An Inspector Calls

• BIRLING: unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.

  (Referring to the Titanic)

  Act One

  Priestley's love of dramatic irony is biting here, and his irony is never more satirical than in these comments of Birling's, which, to his original audience in 1946, must have seemed more controversial than they do today because the sinking of the ship was within people's memory. Symbolically, just as the Titanic is destined to sink, so too is Birling's political ideology, under the Inspector's interrogation. The ship was a titan of the seas, and its imminent failure "next week" suggests the dangers of capitalistic hubris, illustrating the risk of the entrepreneur.
• BIRLING: a man has to mind his own business and look after himself

  Act One

  Birling is taking an individualist, capitalist point of view about personal responsibility, and his lines here provide the general attitude of his speeches since the play began. According to him, experience proves that his point of view is correct.
• BIRLING: You'll apologize at once ... I'm a public man -

  INSPECTOR [massively]: Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.

  Act Two

  Here the Inspector, who by this middle act of the play is gaining in power and control over the situation, "massively" silences Birling with a putdown. It is not the first or last time that Birling is cut off mid-thought. It is also important because Priestley points an extra finger of blame at Birling not just for his actions, but for his failure to see that his public position entails a duty of responsibility to other people. Interestingly, this attitude draws on the traditional notion of the upper classes taking responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes, but in the newer, more democratic life of Britain, the "public men" are not necessarily of higher social class even if they have more public privileges; at any rate, their position of power comes with responsibility.
• BIRLING: ... we've been had ... it makes all the difference.

  GERALD: Of course!

  SHEILA [bitterly]: I suppose we're all nice people now.

  Act Three


  These lines illustrate the mood of this last part of the play, as well as the split between the Birlings and their children. Sheila and Eric realize the importance of the Inspector's lesson, notably that they need to become more socially responsible whether or not the particular scenario was a valid example. In contrast, their parents absolutely fail to learn such a lesson, arguing that the failure of the example invalidates the Inspector's argument. Why still feel guilty and responsible? It also is significant that Gerald Croft takes Birling's side (uncritically) rather than Sheila's.
• GERALD [laughs]: You seem to be a nice well-behaved family -

  BIRLING: We think we are -

  Act One


  Coming early in the play, these lines also exemplify Priestley's love of dramatic irony: the last thing the Birlings have been is well-behaved. These lines also suggest the alliance between Gerald and Birling, two men who share the same values, whose bond will become stronger after the Inspector's exit.
• INSPECTOR: ... what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events.

  Act One

  In this fascinating excerpt, the Inspector outlines the nature of the moral crime the Birlings and Gerald have committed against Eva. Each of them is responsible in part for her death, and together they are entirely responsible. This construction is itself a metaphor for Priestley's insistence that we are all bound up together and responsible communally for everyone's survival. Note, too, that the repetition in the Inspector's lines reflect the "chain" he is talking about.
• SHEILA: [laughs rather hysterically] I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see. (She looks at him almost in triumph.)

  Act One


  Sheila, shortly before the end of Act One, crucially understands the importance of the Inspector and the fact that he has more information than he is revealing. She is the first person in the play to really begin to understand the Inspector which, in turn, leads her to see her relationship with Gerald in a more realistic, more cynical way.
• SHEILA: (rather distressed) Sorry! It's just that I can't help thinking about this girl destroying herself so horribly - and I've been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn't of told me. What was she like? Quite young?"

  Act One

  I think the part which says that she has been "so happy tonight" shows she is unhappy and distressed that she has become involved with the story of Eva Smith's death; she says how happy she was tonight, as though her fun had been spoilt by the horrible news, she wishes that no one had told her. Her morals are displayed as unjustly, she is very selfish and doesn't seem to think of others.
• SHEILA: "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."

  Act One


  I think this quotation clearly shows the change in her attitude. She now becomes concerned about this girl who is in a lower class. Also Sheila becomes very affectionate towards Eva and is sorry for what happened to her. She refuses to listen to her own fiancé.
• INSPECTOR: Yes, Mr. Croft - in the stalls bar at the Palace Variety Theatre...

  GERALD: I happened to look in, one night, after a rather long dull day, and as the show wasn't very bright, I went down into the bar for a drink. It's a favorite haunt of women of the town -

  MRS. BIRLING: Women of the town?

  BIRLING: Yes, yes. But I see no point in mentioning the subject ....

  Act Two

  Eva Smith, by the time she encounters Eric in the Palace bar, seems to be working as a prostitute, and indeed, the fact that the Palace bar is a location known for prostitutes looking for business is here partly mentioned but partly suppressed. Moreover, this information points out the streetwise character of Gerald Croft, and it might even lead to questions about precisely what he was doing in that bar, at night, other than just happening to "look in" after a "dull day" and having "a drink."
• SHEILA: "Its queer-very queer- It doesn't much matter now, of course-but was he really a police

  inspector?"

  Act Three


  This quotations can show us that Sheila is aware that the Inspector wasn't a real one. However I think there is a quotation at the beginning of the play which suggests she is rather suspicious of his identity.

  "You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else, well have to share our guilt."

  To this Sheila has quite a strange answer:

  "(staring at him) Yes. That's true. You know. (She goes close to him,

  wonderingly.) I don't understand about you."
• INSPECTOR: She kept a rough sort of diary. And she said there that she had to go away and be quiet and remember "just to make it last longer." She felt there'd never be anything as good again for her - so she had to make it last longer.

  Act Two

  This is an unusually personal moment from the Inspector, who gives us one of the first insights into Eva Smith's feelings and personality. He claims, of course, that he has found a diary in Eva Smith's room, though many interpretations have argued that the Inspector in fact has a more personal connection to Eva Smith: perhaps he even is her ghost, or a ghoulish embodiment of her dead child? Priestley never tells us, but there is certainly opportunity for the actor in this part to suggest a more personal connection. Note, too, the interest in time on Eva's part, keeping a diary and making a point of remembering the past nostalgically.
• INSPECTOR: We don't live alone. 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. Good night.

  Act Three


  The Inspector's final lines, from a longer speech he makes shortly before his exit, are a blistering delivery of Priestley's socialist message. Moreover, his promise of "fire and blood and anguish" also looks forward to the First and Second World Wars, a resonance, which, to Priestley's 1946 audience, must have been quite chilling.
• SHEILA: "It frightens me the way you talk"

  Act Three

  She finds it difficult to understand how they can't have learnt from the evening in the same way that she and Eric have. I think she starts to see her parents in a new, unfavourable light. Even more than she did before the truth about the Inspector was discovered. She wants everyone to face up to their fears and their guilt and not try to dodge and forget about what they have done.
• SHEILA: "I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it. But now you're beginning to pretend all over that nothing much has happened."

  Act Three


  This reveals that Sheila has strong emotions and feelings and cares that even if Eva isn't dead she feels bad. She regrets the mistakes that she has made in the past and is trying to learn from them. It shows that she feels very guilty and responsible for the suicide and is a very sensitive and caring character. She has learnt her lesson, but believes that her parents are acting very irresponsibly and unintelligently.
• SHEILA: "You don't seem to have learnt anything."

  Act Three

  This is a very realistic statement, and the audience know that Birling hasn't learnt anything. Contrasting this, Sheila has changed and matured a lot from before the Inspectors visit. She has developed notably throughout the play, from acting like a young child, being cared and looking up to her parents to now, telling her father exactly what she thinks of him.
• "If all that's come out tonight is true, it doesn't much matter who made us confess."

  This is rather a strong speech Sheila makes which very clearly shows how her attitude has changed. It shows that Sheila's feelings are that everything they said they had done they had still done and it makes no difference if the Inspector was real or not. She has a very moral point of view and has taken the Inspector's role now he has left, reminding each character of their crimes. Sheila now is much wiser about life. She can now judge her parents and Gerald from a new perspective. However the greatest change has been in herself. She has a new perspective of poor people and is aware of responsibilities. The Sheila who had a girl dismissed from her job for a trivial reason has vanished forever.
• MRS B: "When your married you'll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You'll have to get used to that just as I have."

  Act One


  She understands and respects her place as a woman in the marriage, whereas Sheila is not willing to accept this and dares to challenge the system. This is where I feel that she acquires her bitter and hard personality.
• SHEILA (TO ERIC): "You're squiffy "

  MRS B: "What an expression Sheila! Really the things you girls pick up."

  Act One


  The way that Mrs Birling replies to this shows that she treats Sheila as a child and has little respect for her. The way that the two women are perceived in the play is very different as to how the two men are.
• ERIC: 'not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive'.

  Act One

  We realise that there is something not quite right with Eric when he is first introduced in the opening stage directions. He is clearly uncomfortable in some way.
• GERALD: "Absolutely first-class"

  "I insist upon being one of the family now."

  Act One


  At the beginning of the play Gerald appears to be very polite and well mannered. He seems to be enthusiastic and wants to fit in with the family.
• BIRLING: "Lady Croft - while she doesn't object to my girl - feels you might have done better for yourself socially."

  Act One


  This creates unease between Gerald and Birling but it also suggests that Mr Birling is very comfortable talking to Gerald. He describes Gerald as "just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted." He also opens up to Gerald about is knighthood "Just a knighthood, of course." but doesn't tell his own son about this.
• GERALD: "You couldn't have done anything else." (After Birling reveals that he fired Eva Smith.)


  In the first act Gerald shows that he has similar views to Mr Birling.
• GERALD: "I want you to understand that I didn't install her there so that I could make love to her."

  Act Two

  This shows that he is kind and willing to help. It also shows that status and class don't seem to matter to him as much, maybe because he is of higher status than the Birling's so more secure in his position.
• GERALD: "Why should you, its bound to be unpleasant and disturbing."

  Act Two


  He seems to adhere to traditional views concerning men and women, he tries to protect Sheila from hearing about his affair, not only because he wants to hide it from he but he fears she will be too weak willed and find it very upsetting.
• GERALD: "Everything's all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?"

  Act Three

  In the end Gerald shows clearly that he believes nothing has changed. He expects that Sheila will have gotten over it so soon and he believes that now that the situation is over everything can go back to normal, this shows quite a naive side of Gerald and shows that he has had no understanding of the lesson the Inspector was trying to teach and that he has little respect for Sheila.
• THE INSPECTOR "has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses"

  Act One


  His sense of mystery is quite ominous and means the audience and the characters are scared of him. This shows that he is intimidating and that he shows that he is powerful before speaking. The stare suggests that he is able to read a person by looking at them and that he can almost see what they are thinking.
• INSPECTOR: "Goole. G. double O-L-E."

  Act One


  His name may suggest something to the audience. This could be a pun on the word ghoul which suggests that the Inspector is supernatural and therefore is frightening.

  The fact that he is not quite a man is suggested in his last speech, "And I tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn" here he isn't classing himself as a man.
• INSPECTOR: "Inspector holds up a hand. We hear the front door."


  The Inspector is presented by Priestley as very calm and in control. This shows the audience that he has planned it and is manipulating the characters as though they are puppets.
• INSPECTOR: "Don't stammer and yammer at me again, man. I'm losing all patience with you people."


  He shows that he is focused and determined to stay on track and get to the bottom of the situation. This outbreak shows that he is fed up with society being how it is and he wants things to change.
• INSPECTOR: "Then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."

  Act Three

  The Inspector is used by Priestley in the play as his mouth piece and to voice his dislike for the way society is. He also uses the Inspector to foretell the world wars. The audience would have known how this relates to the wars and as they will have lived through it they would have understood how terrifying and deadly the wars were.
• MRS B: "A rather cold woman" and "her husbands social superior"

  Act One


  Mrs Birling is not a friendly person and rarely shows any affection. Contradicts her own traditionalist views: where women should respect their husbands and be benevolent, she makes the social divide clear and seems heartless. The contradiction shows the stupidity in traditionalism.
• MRS B: "You're not the type - you don't get drunk-"

  Act Three


  She denies what she doesn't want to believe. Pretentious; proves that her arrogance is empty because, after seeing her son's mistakes, it is evident that there is no difference between classes. Everyone makes mistakes.
• MRS B: "She was claiming fine feelings [...] that were simply absurd for a girl in her position"

  Act Two


  A social divide is important to her. She claims that lower class women don't have feelings, and if they do they don't deserve to express them.
• MRS B: "as if a girl of that sort would never refuse money" - "that sort"

  Act Two

  She is stereotypical and unsympathetic; sees Eva Smith as a liar and a criminal (traits she assumes all lower class citizens have). Sarcasm and prejudice are present.
• ERIC: "Well, don't do any (speeches.) We'll drink their health and have done with it."

  Act One

  He is selfish and arrogant; orders his father in a childish way. He is uninterested and does not care to show anyone the courtesy to continue their speeches.
• ERIC: "You told her. Why, you little sneak!"

  Act Three

  Eric is an immature and childish character. His language emphasises this; he results to insulting, highlighting his helplessness and true powerlessness. He is completely weak and insecure. "You": he finds others to blame because he can't deal with disrespect. He has the arrogance of a child; needs to find solace in blaming others to reduce the blame on himself.
• ERIC: "Half shy, half assertive"

  Act One

  He is a neurotic and unstable character. "Half" shows that he doesn't know himself; he is unsure and confused about his own character, highlighting his immaturity and lack of self-understanding. The contrast between shy and assertive emphasises his confusion and uneasiness. He is nervous, guilty and full of secrets.
• ERIC (ABOUT BIRLING): "Not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble"


  He doesn't share his father's hard-headed attitude to business; the contrast between him and his family highlights his aloofness and detachment.
• GERALD: "She was young and pretty and warm hearted - and intensely grateful" - "and"

  Act Two


  His words spill out; he has so much to say about Eva because he was intimate with her. He knows her in a positive light, unlike Sheila, Mr & Mrs Birling. He knows her feelings and emotions. "intensely grateful" proves he also looks down on the lower class. He only knows how to give and help in terms of finance.