheila do towards Eva Smith?

Sheila was trying clothes on. They looked good on Eva and not Sheila, so Sheila saw Eva smiling and thought she was making fun of her. Sheila then complained and got her fired

How does the act end?

Gerald hears the name Daisy Renton and reveals himself, Sheila and Gerald then start discussing involvement