An inspector calls

By JB Priestly

Act one

• Birling family are celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald

• Police inspector informs them a girl has committed suicide at the infirmary

• Mr Birling had sacked her for striking for higher pay and better work conditions

• Sheila had her sacked from her job because she thought that Eva was laughing at her trying on clothes

• Eva smith changed her name to Daisy Renton

• Gerald had an affair with Daisy while being with Sheila

Act two

• Daisy was Gerald’s mistress and he broke up with her as soon as she fell in love with him

• Mrs Birling refused Daisy the help of her charity because she referred to herself as “Mrs Birling”

• Mrs Birling refuses to take responsibility and claims it is the father of the child’s responsibility

• Sheila realises the potential father of Daisy’s child is Eric

Act three

• Eric was the father of the child and has stolen money from Mr Birling’s office to help Daisy

• The inspector leaves and Mr Birling calls Chief Constable, he confirms that no police inspector had been sent out

• Mr Birling also calls the infirmary and no deaths had been reported that night

• The Birlings receive a phone call and are told that a suicide had happened in the infirmary and a police inspector is coming to question the family

Key Themes

• Responsibility

• Capitalism

• Socialism

• Age

• Gender

• Class

• Humanity

Context

• 1912: the play is set in 1912 and shows key elements of a patriarchal society, the battles between capitalism and socialism and social inequality

• 1945: society had changed for the better like Priestly had hoped for due classes merging and women working in result of the war

• The Titanic: used to show arrogance and capitalism (mainly shown in Mr Birling and his money/ profit obsession)

• Socialism: a society when everyone looks after one another regardless of their pay, class, gender etc

• Capitalism: a society where everyone is for themselves and money/ profit is an obsession

Mr Birling

• A capitalist who obsesses over money and profit above all else

• Symbolises the arrogance and selfishness of the capitalists in the Edwardian society

• “There’ll be a public scandal”

• “I speak as a hard headed practical man of business”

• “The Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”

• “Look Inspector- I’d give thousands, yes thousands”

• Audience are made to dislike Mr Birling in hopes for a responsible and socialist society

• Older Generation

• Only concerned about protecting his reputation and avoiding scandals

Mrs Birling

• A capitalist who values social class above all

• Symbolises the wealthier, privileged classes and their selfish attitudes

• “Girl of that sort”

• “Go look for the father of the child. It is his responsibility”

• Older Generation

• Treats the Inspector as inferior and did not want to “give in” to the Inspector

Eric

• Symbolises how the upper class exploit the working class and the younger generation

• “I was in a state where a chap could easily turn nasty"

• “You killed her, the child she’d have too- my child, your own grandchild, damn you damn you”

• “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?”

• “I liked her, she was pretty and a good sport”

• Younger Generation

• Accepts his guilt and wrong doings

Gerald

• Complex character, sides with Mr Birling about business and profit

• Symbolises the selfish attitudes of the upper class

• “She was young and pretty and warm-hearted and intensely grateful”

• Younger Generation but views do not change about capitalism

Inspector Goole

• Socialist who hopes for change in society

• Priestly’s mouthpiece for his message of a more socialist society

• “There are millions and millions and millions of Eva and John Smiths”

• “Pubic men has responsibilities as well as privileges Mr Birling”

• “She was in great agony”

• “It would do us some good to put ourselves the place of these young women”

Sheila

• A socialist who symbolises the younger generation, overall a chance for society to change

• Challenges outdated attitude of her father

• “These girls are not just cheap labour, they are people”

• “You must not try build a wall between us and that girl”

• Younger generation

• Sides with the Inspector