Overview and Key Scenes

• An Inspector Calls was written by J.B. Priestley


  1945
• An Inspector Calls


  A play set over one evening in 1912 in an English manufacturing town called Brumley
• An Inspector Calls


  • It has 3 acts and is in real time (no change in time or location between acts)
  • The upper-middle class Birling family are visited by a mysterious inspector, who is investigating the death of a young woman by suicide
  • The inspector gradually reveals how each of the Birling family members are involved with and partially responsible for her death
  • Priestley examines how each member of the family reacts to these revelations
• Act 1


  1. Arthur, Sybil, Eric, and Sheila Birling, along with Gerald Croft, are having a dinner to celebrate the engagement of Sheila to Gerald

  2. A police inspector, Inspector Goole, calls and asks to speak to Mr Birling about the death of a young woman, Eva Smith, who died at the Infirmary after drinking disinfectant

  3. Two years ago, Mr Birling fired Eva after she led a strike at his factory, asking for higher wages

  4. Eva then got a job at Milward's, an upmarket store, but was fired again after Sheila complained about her

  5. The Inspector reveals that Eva was unable to get another job, so changed her name to Daisy Renton

  6. Gerald gives himself away by showing he recognises the name Daisy Renton
• Act 2


  1. Gerald is forced to admit to his affair with Daisy Renton

  2. The Inspector questions Mrs Birling about a case she presided over at the 'Brumley Women's Charity Organisation', where she ensured a young, pregnant woman who introduced herself as 'Mrs Birling' was refused help

  3. The family realise the father in question is Eric
• Act 3


  1. Eric returns and admits to drinking heavily and acting aggressively towards Eva to get her to sleep with him, using money from his father's company's accounts to support her

  2. The Inspector loses his patience with the Birlings, telling them they should never forget what they did and that if people don't accept the responsibility everyone in society has for each other, "fire and blood and anguish" will follow

  3. The family argue amongst themselves and slowly figure out the Inspector wasn't a 'real' police investigator after all

  4. A phone call reveals a girl has just died on the way to the Infirmary, and an inspector is on his way to question the Birlings
• The play is set over one evening in an English manufacturing town called Brumley in 1912
• The upper-middle class Birling family are visited by a mysterious inspector, who is investigating the death of a young woman by suicide
• The inspector gradually reveals how each of the Birling family members are involved with and partially responsible for her death
• Priestley examines how each member of the family reacts to these revelations
• The play has 3 acts and is in real time (no change in time or location between acts)
• Arthur Birling represents the Capitalist businessman
• Sybil Birling represents the upper-class, socially prominent wife
• Sheila Birling represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger generation and the feminist movement
• Eric Birling represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger generation and the consequences of toxic masculine culture
• Gerald Croft represents privilege, and the dominance of the upper classes and patriarchy
• Inspector Goole represents the ideals of Socialism and social responsibility, and the ideal justice system
• Eva Smith represents the neglected lower-classes
• "like bees in a hive": 'Animalistic, attempting to portray Socialism as primitive and demeaning'
• Structure of the first part of Act 1

  • Mr Birling and Gerald are the first to speak, proving them to be the dominant male figures - until the Inspector arrives
  • Mr Birling's first line of dialogue is directed to Gerald, as he attempts to impress him, introducing Gerald as a socially-superior character and Mr Birling as one who is concerned with his social status
  • When Sheila first speaks, she is "possessive" and hints at the "jealousy" that leads her to complain about Eva
  • Mrs Birling hesitantly agrees to drink before giving the maid an order, enforcing her "coldness"
  • Eric participates very late into the conversation - and when he does so, it is with an awkward "guffaw"
• Priestley uses this first scene to very skilfully introduce all the themes and conflicts of the play
• Sheila reminds Gerald of "last summer, when you never came near me"


  Suggesting there are secrets between the happy couple
• Sheila accuses Eric of being "skiffy"


  Foreshadowing his drinking problem
• Mrs Birling's belief in social etiquette

  Strict conduct
• Mr Birling's speech and his time alone with Gerald


  Improving his social standing, hoping the engagement will bring Birling and Company and Crofts Limited "together" and informing Gerald of his possible "knighthood"
• The audience quickly get the impression that the engagement is a business decision rather than an act of love
• The first part of this Act is hugely dominated by Mr Birling
• Priestley is giving his audience a glimpse at the Capitalist, upper class world of the 1910s
• Mr Birling's power at the beginning of the play

  A symbol for Capitalism's influence at the start of the century
• Mr Birling's downfall with the arrival of the Inspector


  Carries a message about how Capitalism will fare against Socialism
• A ring at the door interrupts Mr Birling
• The maid, Edna, tells them an inspector has called and is asking to speak to Mr Birling
• Mr Birling and Gerald joke that Eric is in trouble
• The inspector is introduced as Inspector Goole
• Mr Birling's assumption that the Inspector wants to speak to him because he is still a magistrate in the city


  The Inspector corrects him, explaining that a girl died of suicide at the Infirmiary after drinking disinfectant
• The men are shocked, but Mr Birling doesn't understand why it's relevant to him
• The Inspector tells them her name was Eva Smith
• Mr Birling says the name doesn't mean anything to him
• The Inspector reveals she was employed at his works at one time, and shows him a photograph of her that prompts Mr Birling's memory
• Mr Birling recounts how Eva Smith and some other factory workers demanded a higher wage, and went on strike when they weren't given it


  The strike failed, and Mr Birling fired the ringleaders, Eva Smith included