Analysis of Act One - The Inspector Begins

• An Inspector


  Calls and says a girl has died
• The Inspector's actions


  1. Gives a blunt account of Eva Smith's death

  2. Shows a photograph to Birling but doesn't show it to either Gerald or Eric
• The Inspector's language and actions

  • The harsh language - "Burnt her inside out" - contrasts violently with the polite and playful atmosphere at the start
  • Catches the Birlings off-guard, which helps his investigation
  • Gerald later suspects that each person was shown a different photograph, believing it to be the same one
• The Inspector gets Birling to tell the story of why he sacked Eva Smith


  This gives Birling a false sense of being in charge for a bit
• The workers at the Birling factory

  • Went on strike after Birling refused a pay rise
  • Birling wanted to protect his profits and prevent another strike, so he sacked the "ring-leaders", including Eva Smith
• This story gives the play a political element
• Priestley's positioning the rights of the workers against the interests of businessman
• Eva Smith


  • Described as a "lively good-looking girl"
  • Remembered as an attractive hero - this makes Birling look worse
• KEY EVENT


  Then Sheila got her sacked from her next job
• Sheila's actions


  • Shown a photograph - possibly not the same one that Birling saw
  • Recognised the woman she got sacked from Milwards last year
  • Insecurity and jealousy made her think Eva Smith was laughing at her
  • Abused her influence as a regular customer from a good family to demand Eva Smith be sacked
• Sheila's actions


  Resulted in Eva Smith getting sacked from her job
• Sheila: '"felt rotten about it at the time"'
• Sheila's reaction to the Inspector's news shows that she knew she behaved badly and that she's grown up a bit since then</b>
• Priestley's portrayal of Sheila

  Sheila is a forgivable character