ENGLISH LITERATURE - COMPONENT 2: SECTION A – INSPECTOR CALLS
PRIESTLY (Post 1914 Drama)
Written by J.B. Priestley in 1945, ‘An Inspector Calls’ is set over one evening in an English
manufacturing town called Brumley in 1912. It has 3 acts and is in real time which means there is 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 all-knowing
detective gradually reveals how each of them are involved with, and partially responsible for, her
death. Priestley examines how each member of the family reacts to these revelations.
IT IS BOTH A CYCLIC AND DIDACTIC PLAY..
CHARACTERS:
Arthur Birling: the head of Birling and Company, a manufacturing company situated in Brumley, and
head of the Birling family. He represents the Capitalist businessman.
Sybil Birling: the wife and social superior of Arthur Birling. She represents the upper-class, socially
prominent wife.
Sheila Birling: the Birlings’ daughter. She represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger
generation and the feminist movement.
Eric Birling: the Birlings’ son. He represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger generation
and the consequences of toxic masculine culture.
Gerald Croft: the son of Sir and Lady Croft, of Crofts Limited, and socially superior to the Birlings. He
represents privilege, and the dominance of the upper classes and patriarchy.
Inspector Goole: a police inspector. He represents the ideals of Socialism and social responsibility, and
the ideal justice system.
Eva Smith: a lower-class, young girl who is mistreated by the Birlings. She represents the neglected
lower-classes.
THEMES:
➢ Capitalism vs Socialism
➢ Exploitation
➢ Gender
➢ Generations Young vs Old
➢ Social Class
➢ Social Responsibility
➢ Wealth and Materialism
ACTS:
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. Mr Arthur Birling, the patriarch (the male head of the family), leads
the family in a toast, celebrating the progress made by society.
, ENGLISH LITERATURE - COMPONENT 2: SECTION A – INSPECTOR CALLS
PRIESTLY (Post 1914 Drama)
2. A police inspector, Inspector Goole, calls and asks to speak to Mr Birling. A young woman, Eva
Smith, has died at the Infirmary after drinking disinfectant.
3. Two years ago, Mr Birling fired Eva after she led a strike at his factory. She was asking for higher
wages. He believes he was fully justified.
4. Eva Smith then managed to get a job at Milward’s, an upmarket store, however she was fired again
after Sheila complained about her. Sheila felt Eva had been mocking her, and was jealous of her.
Though she felt bad about it at the time, she hadn’t thought it would have any serious consequences,
and swears she won’t act like that again.
5. The Inspector reveals that Eva was unable to get another job, so changed her name to Daisy
Renton. Gerald gives himself away by showing that he recognises the name.
6. While the Inspector is out of the room, Sheila accuses Gerald of having an affair with Daisy
Renton. He initially denies it but eventually confesses, asking Sheila to keep it a secret.
Act 2
7. The Inspector returns along with Mr and Mrs Birling. Gerald is forced to admit to his affair. He
rescued Daisy from a bar and put her up in some rooms he was looking after, but broke it off when
he needed to leave on business. He swears that his concern and pity for her were authentic, and
that he hadn’t helped her in order to sleep with her. Sheila gives him back their engagement ring.
Gerald leaves, feeling emotional, to go on a walk.
8. The Inspector questions Mrs Birling about a case she presided over at the ‘Brumle Women’s Charity
Organisation’. Mrs Birling ensured that a young, pregnant woman who introduced herself as ‘Mrs
Birling’ was refused help.
9. The woman told the committee that she wasn’t married to the father, who was a youngster
and heavy drinker meaning marriage was out of the question. He had been supporting her with stolen
money, and she didn’t want to take anymore. Mrs Birling blames the father entirely, saying he was
responsible and should be made an example of.
10. The family realise that the father in question is Eric.
Act 3
11. Eric returns. He admits to drinking heavily and acting aggressively towards Eva to get her to
sleep with him. He used money from his father’s company’s accounts to support her. She learnt it
was stolen, so refused his help. Sheila tells him that she went to Mrs Birling for help, but was denied
it. Eric is furious. Mrs Birling is upset that her son could act in such a way.
12. The Inspector loses his patience with the Birlings. He tells them that they should never forget
what they did. Eva Smith is dead, so they can’t harm her anymore, but they can’t help her either. He
declares if people don’t accept the responsibility everyone in society has for each other, “fire and
blood and anguish” will follow. He leaves.
13. The family argue amongst themselves. Gerald returns. They slowly figure out that the Inspector
wasn’t a ‘real’ police investigator after all, and that no girl died from drinking disinfectant tonight.
Gerald, Mr Birling, and Mrs Birling are relieved there will be no public scandal, and dismiss any guilt
or remorse they had. Sheila and Eric, on the other hand, believe that all the misdeeds they
committed still happened, and they should all learn from the Inspector’s visit.
14. The phone rings. A girl has just died on the way to the Infirmary, and an inspector is on his
way to question the Birlings.
PRIESTLY (Post 1914 Drama)
Written by J.B. Priestley in 1945, ‘An Inspector Calls’ is set over one evening in an English
manufacturing town called Brumley in 1912. It has 3 acts and is in real time which means there is 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 all-knowing
detective gradually reveals how each of them are involved with, and partially responsible for, her
death. Priestley examines how each member of the family reacts to these revelations.
IT IS BOTH A CYCLIC AND DIDACTIC PLAY..
CHARACTERS:
Arthur Birling: the head of Birling and Company, a manufacturing company situated in Brumley, and
head of the Birling family. He represents the Capitalist businessman.
Sybil Birling: the wife and social superior of Arthur Birling. She represents the upper-class, socially
prominent wife.
Sheila Birling: the Birlings’ daughter. She represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger
generation and the feminist movement.
Eric Birling: the Birlings’ son. He represents the impressionable, socially-aware younger generation
and the consequences of toxic masculine culture.
Gerald Croft: the son of Sir and Lady Croft, of Crofts Limited, and socially superior to the Birlings. He
represents privilege, and the dominance of the upper classes and patriarchy.
Inspector Goole: a police inspector. He represents the ideals of Socialism and social responsibility, and
the ideal justice system.
Eva Smith: a lower-class, young girl who is mistreated by the Birlings. She represents the neglected
lower-classes.
THEMES:
➢ Capitalism vs Socialism
➢ Exploitation
➢ Gender
➢ Generations Young vs Old
➢ Social Class
➢ Social Responsibility
➢ Wealth and Materialism
ACTS:
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. Mr Arthur Birling, the patriarch (the male head of the family), leads
the family in a toast, celebrating the progress made by society.
, ENGLISH LITERATURE - COMPONENT 2: SECTION A – INSPECTOR CALLS
PRIESTLY (Post 1914 Drama)
2. A police inspector, Inspector Goole, calls and asks to speak to Mr Birling. A young woman, Eva
Smith, has died at the Infirmary after drinking disinfectant.
3. Two years ago, Mr Birling fired Eva after she led a strike at his factory. She was asking for higher
wages. He believes he was fully justified.
4. Eva Smith then managed to get a job at Milward’s, an upmarket store, however she was fired again
after Sheila complained about her. Sheila felt Eva had been mocking her, and was jealous of her.
Though she felt bad about it at the time, she hadn’t thought it would have any serious consequences,
and swears she won’t act like that again.
5. The Inspector reveals that Eva was unable to get another job, so changed her name to Daisy
Renton. Gerald gives himself away by showing that he recognises the name.
6. While the Inspector is out of the room, Sheila accuses Gerald of having an affair with Daisy
Renton. He initially denies it but eventually confesses, asking Sheila to keep it a secret.
Act 2
7. The Inspector returns along with Mr and Mrs Birling. Gerald is forced to admit to his affair. He
rescued Daisy from a bar and put her up in some rooms he was looking after, but broke it off when
he needed to leave on business. He swears that his concern and pity for her were authentic, and
that he hadn’t helped her in order to sleep with her. Sheila gives him back their engagement ring.
Gerald leaves, feeling emotional, to go on a walk.
8. The Inspector questions Mrs Birling about a case she presided over at the ‘Brumle Women’s Charity
Organisation’. Mrs Birling ensured that a young, pregnant woman who introduced herself as ‘Mrs
Birling’ was refused help.
9. The woman told the committee that she wasn’t married to the father, who was a youngster
and heavy drinker meaning marriage was out of the question. He had been supporting her with stolen
money, and she didn’t want to take anymore. Mrs Birling blames the father entirely, saying he was
responsible and should be made an example of.
10. The family realise that the father in question is Eric.
Act 3
11. Eric returns. He admits to drinking heavily and acting aggressively towards Eva to get her to
sleep with him. He used money from his father’s company’s accounts to support her. She learnt it
was stolen, so refused his help. Sheila tells him that she went to Mrs Birling for help, but was denied
it. Eric is furious. Mrs Birling is upset that her son could act in such a way.
12. The Inspector loses his patience with the Birlings. He tells them that they should never forget
what they did. Eva Smith is dead, so they can’t harm her anymore, but they can’t help her either. He
declares if people don’t accept the responsibility everyone in society has for each other, “fire and
blood and anguish” will follow. He leaves.
13. The family argue amongst themselves. Gerald returns. They slowly figure out that the Inspector
wasn’t a ‘real’ police investigator after all, and that no girl died from drinking disinfectant tonight.
Gerald, Mr Birling, and Mrs Birling are relieved there will be no public scandal, and dismiss any guilt
or remorse they had. Sheila and Eric, on the other hand, believe that all the misdeeds they
committed still happened, and they should all learn from the Inspector’s visit.
14. The phone rings. A girl has just died on the way to the Infirmary, and an inspector is on his
way to question the Birlings.
