An Inspector Calls: Plot - Engilsh

Act 1 - The setting

The play opens with a fancy dinner at the Birling Household. The room is abundant with decorations and the family is dressed for the occasion. This classifies them as an upper middle class family.

Act 1 - Sheila’s engagement

• The audience is notified that the Birlings are celebrating a ‘special occasion‘, Sheila’s engagement to Gerald.

• Mr. Birling delivers two speeches:

• He announces how impressed he is about the engagement. He believes that it will improve his business.

• He then goes on to discuss that the world is in it’s prime time and that war is no where near inevitable.

Act 1 - Discussion between Mr. Birling and Gerald

• While the rest are outside, Mr. Birling and Gerald have a discussion about the engagement. Mr Birling says that it will be fine if Gerald’s mother doesn’t approve of him marrying Sheila because he will be marrying socially beneath himself.

• Mr Birling gives as speech about how a man should have responsibility over hismself and his family.

• He’s interrupted by Inspector Goole’s arrival.

Act 1 - Interrogation of Mr. Birling

• Inspector Goole says that Eva Smith has died because she committed suicide by drinking disinfectant.

• Mr. Birling tries to take authority over Inspector Goole.

• He reveals that Eva Smith had worked at his factory two years ago and that her gang of women demanded him for a pay rise. He fired her as a result.

• Gerald is on Mr. Birling’s side

• Eric is on Eva’s side

Act 1 - Interrogation of Sheila

• Once Sheila enters, Inspector Goole begins to interrogate her

• Sheila does not fully remember who Eva was until Inspector Goole reveals that she worked at Milward’s. She lost Eva her Job because she thought that Eva laughed at her, even though she was not in a good mood.

Act 1 - Gerald’s reaction

• Gerald looks startled after hearing that Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton.

• Inspector Goole leaves the room and Sheila tests Gerald about his connections to Daisy

• He admits that he knew Daisy and Sheila discovers that Gerald had a romantic relationship with Daisy last summer when he had been ignoring her

• Gerald presses Sheila to not let Inspector Goole know.