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An Inspector Calls
Characters
Mr Arthur Birling Mr Birling is the head of the Birling household. He has made himself very wealthy bybeing a 'hard‐headed' business man. Mrs Sybil Birling Mrs Sybil Birling is Arthur Birling's wife and from the opening of the play she is cold‐hearted and snobbish despite being a prominent member of local women's charity. Sheila Birling Sheila Birling is Arthur and Sybil's daughter and is in her early 20s. At the start of theplay she is celebrating her engagement and she is giddy, naïve and childish. Eric Birling Eric is the Birlings' son and is in his early twenties, he is described as being 'not quiteat ease, half shy, half assertive'. In other words, he lacks confidence. Gerald Croft Gerald is described as 'an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandybut very much the easy well‐bred young man‐about‐town'. Inspector Goole The Inspector arrives whilst the Birlings are celebrating. The stage directions statethat he 'need not be a big man' but he creates an 'impression of massiveness, solidityand purposefulness'. Eva Smith/Daisy Renton We never meet Eva Smith during the course of the play, but she is a very importantcharacter. It is her death that is the cause of the Inspector’s investigation which inturn drives the drama.
Themes
Social responsibility The play was first performed just afterthe end of WW2, in 1946. It was a timeof great change in Britain. Priestleywanted his audience to be responsiblefor their own behaviour for thewelfare of others. Age The older characters' opinions andbehaviours are stubbornly fixed. Mrand Mrs Birling refuses to learn. Ericand Sheila however are younger ‐ theyaccept their mistakes and offer thechance for a brighter future. Gender As many men went away to fight inWW2, their positions in work werefilled by women. This helped changeexisting perceptions. Men had toacknowledge the fact that womenwere just as capable as them. As aresult of this, many women enjoyed anewfound freedom that workingallowed them. Class Before WW2, Britain was divided byclass – the wealthy factory owners andthe poor workers. The war helpedbring these classes closer together Thewar effort also meant that peoplefrom all classes were mixing together.
Plot
1.^
An inspector arrives at the Birling house. He tells them how a girl called Eva Smith has killedherself by drinking disinfectant ‐ he wants to ask them some questions.
2.^
The Inspector reveals that the girl used to work in Arthur Birling's factory. He had her sacked forgoing on strike. Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for her death.
3.^
The Inspector then reveals that Sheila thought that Eva had made fun of her and so she got hersacked. Sheila is deeply ashamed and feels responsible for the girl’s death.
4.^
The Inspector forces Gerald to confess to an affair he had with Eva. Sheila respects Gerald’shonesty but returns the engagement ring he gave her.
5.^
It is revealed that Sybil Birling had refused to help the pregnant Eva.
6.^
It turns out that it was Eric who got Eva pregnant, and stole money from his father to help her.
7.^
The Inspector leaves. The family ring the infirmary; there is no record of a girl’s suicide.
8.^
The phone rings; Mr Birling answers. The call reveals that a girl has just died from drinkingdisinfectant; the police are on their way to question the family. The play ends.
Context Timeline
1894:
Priestley born in Bradford to middle class parents.
1912:
The Titanic sets sail and sinks. The year in which the play is set.
1914:
Start of the WW1. Priestley serves in the army
1918:
End of WW1: 10 million dead. Women vote for first time in UK.
1936:
The Great Depression. Mass unemployment.
1939:
Hitler starts WW2.
1942:
Welfare State proposed
1945:
End WW2. 55 million dead. Priestley writes ‘An Inspector Calls’.
An Inspector Calls
Points (words to describe Mr Birling)
•^
Powerful
Arrogant
•^
Selfish
Thoughtless
•^
Confident
Foolish
•^
Patronising
Controlling
•^
Domineering
Hard‐headed
Mr Arthur Birling Mr Birling is the head of the Birling household. He has made himselfvery wealthy by being a 'hard‐headed' business man.
Top 10 quotations
1.^
“It's exactly the same port your father gets."
2.^
“the Titanic… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
3.^
“there’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere."
4.^
“There’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List. Just aknighthood, of course.”
5.^
“a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself – and his family too”
6.^
“the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to lookafter everyone else…”
7.^
“as if we were mixed up together like bees in a hive– community and all that nonsense.”
8.^
“( angrily to Eric
) You’re the one I blame for this.”
9.^
“I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can”
- “(
pointing to Eric and Sheila
) Now look at the pair of them – the famous younger
generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke –”
Mrs Sybil Birling Mrs Sybil Birling is Arthur Birling's wife and from the opening of the playshe is cold‐hearted and snobbish despite being a prominent member oflocal women's charity.
Points (words to describe Mrs Birling)
•^
Arrogant
Dismissive
•^
Superior
Judgemental
•^
Dismissive
Patronising
•^
Proud
Unconcerned
•^
Unmoved
Condescending
Top 10 quotations
1.^
“You’re looking tired dear. I think you ought to go to bed – and forget about this absurdbusiness.”
2.^
“Girls of that class‐“
3.^
“( with sudden anger)
Well, come along – what is it you want to know?”
4.^
“( with dignity
) Yes. We’ve done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases.”
5.^
“naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her.”
6.^
“I did nothing I’m ashamed of.”
7.^
“I accept no blame at all.”
8.^
“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
9.^
“I wish I'd been here when that man first arrived. I’d have asked him a few questionsbefore I allowed him to ask us any”
- “I was the only one that didn’t give in”
•^
J B Priestley believed in socialism, the idea that we should all look after one another.
•^
Mr Birling
represents greedy businessmen who only care for themselves.
•^
Priestley uses him to show that the Eva Smiths of the world will continue to suffer if
people like Birling remain in positions of power.
•^
In wartime Britain there was rationing; all classes were eating & dressing the same.
-^
Sybil Birling
represents a middle‐class snobbery that existed prior to the World Wars.
•^
Priestley hoped these attitudes would die out; he uses Mrs Birling to show how they can
lead to cold and thoughtless behaviour.
An Inspector Calls
Points (words to describe Gerald)
•^
Confident
Self‐assured
•^
Sycophantic
Traditional
•^
Secretive
Caring
•^
Sorrowful
Disloyal
•^
Nonchalant
Triumphant
Gerald Croft Gerald is described as 'an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manlyto be a dandy but very much the easy well‐bred young man‐about‐town'.
Top 10 quotations
1.^
“All right, if you must have it”
2.^
“( distressed
) Sorry– I – well I’ve suddenly realized– taken it properly– that she’s dead”
3.^
“I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her”
4.^
“( hesitatingly
) I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me”
5.^
“I wasn’t telling you a complete lie”
6.^
“She didn’t blame me at all. I wish to God she had now. Perhaps I’d feel better aboutit.”
7.^
“As I’m rather more – upset – by this business than I probably appear to be – and –well, I’d like to be alone for a while.”
8.^
“I don’t think he was an Inspector at all”
9.^
'Everything's all right now Sheila'
“what about this ring?”
Inspector Goole The Inspector arrives whilst the Birlings are celebrating. The stagedirections state that he 'need not be a big man' but he creates an'impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness'.
Points (words to describe the Inspector)
•^
Confident
Methodical
•^
Careful
Purposeful
•^
Thoughtful
Self‐assured
•^
Abrupt
Powerful
•^
Imposing
Prophetic
Top 10 quotations
1.^
“he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.“
2.^
“He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at theperson he addresses before actually speaking.”
3.^
“It’s the way I like to go too work. One person and one line of inquiry at a time.Otherwise there’s a muddle.
4.^
“After all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”
5.^
"I'm waiting... To do my duty"
6.^
“Each of you helped to kill her”
7.^
“there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left withus”
8.^
“all intertwined with our lives”
9.^
“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body”.
- “We are responsible for each other.”
•^
Priestley uses
Gerald
to attack the upper‐classes of post‐war Britain.
•^
He shows that this class of people were still capable of questionable behaviour.
-^
Priestley also suggests that they saw themselves above the problems of the working‐
classes ‐ Gerald tries to get himself and the Birlings out of trouble.
•^
Inspector Goole
sheds a light on all the concerns that Priestley had at the time of writing
An Inspector Calls around age, gender, class and social responsibility.
•^
Priestley uses the Inspector to make the audience question their own behaviour.
-^
The issues the Inspector highlights are just as relevant to a modern day audience.
An Inspector Calls
Character
How do they behave at the beginning?
How do they react to the inspector?
How have their opinions and attitudes changed?
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 any responsibility.
‐ Still feels he has done nothing wrong.‐ Unconcerned for Eva Smith and other workers.‐ Still confident.
Mrs Birling
‐ Cold.‐ Treats Eric and Sheila like young children.‐ Dismissive of others
‐ Shocked by the Inspector’s questioning.‐ Rude towards him.‐ Refuses to accept responsibility
‐ Thinks the responsibility lies with the father.‐ Agrees that she was prejudiced against the girl.‐ Please with her self
Sheila
‐ Naïve. Doesn’t seem to understand the world.‐ Excitable. Concerned with material things,
‐ Is a ashamed of her behaviour.‐ Recognises that she is responsible.
‐ Regrets what she has done‐ Claims she helped kill Eva.‐ Wants to change and wants her family to acceptresponsibility.
Eric
‐ A bit of a drunk.‐ Argumentative.‐ Doesn’t understand his father.‐ Awkward ‐ not at ease with his family.
‐ Also ashamed of his behaviour.‐ Regrets his behaviour and wishes he hadn’t donewhat he’d done.
‐ Is angry with his family for failing to recognisewhat they have done and the part they haveplayed in Eva’s death.‐ Understands that he was responsible
Gerald
‐ Typically upper classes.‐ Similar to Mr Birling.‐ Sycophantic. Trying to impress Birling.
‐ Admits to knowing Daisy, eventually.‐ Appears to have some feelings for her
‐ Appeared to have felt guilty but is thentriumphant when he thinks the Inspector was ahoax.‐ Celebrates ‘getting away with it’.
You’vechanged,man.
