Inspector Calls

• "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley is about the Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of a young woman named Eva Smith
• The play revolves around the apparent suicide of Eva Smith, with the Inspector revealing the family's involvement in her death
• Plot summary of "An Inspector Calls":

  • An inspector arrives at the Birling house, revealing Eva Smith's suicide
  • The Inspector exposes the family's roles in Eva's death, leading to tension and self-realization
  • Characters like Mr. Birling, Mrs. Birling, Sheila, Eric, and Gerald undergo significant changes throughout the play
• Characters in the play:

  • Mr. Arthur Birling: Wealthy, arrogant, materialistic, and possessive
  • Mrs. Sybil Birling: Cold-hearted, snobbish, and uncaring
  • Sheila Birling: Initially giddy and naive, matures and becomes insightful
  • Eric Birling: Lacks confidence, involved in Eva's pregnancy and theft
  • Gerald Croft: Confident and charming, involved in an affair with Eva
  • Inspector Goole: Mysterious, all-knowing figure who drives the drama
• Summary of "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley:

  • The play is about the wealthy Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of a young woman named Eva Smith
  • The inspector suspects the Birlings are responsible for Eva's death and uses various techniques to get them to confess
  • Classic whodunit mystery, adapted for film and television multiple times

  
• Mr. Birling:

  • Arrogant, egotistical, only cares about himself
  • Feels everyone is responsible for themselves, not used to being questioned
  • Rude to the inspector, refuses to accept responsibility, unconcerned for Eva Smith and other workers
• Mrs. Birling:

  • Cold, dismissive of others, treats Eric and Sheila like young children
  • Shocked by the Inspector’s questioning, rude towards him, refuses to accept responsibility
• Sheila:

  • Naïve, excitable, concerned with material things
  • Ashamed of her behavior, recognizes her responsibility, regrets what she has done, wants to change and wants her family to accept responsibility
• Eric:

  • A bit of a drunk, argumentative, awkward with his family
  • Ashamed of his behavior, regrets what he's done, angry with his family for failing to recognize their part in Eva’s death
• Gerald:

  • Typically upper class, sycophantic, admits to knowing Daisy eventually
  • Appears to have some feelings for her, celebrates 'getting away with it'
• Themes in "An Inspector Calls":

  • Social responsibility: highlighted through the consequences of the Birlings' actions and the Inspector's lessons
  • Age: explores how different generations react to Eva Smith's death
  • Gender: examines the impact of changing gender roles post-World War Two
  • Class: addresses inequality between classes and the treatment of working-class individuals
• "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley is about the wealthy Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of Eva Smith, using various techniques to get them to confess

  
• The play is a classic whodunit mystery, set in 1912 but written in 1945 by Priestley, highlighting issues relevant to a modern audience
• Key Quotations from the play:

  • Mr. Arthur Birling's quotes about war, the Titanic, and his social status
  • Mrs. Sybil Birling's dismissive attitude towards the inspector and the lower class
  • Sheila Birling's realization and guilt about her actions
  • Eric Birling's emotional outburst and realization of his role in Eva's death
  • Gerald's conflicted feelings and revelations about his involvement with Eva
  • Inspector Goole's imposing presence and interrogation style
• Summary of "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley:

  • About the wealthy Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of Eva Smith
  • Inspector suspects the Birlings are responsible for Eva's death
  • Classic whodunit mystery play adapted for film and television

  
• Quotes from "An Inspector Calls":

  • Inspector interposes himself between characters and a photograph
  • Inspector prefers one person and one line of inquiry at a time to avoid a muddle
  • "Each of you helped to kill her"
  • "There are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, all intertwined with our lives"

  
• Arthur Birling is presented as a hard-headed, practical man of business in "An Inspector Calls"
• In Act 1, Mr. Birling is selfish, stating a man has to make his own way and look after himself and his family
• Mr. Birling's failure to recognize his role in Eva's death highlights his refusal to accept responsibility
• Inspector Goole is presented as thoughtful and self-assured, speaking carefully and weightily
• Inspector Goole has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before speaking
• What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole and how does Priestley present him?
• Throughout Act 1, Priestley presents the Inspector as mysterious, contrasting him with the arrogant and capitalist Mr. Birling
• "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley is about the wealthy Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of a young woman named Eva Smith

  
• The inspector suspects the Birlings are responsible for Eva's death and uses various techniques to get them to confess
• Priestley presents the change in Sheila during the play by showing her remorseful and empathetic towards the girl's death, reflecting his idea of the younger generation making a positive change in society
• Sheila's sympathetic response to the girl's death is emphasized through Priestley's stage directions, indicating her distress and sense of responsibility for those less fortunate
• Priestley uses the character of Gerald to present ideas about class by initially showing his care and compassion for the girl's death, reinforcing the theme of responsibility and the need to take care of each other
• Gerald's distress about the girl's death suggests initial care and compassion, reinforcing Priestley's theme of responsibility and the need to care for others, particularly after the war
• In "An Inspector Calls," Mrs. Birling misses the point of the interrogations, showing a lack of understanding and selfish nature
• Priestley uses Mrs. Birling to illustrate the selfishness of upper-class capitalists and the need for compassion towards others
• Eric in "An Inspector Calls" is initially presented as nervous and somewhat naive, but later asserts his authority by recognizing collective responsibility
• Eric's statement "the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her – and that’s what matters" shows his willingness to face the truth and consequences of actions
• Priestley highlights Eric's frustration and recognition of the family's abhorrent behavior through stage directions and dialogue
• Eric represents the youth of the 1940s, emphasizing the importance of supporting one another regardless of class
• Summary of "An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley:

  • About the wealthy Birling family visited by an inspector investigating the death of Eva Smith
  • Inspector suspects the Birlings are responsible for Eva's death
  • Play explores ideas of how we should treat others, respect, patience, and understanding

  
• Mr. Birling appears selfish and uncaring, focusing on capitalism and luxury, creating dramatic irony with the mention of the Titanic
• Sheila, unlike her father, shows regret and social responsibility for her treatment of Eva, making the audience sympathetic towards her
• Gerald and Eric use Eva for their own gratification, lacking respect for her feelings
• Mrs. Birling lacks compassion, patience, and understanding towards Eva, showing prejudice based on social class