An inspector calls

• An Inspector Calls is a play by JB Priestley
• Dramatic irony


  Where the audience knows what has happened but the characters in the play do not
• Contextual factors in 1912

  • Country still benefitting from new technology
  • Rigid class system
  • Conservative politics and government (individual responsibility)
  • Strong social division
  • Women subservient to and financially dependent on men
• Contextual factors in 1946

  • 2 World Wars had taken place
  • Class system was less rigid
  • Women could now vote
  • Politics were more socialist (collective responsibility)
• Capitalism


  An economic system based on the private ownership of industry
• Problems with capitalism


  • Leads to the few exploiting the many
  • Those who have the money have the power to stop others from sharing their wealth
  • No social mobility
  • The richer get richer and the poorer get poorer
• Socialism


  The belief that as a society, we have to look after one another
• Socialism


  • The rich are responsible for looking after the poor
  • Taxation is sometimes higher in a socialist state so that the Welfare State can be paid for (e.g. NHS, schools, unemployment benefit)
  • Socialists do not want a class system
• Priestley lived through the time period the play is set and fought in WW1
• Priestley saw the sufferings of war first hand and wanted to avoid further wars
• Priestley's play represents the conflicting views on Capitalism and Socialism
• Priestley was concerned about social inequality during the 1930s
• Priestley set up the Common Wealth Party in 1942
• Priestley argued for public ownership of land and greater democracy
• Priestley's ideas merged with the Labour party
• The Labour party had a landslide victory in 1945
• Priestley developed the idea of a Welfare State after WW2
• Mr Birling


  Represents a capitalist society
• Characters


  • Mr Birling
  • Sybil Birling
  • Sheila Birling
• Mr Birling: '"It's my duty to keep labour costs down."'
• Mr Birling: '"I refused, of course"'
• Mr Birling: '"a man has to make his own way"'
• Mr Birling: '"You damned fool - why didn't you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?"'
• Mr Birling: '"Look, Inspector - I'd give thousands"'
• Mr Birling


  • Arrogant, insecure, selfish, only cares about appearances and his social status and his business
  • Has a direct and detached approach to his workers
  • Strongly believes that 'a man has to make his own way'
  • Refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva's death
  • Becomes increasingly annoyed by the Inspector's questioning and Eric's unsympathetic attitude
  • Uses his power and status to threaten the Inspector through his friendship with the Chief Constable
  • Copies the Inspector and laughs when he remembers the faces of Eric and Sheila, accusing them of being 'the famous younger generation who know it all'
• Sybil Birling


  • Cold-hearted and sophisticated, regarded as her husband's social superior
  • A 'snob', very aware of the differences between social classes and therefore very arrogant
  • Dismissive of the poorer classes and has no respect for them or the inspector
  • A liar, very controlling and patronising to her own children
  • Sees Sheila and Eric still as "children" and speaks patronisingly to them
  • Uses her power to judge people, especially the working classes
  • Believes she is always right and therefore ignorant, set in her own ways and class
  • Apathetic and uncaring, dismisses Eva/Daisy as just 'girls of that class'
  • Her charity work is conducted for selfish reasons
  • Tries to deny things that she doesn't want to believe
• Sheila Birling


  • Presented as a spoilt, materialistic and frivolous upper-class girl at the start
  • Undergoes a tremendous amount of learning and growth during the play
  • Displays a genuine sense of remorse, sensitivity and sympathy for Eva Smith
  • Realises 'but these girls aren't cheap labour – they're people'
  • Becomes resentful of her parent's thinking and conduct
  • The first to see the truth and learn from the Inspector's visit
  • Genuinely upset when she hears of Eva's death and learns from her own behaviour
  • Keen and anxious to change her behaviour in the future
  • Learns of her responsibilities to others less fortunate than herself (the idea of the community) and becomes sensitive
• Sheila: '"Why- you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don't know yet. You'll see. You'll see."'
• Sheila: '"But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people."'
• Sheila: '"I'll never, never do it again to anybody…I feel now I can never go there again"'
• Sheila: '"We killed her"'
• Eric Birling
• Eric Birling


  • Irresponsible and immoral at first - drinks alcohol excessively and has taken advantage of Eva
  • Lacks self-confidence and does not the respect of his family
  • Feels guilt and frustration with himself over his relationship with the girl
  • Appalled by his parents' inability to admit their own responsibility
  • Only character who has behaved illegally in the play - but the theft from his father was in order to support the girl
• Eric Birling: '"Oh - my God! - how stupid it all is!"'
• Eric Birling: '"I'm ashamed of you."'
• Eric Birling: '"I don't give a damn now."'
• Gerald Croft
• Gerald Croft


  • Portrayed from the beginning of the play as an upper-class gentleman who occupies a position of privilege in society and in the Birling's home
  • Represents the stubbornness of the aristocracy and is clearly a sought-after man due to the financial stability his alliance with the Birling's will bring
  • Provides a strong contrast to Eric, Mr Birling's natural son
  • Used to highlight the power and status that the upper classes possess in society and the hypocrisy and selfishness they display
• Gerald Croft: '"You couldn't have done anything else" (sacking Eva Smith)'
• Gerald Croft: '"After all, y'know, we're respectable citizens and not criminals"'