An Inspector Calls

• Key plot details

  • Inspector Goole investigates Eva Smith's death
  • Mr Birling had sacked Eva
  • Sheila fells responsible for the death
  • Gerald confesses his affair with Eva
  • Mrs Birling refused to help Eva
  • Eric was the father of Eva's unborn baby
  • Inspector Goole is an imposter
  • The police call the Birlings to investigate
• Mr Birling as a capitalist

  • A business man whose main concern is making money.
  • This is what is most important to him and he comes across as being greedy.
  • "we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together - for lower costs and higher prices".
  • It is clear here that Mr Birling is driven by money, he is a capitalist. The fact that he sees his daughter's engagement as a chance to push for "lower costs and higher prices" shows just how greedy he is. He does not consider the impact "higher prices" might have on anyone else, he just wants more money.
• Mr Birling being possessive

  • On a number of occasions Mr Birling refers to things and people as being "his".
  • "Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?".
  • He emphasises that Mrs Birling is "his" wife suggesting that he sees her as a possession. He does not allow Mrs Birling to speak for herself here.
• Mr Birling being arrogant

  • He makes long speeches at dinner about things that the audience would know were incorrect. For example, he claims war will never happen and that the Titanic is unsinkable.
  • "And I'm talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war. The world's developing so fast that it'll make war impossible".
  • Mr Birling is confident that there will not be a war, saying that "there isn't a chance of war" then repeating this idea when he considers it "impossible". His arrogance and complacency are made very clear. The audience, knowing that just two years after his speech, WW1 will begin, see that Mr Birling is wrong on this point, and on many other, including his prediction that the Titanic is unsinkable. The audience lose trust in him as a character.
• Mrs Biling being cold

  • Mrs Birling is very unsympathetic when describing Eva Smith's position. Sybil assumes instantly that because Eva is pregnant and single she is a bad person.
  • "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position."
  • She assumes that just because Eva is unmarried and pregnant that she is unable to have 'fine feelings', a very cruel and cold opinion to have.
• Mrs Birling being ignorant

  • When the Inspector suggests that Eric is used to drinking, Mrs Birling jumps quickly to Eric's defence.
  • "No, of course not. He's only a boy." And later "(staggered) it isn’t true."
  • She shows her ignorance in two ways, first by defending Eric 'of course not' when the Inspector suggests that he is used to drinking. Secondly by stating that Eric is only 'a boy'. He is not a boy but a young man, Sybil refuses to see this. Her shock at this revelation '(staggered)' is further evidence of this.
• Mrs Birling being snobbish

  • Sybil shows that she is snobbish when she criticises members of her family for their behaviour.
  • "What an expression, Sheila! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!"
  • Sybil shouts at Sheila for using the word 'squiffy' - meaning drunk. Sybil has snobbish opinions that people should speak and behave 'properly', not doing so would make her look down upon them.
• Sheila being naive

  • At the opening of the play she appears to be a little immature and easily led. Her behaviour is childish and she very much does what her parents tell her.
  • "I'm sorry Daddy actually I was listening."
  • Sheila shows her naivety and lack of maturity in the way she reacts to her father. She is quick to apologise, it is clear that she is keen to behave well. She also refers to her father as 'Daddy', a childish term.
• Sheila being assertive

  • As the play progresses, Sheila’s character develops and she begins to stand up for herself.
  • "I tell you - whoever that inspector was, it was anything but a joke."
  • The change in Sheila here is clear. She has become more assertive, using phrases such as 'I tell you'. The events of the evening have made her aware of the serious impact one's actions can have.
• Sheila being insightful

  • At a number of points, Sheila shows that she can see things that the other characters cannot.
  • "Yes, of course it is. That's what I meant when I talked about building up a wall that's sure to be knocked flat. It makes it all harder to bear."
  • Sheila uses the metaphor of a wall that the Inspector will knock down to show her insightful understanding of his methods. She knows that if they try to keep anything from him, it will make things worse. The other characters don’t realise this as quickly as Sheila does.
• Eric lacking confidence

  • At the start of the play Eric is very unsure of himself. He tries to speak up but is often talked down by his father. His behaviour is awkward and stilted.
  • "I don't know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh."
  • The stage directions describe Eric as being 'half shy, half assertive' and this comes across in his dialogue. He is awkward and unsure of himself. Here he cannot explain his sudden laughter.
• Eric being assertive

  • Like Sheila he can be assertive as well. Even early on in the play he tries to stand up to his father.
  • "No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith. Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don't see why she should have been sacked just because she'd a bit more spirit than the others."
  • At the start of the play, Eric shows that he can be assertive. Here he questions his father's decision to sack Eva Smith. He backs up his point with a well-reasoned argument. His father quickly shouts him down though.
• Eric being emotional

  • Eric’s experience with the Inspector causes him great emotional turmoil, unlike some of the other characters.
  • "(bursting out) What's the use of talking about behaving sensibly. You're beginning to pretend now that nothing's really happened at all. And I can't see it like that. This girl's still dead, isn't she? Nobody's brought her to life, have they?"
  • Eric suddenly shows how he has been affected emotionally by Eva's death. He asks the stark question 'This girl's still dead, isn't she?' He is clearly distressed and understands the gravity of the situation, he can’t understand why the others don’t.
• Gerald being confident

  • At the start of the play he seems very comfortable - making himself at home and behaving like a member of the Birling family he even makes fun of Eric.
  • "Sure to be, unless Eric’s been up to something."
  • Mr Birling suggests that he is in line for a knighthood so long as the family have behaved themselves. Gerald confidently makes a joke at Eric's expense which is full of irony.
• Gerald being evasive

  • At first, when the truth comes out about his affair with Eva Smith he tries to avoid the subject.
  • "All right. I knew her. Let’s leave it at that."
  • This abrupt line of dialogue shows how initially Gerald is very evasive about his involvement with Eva Smith and wants to close down the topic as soon as possible.
• Gerald being honest

  • Eventually Gerald gains some respect from Sheila and the audience for being honest about his affair.
  • "The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help."
  • Gerald honestly tells the story of how he met Eva. He was in the wrong to have an affair and then abandon Eva but, his use of emotive language 'cry for help' makes us realise that he genuinely felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.
• Inspector Goole being imposing

  • The stage directions that describe the Inspector give the impression that he is an imposing figure. His tendency to interrupt and control the conversation adds to this impression too.
  • "...he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness."
  • The fact that his presence combines 'massiveness' with 'purposefulness' suggests that the Inspector would be a very imposing figure.
• Inspector being emotive

  • When he tells the others about Eva Smith's death he leaves in the gruesome details.
  • "Her position now is that she lies with a burnt out inside on a slab."
  • This is such a shocking image presented in plain language, it is not surprising that it impacts upon the emotions of the other characters and the audience. The Inspector uses this language intentionally to make the family more likely to confess.
• Inspector being prophetic

  • As the Inspector delivers his closing speech, he prophesises a terrible future.
  • "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. Good night."
  • The Inspector predicts a hell like future, filled with a nightmarish vision of 'fire' and 'blood'. Priestley experienced war first hand, so some suspect that what he saw in wartime influenced the Inspector's final speech.
• Theme of Age - Sheila and Eric

  • Eric stands up to his parents when it becomes clear that they will not take responsibility.
  • "You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all."
  • Eric sees that his parents are trying to 'pretend' that nothing happened when it is suggested that the Inspector was not real. He and Sheila, the younger characters, still feel responsible.
• Theme of Age - Mr and Mrs Birling

  • Mrs Birling explains her decision to turn away Eva when she came to her for help.
  • "So I was perfectly justified in advising my committee not to allow her claim for assistance."
  • Despite hearing about all the misfortune that Eva Smith has suffered, Mrs Birling is unmoved and stubbornly stands by her decision to turn Eva away.
• Theme of Age - Older vs Younger

  • Mr Birling turns on his son Eric and nearly attacks him physically.
  • "Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I'll -"
  • Mr Birling implies here that Eric is a 'fool' because he is young. Ironically, it is the older Arthur who nearly resorts to physical violence.
• Sheila #1

  • "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people".
  • Here, Priestley demonstrates Sheila's instantaneous recognition of the Inspector's message, as she objects her father's dehumaninsing and capitalist approach to business.
• Sheila #2

  • "I was in a furious temper...it was my fault".
  • Sheila is instantly open toward accepting responsibility and is self-critical of her selfish actions.
• Sheila #3

  • "Its you two who are being childish - trying to not face the facts".
  • Younger vs Older generation.
  • Recognises her parents' faults.
  • Priestley uses irony to expose the lack of responsibility and immaturity of Mr and Mrs Birling, as Sheila labels her parents as "childish".
• Mr Birling #1

  • "It's my duty to keep our labour costs down".
  • Priestley uses the noun "duty" to emphasise Mr Birling's dedication to capitalism and profit.
• Mr Birling #2

  • "I can't accept any responsibility".
  • Explicitly shows a lack of responsibility.
  • Adverb "any" reveals his complete lack of morality, as he believes that sacking Eva Smith had no impact on her life, which drove her to suicide.
• Mr Birling #3

  • "If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth".
  • Hyperbole "asking for the earth" is an attempt by Mr Birling to explain his rejection of Eva Smith's pay rise.
• Inspector Goole #1

  • "Speaks carefully, weightily".
  • Adverb "carefully" directly contrasts with Mr Birling, whose speech is diluted with dashes and hesitations.
  • Adjective "weightily" is evident of the impact of the Inspector's moral message.
• Inspector Goole #2

  • "Yes, but you can't. It's too late, She's dead".
  • Priestley uses short sentences and a tense triplet of expressions to convey an impactful message and express the need for radical change.
• Inspector Goole #3

  • "fire and blood and anguish".
  • Threat.
  • Inspector warns the characters and the audience of religious consequences for neglecting their duty of social responsibility.
• Quotes for Age

  • "Whoever that chap was, the fact remains that I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her".
  • "There's every excuse for what both both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all".
  • "If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish".
• Cause and effect - Inspector & Sheila

  • As the play progresses, Sheila's character develops, and she begins to stand up for herself.
  • "I tell you - whoever that Inspector was, it was anything but a joke".
  • The change in Sheila here is clear.
  • She has become more assertive, using phrases such as "I tell you".
• Cause and effect - "Inspector & Birlings"

  • The Inspector forces the Birlings and Gerald to see the harsh realities of the consequences of their actions.
  • He symbolically shines the "bright, hard light" on them, and removes their ignorance.
• Cause and effect - Inspector & Mr Birling

  • When the Inspector challenges his power, Birling struggles with this and become angrier and angrier.
  • He is furious that a man of lower social class treats Mr Birling like everyone else.
  • He doesn't receive special treatment because of his higher social class, something he cannot accept.
• Quotes for cause and effect

  • "You're pretending as if everything is the same as before".
  • "Bright, hard light".
  • "I tell you - whoever that Inspector was, it was anything but a joke".
• Capitalism vs Socialism

  The theme of capitalism vs. socialism, alongside social responsibility, was arguably one of Priestley’s main intentions with writing ‘An Inspector Calls’. Priestley himself was a socialist, but Britain was - and still is - a capitalist country. The Birlings represent the prospering capitalists in society, while the Inspector acts as Priestley’s socialist mouthpiece. His role in the play is to condemn capitalism and teach socialist ideals. The play itself illustrates capitalism’s eventual fall to socialism, suggesting socialism is the superior, more beneficial, and more powerful political

  system.
• Social responsibility

  The Inspector goes to the Birlings’ to encourage them to be accountable for their actions, and to take responsibility for others. Many people in society are vulnerable or mistreated through no fault of their own, just like Eva Smith. Priestley shows his audience that all actions have consequences, and it is impossible to live in isolation.

  This means by being mindful of your own actions, you help take responsibility for others. By looking after others, Priestley suggests society as a whole will benefit. The play condemns those in power for not protecting the people they were supposed to, and for leading the country into war without considering whom it would affect.