Summary

• Who is celebrating their engagement in Act 1?

  Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft
• What is the initial atmosphere in the Birling home during the engagement celebration?

  The atmosphere is one of joy and festivity
• Who makes a speech expressing satisfaction with the engagement?

  Arthur Birling
• What optimistic views does Arthur Birling express in his speech?

  He emphasizes self-reliance and dismisses the likelihood of war
• What interrupts the celebration in Act 1?

  An unexpected knock at the door
• Who enters the Birling home after the knock at the door?

  Inspector Goole
• What tragic news does Inspector Goole bring to the Birling family?

  He informs them of the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith
• How does Inspector Goole begin to interact with the Birling family?

  He questions the family members one by one
• What does Arthur Birling admit about Eva Smith during the Inspector's questioning?

  He admits that she was a former employee who was fired for demanding higher wages
• How does Arthur Birling react to the Inspector's probing questions?

  He is unsettled but tries to downplay his role in her misfortune
• What does Sheila Birling recognize about her connection to Eva Smith?


  She recognizes Eva as a shop assistant she had encountered
• What does Sheila admit to doing to Eva Smith?

  She admits to having her dismissed out of jealousy and spite
• How does Sheila Birling feel after realizing the impact of her actions on Eva Smith?

  She is visibly distressed and remorseful
• What hint does Gerald Croft drop regarding his connection to Eva Smith?

  He hints that he might have known her under a different name
• What is the overall effect of the Inspector's presence on the Birling family by the end of Act 1?

  It begins to strain their relationships and challenge their moral complacency
• Who is the character that intensifies the questioning in Act 2?

  Inspector Goole
• How does Sheila Birling feel about her involvement in Eva Smith's downfall?

  Sheila is particularly distressed and recognizes her culpability
• What does Gerald Croft reveal about his relationship with Eva Smith?

  He admits to having an affair with her and providing support
• What name did Eva Smith use when she met Gerald Croft?

  Daisy Renton
• How does Sheila react to Gerald's confession about Eva/Daisy?


  She is shocked and it strains their engagement
• What is Sybil Birling's role in the community?

  She is a prominent member of a women’s charity organization
• Why did Sybil Birling deny Eva assistance?

  She believed Eva to be unworthy
• What does the Inspector's questioning reveal about the Birlings' facade?

  It peels away their respectability and self-righteousness
• How does Sheila plead with her mother during Act 2?

  She urges her mother to admit her part in the tragedy
• What is the significance of Sybil's statement about the father of Eva’s unborn child?

  It is laden with irony and sets the stage for future revelations
• What are the main themes explored in Act 2 of the play?

  • Responsibility and culpability
  • Class and social status
  • The impact of individual actions on others
  • The facade of respectability
• How does the Inspector's role affect the dynamics of the Birling family?

  • Challenges their moral integrity
  • Forces them to confront their actions
  • Creates tension and conflict among family members
• In Act 3, who continues to unravel the connections between the Birling family and Eva Smith?

  Inspector Goole
• What is Sybil Birling's reaction at the beginning of Act 3?


  She maintains her denial of any wrongdoing
• What happens to the Birling family's façade as the Inspector probes deeper?


  It begins to crumble
• Who is revealed to be the father of Eva's unborn child?

  Eric Birling
• What did Eric Birling do to support Eva Smith?

  He stole money from his father's business
• How does the revelation of Eric's involvement with Eva affect the family?


  It shocks the family and increases their sense of responsibility and guilt
• What does the Inspector emphasize during his powerful speech?

  The interconnectedness of society and moral responsibility
• What warning does the Inspector give to the Birlings?

  Their actions have consequences and they must learn from their mistakes
• What happens after the Inspector leaves?

  The family reflects on the evening's events and tensions rise
• What debate arises among the family after the Inspector's departure?


  Whether the Inspector was real or a hoax
• What does Gerald suggest about the Inspector?


  He might not have been a real inspector at all
• What does the phone call to the police reveal?

  There is no Inspector Goole on the force
• What dramatic twist occurs at the end of the play?

  A young woman has just died in the infirmary, and an inspector is on his way