An Inspector Calls

Answer TWO questions:

Answer ONE question from Section A
and ONE question from Section B

SECTION A: Modern Drama

A View from the Bridge, Arthur Miller 4

An Inspector Calls, J B Priestley 4
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time,
Mark Haddon (adapted by Simon Stephens) 5
Kindertransport, Diane Samuels 5
Death and the King’s Horseman, Wole Soyinka 6

PLOT SUMMARY
One of the most vital and helpful things you can do in preparation for the exam is to ‘know’ the plot of
An Inspector Calls thoroughly. Once you know the text well, you should be comfortable and familiar
with key events that you can then link to larger ideas. Having an in-depth knowledge and
understanding of the text will help you to gain confidence to find the most relevant references to
support your response.

OVERVIEW
An Inspector Calls is a three-act play with one setting: the dining room of the Birling family. The play
is set in 1912 in the fictional city of Brumley, in the north of England. Arthur and Sybil Birling, their
two children, Sheila and Eric, and their visitor, Gerald Croft, have just finished a celebratory dinner
following Sheila’s engagement to Gerald.

A police inspector arrives at the Birlings’ house and informs them that a young girl, Eva Smith, has
committed suicide after having swallowed disinfectant. It is revealed that Eva used to work in Arthur
Birling’s factory and had subsequently been dismissed for her participation in a pay strike. The
Inspector further reveals that Sheila was also responsible for having Eva dismissed from her next job
as an assistant in a dress shop, after making a complaint about Eva’s conduct towards her. When
the Inspector reveals that Eva had changed her name to Daisy Renton, Gerald confesses to having
had an affair with her. Sheila returns her engagement ring to him.

Sybil Birling is also forced to confess to having known Eva. Sybil had refused Eva’s application for
aid from her charitable organisation after she discovered the girl was pregnant. Eva had refused to
marry the father of the child, who is revealed to have been Eric. Eric admits to having got Eva
pregnant and having stolen money from his father in order to help her. The Inspector rebukes the
Birling family and Gerald for their involvement with Eva and how their actions have led to her death.
The Inspector leaves.

Gerald learns that the Inspector appears to have been a fraud, prompting Arthur to ring the Chief
Constable who confirms their suspicion. Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald rejoice on having avoided a
public scandal regarding Eva, while Sheila and Eric are distraught over their poor behaviour toward
the girl. Arthur rings the Infirmary and is informed there are no recent admission records of a girl
who has died from suicide. As Gerald attempts to return the engagement ring to Sheila, the
telephone rings. A police inspector is on his way to the house to make inquiries about a girl who has
just died on her way to the Infirmary, having swallowed disinfectant.

The play ends.

Act-By-Act Plot Summary
Act I

• Act I begins in the Birlings’ dining room where the audience is introduced to the Birling family
(Arthur, Sybil and their two children, Sheila and Eric) and Gerald Croft
• Arthur delivers a pompous speech but is interrupted by Inspector Goole who wishes to
inquire about a girl who died in the Infirmary several hours ago, having swallowed
disinfectant
• Arthur is instantly dismissive of the Inspector but when shown a photograph of the girl, he
admits she was a former employee of his
• Arthur admits that the girl, Eva Smith, had been dismissed from his factory two years
previously for her participation in a strike for higher pay
• The Inspector insinuates Eva’s dismissal from the factory may have resulted in her suicide
• Sheila confesses she was responsible for Eva losing her next job in a dress shop
• The Inspector reveals Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton, which disconcerts Gerald
• The Inspector exits the dining room, leaving Sheila and Gerald alone
• Suspecting Gerald had an affair with Eva, Sheila confronts him and he confesses
• The Inspector returns and the scene ends

Act II

• Gerald attempts to persuade Sheila to leave before he confesses to the Inspector about his
affair
• The Inspector interrupts them and instructs Sheila to stay
• Sybil enters the dining room and attacks the impertinence of the Inspector
• Eric’s heavy drinking is exposed by both Sheila and Gerald and Arthur returns to the room
• The Inspector interrogates Gerald and he admits to having had an affair with Eva/Daisy the
previous summer and that he had kept her as his mistress for several months
• Gerald admits he was not in love with Eva but merely enjoyed the situation
• Despite having some respect for Gerald’s honesty about the affair, Sheila returns the
engagement ring to him
• The Inspector allows Gerald to go out for a short walk
• Arthur leaves to look for Eric and the Inspector begins to question Sybil
• Upon his return, Arthur informs them that Eric has gone out, while the Inspector continues his
questioning of Sybil
• Sybil confesses she met Eva/Daisy two weeks ago and refused her request for financial aid at
a meeting of the Brumley Women’s Charity, of which she is the Chair
• Sybil admits to being incensed when the girl presented herself to Charity by the name ‘Mrs.
Birling’, revealing she was pregnant but having refused to marry the father of the child
• Sybil chastises the unknown father of the child, insisting he must be made to publicly
acknowledge his responsibility
• After her rant, Sybil finally realises that Eric is the father of the child
• Eric enters the dining room and the scene ends

Act III

• Eric confesses to having met Eva in a bar last November when he was drunk
• He admits to having got her pregnant and to have stolen money from his father’s firm to help
support her
• Eric learns that his mother had refused help to Eva and becomes furious
• The Inspector interrupts them and delivers a dramatic speech
• The Inspector exits the stage and Sheila and Eric attack their parents’ lack of guilt
• Sheila begins to doubt whether the Inspector was a real police inspector
 • Arthur rebukes Eric and Sheila for having confessed too much
• Gerald returns from his walk and reveals he has learned the Inspector may have been a fraud
• Arthur telephones the Chief Constable who confirms there is no Inspector Goole
• Arthur, Sybil and Gerald rejoice on having avoided a public scandal, while Shelia and
Eric chastise them for their poor behaviour towards Eva
• Gerald suggests that the photograph of Eva may have been of several different girls
• Arthur rings the Infirmary to check whether a girl had been admitted and it is confirmed there
has been no such admission
• As Gerald attempts to return the ring to Sheila, the phone rings
• A police inspector is on his way to the house to make inquiries about a girl who has just died
on her way to the Infirmary, having swallowed disinfectant.

Themes
Exam responses that are led by ideas are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark
scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help
to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the play.

Below are some ideas which could be explored in An Inspector Calls. This list is not exhaustive and
you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the play. Below you will find sections on:

• Responsibility
• Capitalism versus Socialism
• Generational divide
• Guilt
• Class
• Gender

Responsibility

Responsibility is one of the most prevalent themes within the play and the role of the Inspector is to
highlight that all actions have consequences. He demands that the other characters be accountable
for their actions and that they take responsibility for others. This message is also intended for the
wider audience and for society in general.

Knowledge and evidence:

• The Inspector demands each character be held accountable and admit personal
responsibility for the chain of events which led to Eva’s death:
o Each character had an individual connection with Eva, regardless of how fleeting, and
their actions will have influenced her fate
 • Sheila is the first character in the play to accept responsibility for her actions, which
demonstrates her courage and empathy
• Eric initially offers marriage to Eva which shows some attempt at responsibility:
o However, as the father of her child, he ultimately fails in his duty to protect both of
them

• The Inspector urges the characters (and the audience) to consider their social responsibility,
arguing individuals have a civic duty to ensure their actions must benefit the whole of society:
o Through the Inspector, Priestley argues that members of a society have duties and
obligations towards the welfare of others
o He suggests they have a collective and social responsibility to take care of each
other

• As Arthur and Sybil hold prominent positions within society, the Inspector suggests they have
an even greater duty of care towards others:
o While the Inspector alludes to ideas of responsibility and duty, Arthur and Sybil also
repeatedly use these words though they interpret them in very different ways

• In contrast, Priestley presents Eva as having a greater sense of moral responsibility than all of
the other characters
• A pivotal part of Act III is when the Inspector leaves, as it provides an opportunity for the
characters to reveal if they have learned anything from his message:
o Only Eric and Sheila have grasped Inspector’s message; Arthur, Sybil and Gerald are
blind to it

What is Priestley’s intention?

• Priestley emphasises the importance of both personal and social responsibility:

o He insists this extends beyond the confines of a family unit and spreads to society as a
whole
• It could be argued that some of the acts committed by the Birlings and Gerald may not
individually seem to have been so terrible to drive Eva to suicide:
o However, Priestley emphasises that individual actions may well begin a chain of events
which may have devastating consequences
• Capitalism versus Socialism

An Inspector Calls is a play that deals with ideas of fairness and inequality. Priestley used the play to
argue that the economic system of Capitalism prevented equality and social justice and that another
system, Socialism, which aims to share out wealth, would be fairer for all.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Priestley presents a powerful social message in An Inspector Calls which is explored through
the competing concepts of Capitalism and Socialism:
 o While Capitalism seeks to benefit the individual, Socialism is focused on benefiting
society
• Priestley depicts the comfortable, affluent life of the Birlings who thrive on Capitalism:

o This is contrasted with the distressing account of Eva, who is forced to live a wretched
life due to their greed
o Despite being a good worker, Eva is exploited and marginalised by those within the
privileged Capitalist system
• Priestley maintains that such a system creates and perpetuates inequalities in society and
prevents social mobility:
o Eva is trapped in a cycle of poverty and despite her attempts to improve her situation,
she cannot overcome it

• The Inspector’s moralistic tone serves to condemn the entrenched Capitalist views of the
group:
o His message that “we are all part of one community” is firmly established
• Arthur is resistant to this message and insists his responsibility is to protect the interests of his
business, by making as much profit as possible:
o He has no sense of responsibility or concern that his workers may need higher wages
to live
o He treats the pay strike at his factory with contempt since it threatens his profits

What is Priestley’s intention?

• Through the Inspector, Priestley presents the Birlings and Capitalism in a negative light:
o They are individualistic, self-centered and amoral, placing profit and greed above the
rights and concerns of others
• Priestley seeks to expose this selfishness and to encourage others to look after one another
and to work towards a society where all members are treated more equally and fairly
• Generational divide

Priestley explores the idea of generational change in An Inspector Calls: younger characters are
more open to social and economic change, and as a result are in conflict with their parent’s
generation, who are stuck in their ways.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Priestley attempts to reveal the inadequacies of Arthur and Sybil as parents:

o They fail to acknowledge Sheila and Eric as adults and offer little support during the
evening’s proceedings
o They ignore Eric’s alcoholism which may in part be due to their indulgence
o They attempt to shield Sheila from hearing sordid details about “women of the town”,
despite Sheila being already aware of such realities
 • Priestley portrays Arthur, Sybil and Gerald as fully entrenched in upper-class notions of
superiority and unable to change:
o Arthur and Sybil mock the foolishness of Sheila and Eric for having been so affected by
the Inspector
o Eric and Sheila do not share the sense of relief as the others when the Inspector is
discovered to be a fraud, as this is irrelevant to them
• The Inspector shows the audience that all of the characters have had an opportunity
for redemption, though only Sheila and Eric have embraced it:
o While he displays genuine remorse for his treatment of Eva, by the end of the play he
reverts to his original stance
o The older generation is more concerned with protecting their social positions and
continues to perceive themselves as upstanding members of the community
o Gerald falls between the younger and older generations:

• In contrast, the younger generation is used to demonstrating their capacity for change and
their acceptance of social responsibility:
o Sheila challenges her parents for not learning from the Inspector, thus illustrating a
greater capacity to learn from her mistakes
• The younger generation present a symbol of hope

What is Priestley’s intention?

• Through Sheila and Eric, Priestley offers optimism to the audience that the younger
generation is capable of change:
o Priestley depicts the younger generation as more compassionate and empathetic which
suggests they will no longer avoid their social responsibilities
• Priestley suggests the younger generation will avoid the errors of the previous generation:
o He suggests the selfish and exploitative Capitalist system will be replaced with a
more Socialist agenda

For Priestley, guilt is the result of accepting personal and social responsibility for one’s actions. It is
noteworthy that younger characters in An Inspector Calls express guilt, but not the older generation,
suggesting that they are not willing to see their own flaws, or those of the society they live in.

Knowledge and evidence:

 • The Inspector contends that if the characters are to learn anything from his message, they
must express their guilt:
o For the Inspector, the admission of guilt requires self-reflection and this is an important
step in encouraging the characters to change
• For Priestley, their guilt is both individual and collective:

• At an individual level, he believes each character compromised their morals in their treatment
of Eva

• At a collective level, they represent the upper classes who have enabled the lower classes to
be exploited and mistreated for their own gain

• Sheila is the first character to express her guilt and it is instantaneous:

o While Sheila acknowledges her guilt, the Inspector insists that the guilt, as well as the
responsibility, must be shared by all
• Similarly, Eric eventually expresses his guilt, though he is only willing to do so in the last act:
o While he could appear to express a stronger sense of guilt than the others (through his
emotional outburst), his immaturity may suggest he is unable to feel it as keenly as his
sister
• While Gerald appears to express sincere and honest regret during his confession about Eva,
his guilt is only temporary:
o He attempts to justify his actions towards Eva to make himself appear less culpable

o When he realises there are no consequences for his behaviour, he no longer cares
o This could be contrasted with his confession to Sheila over his affair with Eva, as he
appears more concerned that his affair has been found out, rather than having
betrayed his fiancée
• Arthur and Sybil are the only two characters who refuse to express any guilt for their treatment
of Eva:
o They continue to fail to see or acknowledge that they have done anything wrong

What is Priestley’s intention?

• For Priestley, the guilt felt by the characters and society as a whole must be personal and
collective, if the change is to occur
• At an individual level, Priestley suggests we are responsible for our personal conduct toward
others
• At a collective level, Priestley suggests we should ensure all groups are treated fairly and
equally

Class
Priestley uses the characters in An Inspector Calls to criticise the inequality and unfairness of the
British class system and argues that the privilege of class blinds people to their immoral behaviour.

• Class plays a significant role in An Inspector Calls and is a major influence on many of the
characters and events
• The immense inequality between the classes is firmly established at the start of the play:
o The description of the Birlings’ opulent home is sharply contrasted with descriptions of
the workers in Arthur’s factory
• Sybil could be viewed as making incorrect assertions about the working classes (of whom she
has no knowledge) and views them as morally and socially inferior:
o She ignorantly links class with morality and cannot believe Eva, as a working-class girl,
would refuse stolen money
• Sybil’s hypocritical stance means she overlooks her own selfish and immoral actions and
those belonging to her class:
o She believes her class affords her the superiority to decide who is and is not deserving
of charity
o She overlooks Gerald keeping a mistress and ignores her son’s immoral conduct with
Eva
• Priestley demonstrates how the working classes, especially women, could be exploited and
abused by those with wealth and power:
o Both Gerald and Eric abuse their power and status in their relationship with Eva and
both men discard her when it suits them
• Gerald is entrenched in the views of his class system:
o This prevents him from genuinely empathising with Eva’s plight or that of the working
classes in general

What is Priestley’s intention?

• Priestley demonstrates the fixation of the upper classes on their status and their poor morals
• Priestley further conveys the hypocrisy of the upper classes and the abuse of power over the
working-classes
o This is clearest in the treatment of working-class girls by young, wealthy men

Gender

Priestley explores the inequality between male and female characters in An Inspector Calls to
criticise his society’s suppression of women’s rights and the mistreatment of women in general.

• Gender is an important element within the play and it impacts most of the behaviour of the
characters
• Eva would have been viewed as ‘cheap labour’ and therefore more at risk of being exploited
and abused by employers because of her gender:
 • Working-class women would have been one of the cheapest forms of labour available
to Arthur
• Similarly, Eva is exploited by her gender (and class) by wealthy men and women:
• Sybil and Sheila use their power to suppress another woman
• Both Gerald and Eric take advantage of Eva as a working-class girl and there is an
imbalance of power in respect of social position and influence
• Gerald emphasises how Eva was in desperate need of his assistance and portrays
himself as being chivalrous in rescuing her

• Sheila can be viewed as a woman who is redefining the role of women at a time when
women’s rights were being sought through the suffragette movement:
o At the beginning of the play, she plays a typical role within her patriarchal society and
is obedient to her father
o This can be contrasted to her behaviour as the play develops and she begins to
challenge her father and refuses to take back Gerald’s engagement ring

What is Priestley’s intention?

• Priestley uses the male and female characters in the play to comment upon traditional gender
roles:
o Sybil is presented as mainly subordinate to her husband, while Sheila is beginning to
challenge this traditional role
o Eva is presented as an assertive female character
• Priestley also highlights the suppression of women’s rights and how men and women can
abuse their power:
o The Birlings and Gerald Croft all take advantage of Eva in different ways because of
her gender

Characters
It is vital that you understand that characters are often used symbolically to express ideas. Priestley
uses all of his characters to symbolise various ideas prevalent in his society, and the differences
between characters reflect contemporary debates. Therefore it is very useful not only to learn about
each character individually but how they compare and contrast to other characters in the play. Below
you will find character profiles of:

• Arthur Birling
• Sybil Birling
• Sheila Birling
• Eric Birling
• Gerald Croft
• Inspector Goole
• Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

Arthur Birling
• Birling is the patriarch of the family and is presented as an arrogant and pompous character
throughout the play
• He is first described as a “heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly
easy manners but rather provincial in his speech”:
 o Priestley’s description conveys Birling’s self-indulgence and self-importance, arrogantly
trying to impress all around him
o His regional accent signifies his lower-class status in comparison to his wife and Gerald
Croft
• As a former Lord Major and magistrate, Birling is hoping to obtain a knighthood which reveals
his obsession with public reputation, status and titles and the reassurance that they provide
him with:
o By the end of the play, Arthur faces exposure to a public scandal and loss of his
reputation which would present a terrible downfall for him
• As a wealthy factory owner, Priestley presents Birling as a caricature of
a Capitalist businessman which is in direct opposition to Inspector
Goole’s Socialist aspirations
• Priestley depicts Birling as merely symbolic of other wealthy employers:
o While he is indifferent to the plight of his workers, it could be argued that there is
nothing dreadfully abhorrent about his treatment of his workers
o Priestley does not indicate that Arthur delights in punishing his workers but simply that
any empathy towards them is severely lacking
• At the beginning of Act I, he delivers several lengthy monologues which serve to reveal his
self-centredness, arrogance and myopic view of society:
o He believes everyone should be responsible for themselves and is devoid of any
sympathy for those less fortunate than himself
• As a character Priestley uses dramatic irony in several ways to reveal Arthur’s short-
sightedness:
o Birling’s optimism for the future is superficial and his predictions demonstrate
his complacency
o However, this suits him, for he has much to lose if things were to change
• As a character, Arthur contrasts sharply with the Inspector and his children:
•
o He is brusque towards the Inspector and treats Eric and Sheila as foolish and naïve
• He refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva’s death and remains unchanged by the end of
the play:
o Arthur is unwilling to change because his personal beliefs do not allow him to do this
o He is blind to the consequences of his own actions and repeatedly defends himself,
directs blame at others and tries desperately to try and cover up the tragedy
o Arthur tries to limit the damage to himself and his family but he can only do so by
distorting or minimising the truth

Sybil Birling
• Sybil is first presented as “a rather cold woman and her husband’s superior”:
o Her demeanour throughout the play is unchanged and she remains snobbish, uncaring
and dismissive of others
• Priestley depicts Sybil as a symbol of the privileges of the upper classes and their selfish
conduct:
o Similar to her husband, she is extremely conscious of her high social position
o However, she is presented as more arrogant, dismissive and prejudiced than him
o She treats the Inspector as socially inferior
• Due to her elevated social position, she views the working class as morally inferior:
o She refuses to believe that Eva would turn down stolen money as she is not capable of
the same level of morality as the upper classes

•
o She refuses to use Eva’s name and refers to her only as a “girl”, as though Eva is not
worthy of being recognised as an individual
 • She is portrayed as one of the least compassionate characters in the play:
o She is a prominent member of a local women’s charity but her role is not due to a
concern for others less fortunate than herself, but as a symbol of status
o She is indifferent to the fact that she refused assistance to Eva and her grandchild and
is devoid of any empathy for them

• In Act III, her callousness is further revealed:

• When she realises her son is the father of the child, she still maintains that the charity ought to
deny assistance to people it considers undeserving of aid

• To an audience, Sybil’s appalling behaviour and cold detachment would be incomprehensible:

o This would be heightened further as she is both a woman and a mother

• As a character, Sybil could be perceived as someone who fails fully to perceive those around
her:
o Alternatively, she may be deliberately turning a blind eye to any reality which
contradicts her reassuring image of both herself and her family
o When confronted by the revelation that she indirectly contributed to the death of Eva
and her grandchild, she comforts herself by insisting that she had done her duty
o She initially refuses to believe Eric could be the father of Eva’s child and refuses to
acknowledge he has a problem with alcohol
o Both Sybil and her husband are concerned with preserving a respectable façade
• By the end of the play, Sybil remains deeply entrenched in her prejudiced ways and
unchanged:
o She is the least affected character by the tragedy and could be perceived to be the
most resistant to the Inspector’s message

Eric Birling
• Eric is first described as being “in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”:
o Eric’s description at the beginning of the play denotes his lack of confidence and social
awkwardness
o This is in stark contrast to the other characters on stage, especially Gerald
• He attempts to challenge some of his parents’ views in the early stages of the play:
o However, he struggles to confront them to any great extent and they are largely
dismissive of any opinions he puts forward

• He contradicts his parents on many occasions in Act I:

• While this could be perceived to be displaying some sympathy towards the strikers in his
father’s factory, his retorts to his parents may simply be due to his hostility towards them
• Eric is presented as a weak character:
• Eric tries to leave when he suspects the Inspector may want to question him and
initially avoids taking responsibility for his actions
• Eric plays a largely insignificant role in the first two acts of the play:
• This enables the other characters in the play to dominate proceedings
• It is not until Act III when Priestley forces Eric to confess his affair with Eva and to admit she
was pregnant with his child
• He develops at the end of the play and becomes more assertive towards his parents
• During Eric’s confession, his language is emotional (“you killed them both – damn you, damn
you”) and sharply contrasted with that of his parents’:
• He heavily criticises his mother’s treatment of Eva Smith
• Arthur, Sybil and Gerald rejoice on having discovered the Inspector was a fraud:
 • In contrast, both Eric and his sister are at pains to focus on the lessons that they all
must now learn, regardless of whether the Inspector was real
• While an audience may view Eric as a sympathetic character, his treatment of Eva reveals
how he has also exploited her:
• He reveals Eva did not want him to enter her room until he issued a threat, thus
exposing the vulnerability of women
• While Gerald hints that he may have been in love with Eva, Eric admits he was not and
so his behaviour could be viewed as more cruel
• In his confession, Eric hints at the potential for sexual violence:
• Despite being first presented as weak, Eric becomes a much more assertive character by the
end of the play:
• He is ashamed and regretful over his conduct with Eva
• In part, he presents a symbol of hope for the attitudes of the younger generation

Sheila Birling
• Sheila is first described as “a pretty girl in her twenties, very pleased with life and rather
excited”, suggesting silliness and perhaps naivety:
o At the beginning of Act I, she appears self-interested, relishing her engagement to
Gerald which initially aligns her with her family’s shallow and materialistic outlook
• She is portrayed as both sympathetic and courageous as she is the first character (apart from
the Inspector) to empathise with Eva Smith’s predicament and also the first to confess to
having treated the girl poorly:
o She dramatically exits the stage when first shown a photograph of Eva and appears
genuinely regretful of her actions
o Although many of the others refuse to accept responsibility, Sheila quickly shows a
greater maturity than to how she is first depicted by Priestley
• Further, when Gerald’s affair is exposed, she again demonstrates maturity in her
understanding of his affair and applauds his honest confession
• Sheila conveys a greater sense of intuition than the other characters and her dialogue in Act I
foreshadows future events in the play:
o She comments how Gerald stayed away from her all the previous summer, alluding to
his affair with Eva/Daisy
o She accuses Eric of being drunk, foreshadowing his drinking problem
o She is the first to suspect the inauthenticity of the Inspector, though understands this is
irrelevant
• Sheila’s language becomes increasingly emotional:
o This is sharply contrasted with the pompous language of her father and
the condescending tone of her mother
o Her dialogue reveals her sensitive nature and her compassion and empathy for others
less fortunate than herself
o Similarly, her dialogue demonstrates her increasing assertiveness toward her parents
• While both Sheila and Eric develop more than the other characters in the play, it is Sheila who
is transformed more than any other character:
o While Eric echoes many of his sister’s sentiments, Sheila is a much more assertive
and alluring character than her brother
o By the end of the play, she refuses to continue her engagement with Gerald even
though he claims “everything’s all right now”
• She represents the younger generation and provides an element of hope
Gerald Croft
• Gerald is first described as “an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but
very much the easy well-bred young man‐about‐town”:
o Gerald’s description presents him in a positive light and he is shown to be confident,
amiable and polite
o As the social superior of the Birling family, he represents immense privilege
• Gerald presents little dissension to both Mr and Mrs Birling’s attitudes and behaviour:
o He agrees with Arthur’s dismissal of Eva because of her participation in a pay strike
• Despite this, he is a relatively passive character:
o This is in sharp contrast to Mr and Mrs Birling’s confrontational behaviour

• He can be viewed as a more sympathetic character:

• He is open to the Inspector’s questioning and to some extent appears to present an honest
account of his dealings with Eva
• He presents himself having rescued Eva, though this could be viewed as self-justification for
his actions

• However, his affair could be perceived to demonstrate upper-class sexual hypocrisy and
irresponsibility:
o He discards Eva when he loses interest in her
o He first attempts to hide details of his affair from Sheila
o His first reaction to the dead girl is to distance himself from it though he does show
empathy towards her
• Although he is still culpable, Gerald could be perceived to be the least blameworthy character
in the play:
o While both Gerald and Eric exploit Eva/Daisy, Gerald’s behaviour towards her was not
cruel and he appears to have
•
o been sincerely concerned for her
• While Gerald feels genuine regret for his treatment of Eva, it is short-lived and he ultimately
fails to change:
o His guilt is only temporary and he celebrates with the Birlings on avoiding a scandal
o By offering the ring again to Sheila at the end of the play, he shows he has not learnt
anything from the Inspector

Inspector Goole
• Priestley’s stage directions reveal that the Inspector “need not be a big man” but that he must
create an “impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”:
o He is presented as a powerful figure with an imposing presence
• Priestley intentionally names the Inspector Goole, which introduces an almost supernatural or
ghost-like element to the play:
o Priestley deliberately presents the Inspector as a mysterious character and this is
further heightened by the series of revelations at the end the play
o Priestley enables the Inspector to have an apparent awareness of Eva’s death before it
has occurred, which also adds an almost supernatural element
• His entrance in Act I makes an immediate impact and changes the tone of the evening:
o The lighting changes from “pink and intimate” to “brighter and harder” to suggest that
the Inspector will place the characters under great scrutiny
o He exudes an air of authority through his language and actions
 • The Inspector controls when each character sees the photograph of Eva, creating intrigue and
suspense
• He also controls the unfolding of events and the characters themselves
• The Inspector’s language is carefully composed and moralistic in tone
• He delivers the most important statements within the play:
o The Inspector speaks purposefully and with great assurance which conveys an
impression of great knowledge
o All of the characters are judged by him but he offers neither punishment nor
forgiveness as the characters must judge themselves and others
• Ideas relating to social responsibility are repeatedly interwoven throughout his dialogue:
o The Inspector tries to prevent the group from evading responsibility
• The Inspector delivers the most significant and weighty statements in the play
• He is the catalyst in the play, bringing about some change:
o As a character he does not change or develop

Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

• Presented as the play’s victim, the audience never meets Eva Smith/Daisy Renton:
o The audience relies on the Inspector, and his interrogation of the other characters, to
reveal her character
o The Inspector also uses Eva’s diary as a device to reveal her personal feelings and
intimate account of events
• She is first introduced to the audience through a graphic and horrific account of her
suicide:
o This imagery is used to shock the audience and create empathy for her predicament
o The revelation that Eva was pregnant at the time, makes her death appear even more
ruthless and pitiable

• Eva is used as a symbol of the working-classes and is presented as a vulnerable working-

class woman, exploited and marginalised by those within a privileged Capitalist system:
o Eva is exploited by all of the Birling family and Gerald
o She is presented as the innocent and principled victim

• She has higher moral standards than the Birling family and Gerald:
o Her moral code makes her death more shocking

• While Eva is inevitably the victim of the play, it could be viewed that Priestley has depicted her
as a very idealised character:
o She is presented as entirely flawless throughout the play which makes the other
characters appear even worse
Writer’s Methods and Techniques
‘Methods’ is an umbrella term for anything the writer does on purpose to create meaning. Using the
writer’s name in your response will help you to think about the test as a conscious construct and will
keep reminding you that Priestley purposely put the play together.

Dramatic Methods

There are a number of dramatic methods used in An Inspector Calls:

• dramatic structure
• stagecraft
• dramatic speech and language

Dramatic structure
• An Inspector Calls follows a three-act structure which utilises many conventions of the
detective genre, though some of these have been subverted:
o The Inspector’s speech does not provide any further revelations but simply repeats the
moral message of the play
• Priestley structures the play using some dramatic devices from Greek tragedy, specifically
the Three Unities, to create intensity and add an element of realism to the play:
o Unity of Place: the play is set in one location
o Unity of Time: the events are enacted in real-time
o Unity of Action: the play has only one plot
• In the opening section of the play, Priestley has introduced the Birlings, established their
social positions and gives some clues to the audience that this depiction of a happy family is
not quite what it seems:
o Priestley prepares the audience for the characters’ downfall
• Priestley has structured the play so that each act presents the audience with a number of
gradual revelations, twists and surprises:
o This is used to increase tension, create shock and/or and add an element of surprise
• The play employs a cyclical structure, meaning the play ends where it began with a call from
a police inspector:
o This structure may indicate the characters will be made to repeat the events of the
evening, with another opportunity of redemption for those characters who had refused
to do so
o It could also indicate that these characters are doomed to repeat the same mistakes as
before and will fail to ‘learn their lesson’
• In order to create suspense and shock, Priestley subverts the denouement of the play, by
ending the play on a cliff-hanger with an unexpected twist:
o The pattern of ending each act on a cliff-hanger will have been anticipated by the
audience
o However, the revelation that a girl has just died and a police inspector is on his way will
have created a thrilling end to the play
IGCSEEnglish LiteratureEdexcelRevision NotesModern DramaAn Inspector CallsAn Inspector Calls:
Key Text Quotations

An Inspector Calls: Key Text

Quotations (Edexcel IGCSE English
Literature)
Revision Note
Download PDF

Author
Nick Redgrove

Expertise
English Senior Content Creator

Key Quotations
Remember the assessment objectives explicitly states that you should be able to “use textual
references, including quotations”. This means summarising, paraphrasing, referencing single words
and referencing plot events are all as valid as quotations in demonstrating that you understand the
play. It is important that you remember that you can evidence your knowledge of the text in these two
equally valid ways: both through references to it and direct quotations from it.

Overall, you should aim to secure a strong knowledge of the text, rather than rehearsed quotations,
as this will enable you to respond to the question. It is the quality of your knowledge of the text which
will enable you to select references effectively.

If you are going to revise quotations, the best way is to group them by character, or theme. Below
you will find definitions and analysis of the best quotations, arranged by the following themes:

• Responsibility
• Capitalism versus Socialism
• Generational divide
• Guilt
• Class
• Gender

Responsibility
Responsibility is one of the most prevalent themes within the play and the role of the Inspector is to
highlight that all actions have consequences. He demands that the other characters be accountable
for their actions and that they take responsibility for others. This message is also intended for the
wider audience and for society in general.

“... a man has to make his own way—has to look after himself—and his family, too, of course, when he has one—and so
long as he does that he won’t come to much harm” – Arthur Birling, Act I

Meaning and context

• At the beginning of Act I, Arthur delivers several lengthy monologues and this quote is spoken
to Gerald and Eric just before the Inspector arrives

Analysis

• This quote reveals Arthur Birling’s self-centredness and his narrow-minded view of society
 • His vocabulary reveals his sense of individualism as he believes that everyone should be
responsible for themselves and their family and is devoid of any sympathy for those less
fortunate than himself
• “A man has to…” alludes to his patriarchal values, that men should have more power and
privilege than women

“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” – Inspector Goole, Act II

Meaning and context

• This quote is delivered in Act II by the Inspector and is directed to Arthur Birling
• The Inspector argues that members of a society have duties and obligations toward each
other’s welfare and have a collective and social responsibility to take care of each other

Analysis

• As Arthur (and Sybil) hold prominent positions within society, the Inspector suggests they
have an even greater duty of care toward others
• Birling’s hypocritical views about personal responsibility are unfitting for a character who has
held prominent public positions
• While the Inspector alludes to ideas of “responsibility”, Arthur also repeatedly uses this word
though he interprets responsibility in a very different way
 “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other… if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be
taught it in fire and blood and anguish” – Inspector Goole, Act III

Meaning and context

• This quote is from Inspector’s final speech in Act III to the Birlings before he exits the stage

Analysis

• This is the Inspector’s most significant and weighty statement in the play and Priestley warns
of the dire consequences of evading social responsibility
• The language here is carefully composed and moralistic in tone
• The use of violent imagery and metaphor is powerful and suggests impending conflict
• Priestley warns the audience (and society) of the consequences of evading social
responsibility

Capitalism versus Socialism

An Inspector Calls is a play that deals with ideas of fairness and inequality. Priestley used the play to
argue that the economic system of Capitalism prevented equality and social justice and that another
system, Socialism, which aims to share out wealth, would be fairer for all.
 “Working together, for lower costs and higher prices” – Arthur Birling, Act I

Meaning and context

• This quote is from Act I and is directed toward Gerald Croft

• Arthur Birling is discussing his delight that one day Gerald’s family business will no longer be
seen as rivals and that they may eventually join forces

Analysis

• Arthur’s priorities are those of business and he believes he needs to make as much profit as
possible, regardless of the consequences
• He has no sense of responsibility or concern that his workers may need higher wages to live
• He believes his wages are fair and treats the pay strike at his factory with contempt for it
threatens his profits

“but these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people” – Sheila Birling, Act I
Meaning and context

• This quote is from Act I and Sheila directs this quote to her father when he is discussing the
workers in his factory
• Working-class women would have been one of the cheapest forms of labour available to
factory owners

Analysis

• Although Sheila appears somewhat self-interested at the beginning of Act I, there are early
indications (as evident in this quote) that she is a caring character
• This quote reveals her sensitive nature and her compassion and empathy for others less
fortunate than herself
• The use of the word ‘but’ shows how she has interrupted and challenged her father’s views
here and as the play progresses, her dialogue increasingly demonstrates an assertiveness
towards her parents

Generational divide
Priestley explores the idea of generational change in An Inspector Calls: younger characters are
more open to social and economic change, and as a result are in conflict with their parent’s
generation, who are stuck in their ways.

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila” – Gerald Croft, Act III

Meaning and context

• This quote is from the end of Act III and Gerald directs this line to Sheila in the hope that she
will take back his engagement ring

Analysis

• Offering the ring again to Sheila at the end of the play suggests Gerald has not learned
anything from the Inspector
 • The use of the adverb ‘now’ shows that he believes that it is possible for everything to return
to normal
• When Gerald realises there are no consequences for his behaviour, he no longer cares
• As Gerald falls between the younger and older generations, the audience will have hoped that
he would have redeemed himself, but by the end of the play he reverts to his original stance

EXAMINER TIP
Examiners love when students link ideas and themes in the given extract to the rest of the play. A
fantastic way to do this is to include quotations from elsewhere in An Inspector Calls that show a
connection, contrast, or character development.

However, it is equally valuable to include your own “paired quotations”: two quotations that might not
feature in the extract but show these connections, or changes. These paired quotations are marked
below and are great when memorised together.

Guilt
For Priestley, guilt is the result of accepting the personal and social responsibility of one’s actions. It
is noteworthy that younger characters in An Inspector Calls express guilt, but not the older
generation, suggesting that they are not willing to see their own flaws or those of the society they live
in.

Paired Quotations:
 Paired Quotations

“I know I’m to blame - and I’m desperately sorry” – Sheila Birling, Act II

‘I can’t stop thinking about it ’– Sheila Birling, Act II

Meaning and context

• These quotes are from Act II, after Sheila’s confession in Act I

Analysis

• Sheila is portrayed as both sympathetic and courageous as she is the first character (apart
from the Inspector) to empathise with Eva Smith’s predicament
• The personal pronoun ‘I’ is repeatedly used here to show that Sheila acknowledges her own
personal guilt
• However, the Inspector insists that the guilt, as well as the responsibility, must be shared by
all
• Sheila’s language becomes increasingly emotional and she continually displays genuine
remorse for her actions
 “I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame” – Sybil Birling, Act II

Meaning and context

• This quote is from Act II and Sybil Birling directs it toward the Inspector

Analysis

• Sybil is portrayed as one of the least compassionate characters in the play

• She refuses to express any guilt for their treatment of Eva
• She continues to fail to see or acknowledge that she has done anything wrong
• The older generation is sharply contrasted with the younger generation, as they are able to
demonstrate their capacity for change and accept their social responsibility

Gender
Priestley explores the inequality between male and female characters in An Inspector Calls to
criticise his society’s suppression of women’s rights and the mistreatment of women in general.
 “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” - Eric Birling, Act III

Meaning and context

• This quote is from Act III and is said by Eric Birling during his confession

Analysis

• While an audience may view Eric as a sympathetic character, his treatment of Eva reveals
how he has also abused her
• Eric hints at the potential for sexual violence and reveals Eva did not want him to enter her
room until he became ‘nasty’ and issued a threat
• This quote exposes the vulnerability of women who can be easily exploited by wealthy men
like Eric

“I did keep a girl last summer. I’ve admitted it. And I’m sorry Sheila.” – Gerald Croft, Act II

Meaning and context

• This quote is from Act II and is during Gerald’s confession about his affair with Eva/Daisy

Analysis

• The three-part list in this quote suggests Gerald feels that it is all over and done with and he
and Sheila can simply move on
• During his confession, Gerald he appears more concerned that his affair has been discovered,
rather than having betrayed his fiancée
• Gerald’s confession of having a mistress is overlooked by Arthur and Sybil

EXAMINER TIP
Aim for quality, not quantity. There are no rules about the number of references you should make to
the whole text, but making 2–3 thoughtful, detailed and considered references, closely focused on
the question, will attain higher marks than, for example, 6–7 brief and undeveloped references.