An inspector calls

J.B. Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls, explores themes of social responsibility, class, gender, and guilt through the investigation of Inspector Goole into the suicide of a young working-class woman, Eva Smith. The play is set in 1912 but was written in 1945, allowing Priestley to  comment on the social attitudes that led to two world wars.

Act 1

  • Setting the Scene and Mr. Birling's Speech

    • Context: The Birling family is celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft. Mr. Birling delivers a complacent speech about individualism and progress.

    • Quote: “The Titanic… she sails next week… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”

      • Theme: Dramatic irony, arrogance, capitalist complacency, rejection of social responsibility.

    • Quote: “A man has to make his own way—has to look after himself—and his family too, of course.”

      • Theme: Individualism, capitalism.

  • The Inspector's Arrival and Mr. Birling's Responsibility (Eva Smith's Firing)

    • Context: Inspector Goole interrupts the celebrations to investigate the death of Eva Smith. He immediately implicates Mr. Birling.

    • Quote: “It's my duty to keep labour costs down, and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new scale of wages, your father might have had to turn you out.” (Mr. Birling)

      • Context: Mr. Birling justifying his dismissal of Eva from his factory for striking for higher wages.

      • Theme: Class exploitation, capitalist greed, lack of empathy, social responsibility.

  • Sheila's Responsibility (Milwards Incident)

    • Context: The Inspector reveals Eva found work at Milwards, a department store, but was fired due to Sheila's jealousy.

    • Quote: “And if I could only help her now, I would…” (Sheila)

      • Context: Sheila expresses immediate remorse and guilt upon realizing her part in Eva’s downfall.

      • Theme: Guilt, transformation, social conscience, gender (petty jealousy).

Act 2

  • Gerald Croft's Responsibility (Affair with Daisy Renton)

    • Context: Gerald admits to having an affair with Eva (who went by Daisy Renton) during her time of need, housing her and supporting her for a period.

    • Quote: “She was young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there. And I’d been so happy there with her.” (Gerald)

      • Context: Gerald describing Eva/Daisy and his mixed feelings of pity and attraction, highlighting her vulnerability and his exploitation, even if he believed he was helping.

      • Theme: Class exploitation, gender inequality, superficial charity, male dominance.

  • Mrs. Birling's Responsibility (Charity Organization)

    • Context: Mrs. Birling, chairwoman of a women's charity committee, refused financial assistance to Eva Smith when she was pregnant and desperate.

    • Quote: “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!” (Mrs. Birling)

      • Context: Mrs. Birling's prejudiced dismissal of Eva’s plea for help, assuming working-class women are always after money, and refusing to believe Eva would refuse stolen money (from Eric).

      • Theme: Class snobbery, hypocrisy, coldheartedness, rejection of responsibility, social inequality.

    • Quote: “I accept no blame for it at all.” (Mrs. Birling)

      • Context: Mrs. Birling's steadfast refusal to acknowledge her part in Eva's death.

      • Theme: Arrogance, lack of empathy, class prejudice.

Act 3

  • Eric Birling's Responsibility (Pregnancy and Theft)

    • Context: Eric confesses to forcing himself on Eva and getting her pregnant, as well as stealing money from his father’s business to support her.

    • Quote: “She told me she didn’t want to marry me, she didn’t want to take any more money from me.” (Eric)

      • Context: Eric’s confession revealing his irresponsible and exploitative actions, even if he felt some affection for Eva. Highlights her dignity in refusing stolen money.

      • Theme: Sexual exploitation, alcoholism, male dominance, irresponsibility, guilt.

    • Quote: “You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.” (Eric)

      • Context: Eric confronting his father, highlighting the distant and unsupportive relationship within the Birling family.

      • Theme: Family dysfunction, parental failure.

  • Inspector Goole's Final Speech

    • Context: Before leaving, the Inspector delivers a powerful sermon on collective responsibility to the Birlings and, by extension, the audience.

    • Quote: “One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, with what we think and say and do.”

      • Theme: Collective responsibility, universality of suffering, socialism, empathy.

    • Quote: “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”

      • Theme: Collective responsibility, warning, prophecy (referencing WWI and WWII), socialism vs. capitalism.

  • Post-Inspector Twist

    • Context: After the Inspector leaves, the Birlings and Gerald try to ascertain if he was real and if Eva Smith was a single person, hoping to absolve themselves of guilt. Only Sheila and Eric remain transformed.

    • Theme: Appearance vs. reality, self-preservation, refusal to learn.

  • The Final Phone Call

    • Context: A phone call reveals that a girl has just died in the infirmary after swallowing disinfectant, and a police inspector is on his way to make inquiries at the house.

    • Theme: Just deserts, cyclical nature of guilt, the inevitable judgment, divine retribution, dramatic irony, reinforcement of the message.