• Plot summaries • Key context • Jargon-free mark

• Revision activities • Exam practice scheme

• Key quotes questions • Model paragraph
• Character notes

An Inspector Calls
i s i o n G u i d e
G C S E Re v
 The Plot
In
In more
more detail:
detail: her
her in in the
the future.
future.
The family are shocked by Eva’s death, but all of them refuse to take any responsibility for what has happened.
During the play, the wealthy and comfortable Birling family are celebrating Sheila Birling’s engagement to Gerald
••Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling says
says she
she believes
believes thisthis relationship
relationship was was ‘disgusting’,
‘disgusting’, although
although Gerald
The Inspector questions each and every member of the family and shows them that their lives are all connected
Gerald
Act
Act 11 does
does argueargue back.
back. However,
However, SheilaSheila appreciates
appreciates Gerald’s
Gerald’s honesty
honesty and and says
says she
she
••The
The Birlings
Birlings are are celebrating
celebrating the the engagement
engagement of of Sheila
Sheila Birling
Birling (the
(the Birlings’
Birlings’ respects
respects him him more
more nownow than
than she she did.
did.
daughter)
daughter) to to Gerald
Gerald Croft,
Croft, whose
whose family
family own own aa rival
rival business
business to to that
that of of Arthur
Arthur ••Gerald
Gerald asksasks toto leave
leave thethe room
room to to get
get some
some fresh
fresh air
air after
after nownow realising
realising Daisy
Daisy has
has
Birling
Birling –– Sheila’s
Sheila’s father.
father. TheThe family
family areare celebrating
celebrating with with champagne,
champagne, cigars cigars andand died.
died. The The Inspector
Inspector allows
allows himhim to to do
do this,
this, and
and during
during the
the time
time he he is
is away
away the
the
many
many other luxuries that only a wealthy middle or upper class family of the
other luxuries that only a wealthy middle or upper class family of the time
time Inspector begins to interrogate
Inspector begins to interrogate Mrs Birling. Mrs Birling.
Croft when their meal is interrupted by the visit of Inspector Goole, who is investigating Eva’s death.

could afford.
could afford. ••Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling eventually
eventually admits
admits that that she
she saw
saw Eva/Daisy
Eva/Daisy before
before sheshe died.
died. Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling
••Mr Birling seems very keen to impress Gerald and
Mr Birling seems very keen to impress Gerald and even speaks to him in private even speaks to him in private was
was the the chair
chair of
of aa local
local charity:
charity: the the Brumley
Brumley Women’s
Women’s Charity
Charity Organisation
Organisation and and
J B Priestley’s An Inspector Calls centres on the suicide of a young woman known as Eva Smith.

away
away from from the the rest
rest of of his
his family;
family; Sheila
Sheila mentions
mentions about about Gerald
Gerald having
having not not come
come Daisy,
Daisy, calling
calling herself
herself Mrs Mrs Birling,
Birling, asked
asked for
for financial
financial help.
help.
near
near her her thethe previous
previous summer;summer; and and EricEric appear
appear ss veryvery nervous
nervous and and anxious
anxious ••It
It is
is revealed
revealed that
that Daisy
Daisy was was pregnant
pregnant at at the
the time,
time, and
and MrsMrs Birling
Birling used
used her
her
around
around his his family.
family. Although
Although the the atmosphere
atmosphere is is mostly
mostly positive,
positive, there
there are are hints
hints power
power as as chairwoman
chairwoman of of the
the charity
charity toto deny
deny herher access
access to to financial
financial assistance.
assistance.
that
that there
there are are problems
problems hidden hidden underunder the the surface.
surface. ••Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling found
found itit impudent
impudent or or insulting
insulting that
that Daisy
Daisy took
took on on the
the name
name ‘Mrs‘Mrs
••Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling and and Sheila
Sheila leave
leave the the dining
dining room room to to allow
allow the
the men
men to to speak
speak on on their
their Birling’
Birling’ and and she
she also
also felt
felt the
the money
money and and responsibility
responsibility shouldshould come
come fromfrom the
the
own.
own. Mr Mr Birling
Birling gives
gives EricEric and
and Gerald
Gerald advice
advice about
about looking
looking after
after yourself
yourself and and notnot baby’s
baby’s father.
father. Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling seems
seems to to take
take pride
pride from
from her
her decision,
decision, although
although Sheila
Sheila
concerning
concerning yourself yourself with with others.
others. As As hehe isis giving
giving this
this speech,
speech, there
there is is aa ring
ring at
at the
the quickly
quickly realises
realises the
the missing
missing link link here:
here: Eric
Eric is
is the
the father.
father. This
This happens
happens afterafter Mrs
Mrs
door.
door. Birling has said the father of the child should be made an
Birling has said the father of the child should be made an example of. Mrs Birling example of. Mrs Birling
Edna, the maid, brings in a man who is known
Edna, the maid, brings in a man who is known as Inspector Goole. A detailed as Inspector Goole. A detailed realises,
realises, just as Eric enters at the end of the scene, that her son is the father and
just as Eric enters at the end of the scene, that her son is the father and
description
description is is provided
provided of of Goole
Goole and and he he isis said
said toto be
be serious
serious butbut also
also demanding
demanding she
she has has effectively
effectively killed
killed herher own
own grandchild.
grandchild. The The act
act ends
ends on on this
this note.
note.
respect.
respect. He He tells
tells the
the family
family thatthat hehe isis investigating
investigating the the suicide
suicide of of Eva
Eva Smith,
Smith, who who
had
had died
died after
after drinking
drinking aa largelarge quantity
quantity of of disinfectant.
disinfectant.
••The
The Inspector
Inspector shows shows Mr Mr Birling
Birling aa photo
photo of of Eva
Eva Smith
Smith (although
(although makes makes sure sure no no Act
Act 33
one
one else
else seessees it)it) and
and Birling
Birling admits
admits that that EvaEva used
used to to work
work at at his
his factory.
factory. However,
However, ••Eric
Eric asks
asks forfor aa drink
drink andand hishis parents
parents refuse,
refuse, butbut the
the Inspector
Inspector explains
explains itit would
would
she
she waswas later
later fired
fired forfor being
being one one ofof the
the ring-leaders
ring-leaders of of uprising
uprising andand strike
strike action
action help
help Eric
Eric through
through and and soso they
they agree.
agree.
after
after Birling
Birling refused
refused to to give
give any any ofof his
his workers
workers even even aa small
small pay
pay rise.
rise. Birling
Birling Eric
Eric explains
explains how how he he met
met Daisy
Daisy at at the
the same
same theatre
theatre bar bar as
as Gerald;
Gerald; they
they both
both got
got
argues
argues that that he he pays
pays usual
usual rates
rates to to his
his workers
workers and and he he is
is not
not responsible
responsible for for what
what drunk
drunk and and EricEric accompanied
accompanied Daisy Daisy backback toto her
her flat.
flat. There,
There, Eric
Eric became
became very very
happened
happened to to Eva
Eva after
after sheshe left
left his
his employment.
employment. violent
violent and and Daisy
Daisy reluctantly
reluctantly agreed
agreed to to let
let him
him inin where
where they
they slept
slept together.
together.
Sheila comes into the room and the Inspector wants
Sheila comes into the room and the Inspector wants to ask her some questions. to ask her some questions. They
They met met again
again twotwo weeks
weeks later
later and
and slept
slept together
together once once more.
more.
It
It is
is revealed
revealed that that EvaEva found
found work work at at aa clothes
clothes shopshop after
after being
being fired
fired by by Birling.
Birling. ••Daisy
Daisy revealed to Eric that she was pregnant with his baby, and he proposed
revealed to Eric that she was pregnant with his baby, and he proposed to to
However,
However, Eva Eva waswas fired
fired once
once more more whenwhen the the Inspector
Inspector explains
explains aa customer
customer her.
her. However,
However, she she refused
refused stating
stating he he did
did not
not love
love her.
her. Instead,
Instead, she she received
received gifts
gifts
complained
complained about about her. her. Sheila
Sheila admits
admits she she waswas that
that customer
customer and and the the reason
reason she she of
of money
money from from him,
him, butbut turned
turned these
these downdown when
when she she found
found out out Eric
Eric was
was stealing
stealing
got
got Eva
Eva fired
fired waswas because
because aa dress dress that
that Sheila
Sheila tried
tried on on did
did not
not suit
suit herher and
and when
when the
the money
money from from hishis father’s
father’s business.
business.
Eva
Eva tried
tried itit on,
on, itit did.
did. Sheila
Sheila also also believes
believes she she caught
caught Eva Eva lau
lau ghing
ghing at at her.
her. ••Mr
Mr and
and MrsMrs Birling
Birling are
are incensed
incensed thatthat Eric
Eric has
has stolen
stolen £50
£50 from
from them
them (a (a lot
lot of
of
••When
When SheilaSheila findsfinds outout what
what happened
happened to to Eva,
Eva, she
she immediately
immediately feels feels responsible
responsible money
money in in 1912,
1912, itit would
would be be thousands
thousands of of pounds
pounds now).now).
for
for her
her death
death –– in in complete
complete contrast
contrast to to her
her father.
father. ••All
All of
of the
the family
family have
have beenbeen involved
involved in in her
her death,
death, butbut aa divide
divide forms
forms between
between the the
••The
The Inspector
Inspector then then reveals
reveals Eva, Eva, unemployed
unemployed once once more,more, changed
changed her her name
name to to younger
younger characters
characters and and thethe older
older family
family members.
members. Whereas
Whereas Eric Eric and
and Sheila
Sheila are
are
Daisy
Daisy Renton.
Renton. Gerald Gerald Croft,
Croft, Sheila’s
Sheila’s fiancé,
fiancé, gives
gives away
away thatthat hehe knew
knew DaisyDaisy by by hishis willing
willing to to accept
accept responsibility
responsibility for for what
what hashas happened,
happened, Mr Mr and
and MrsMrs Birling
Birling (and
(and toto
reaction. Sheila
reaction. Sheila sees this.sees this. aa degree
degree Gerald)
Gerald) wantwant to to cover
cover up up their
their involvement
involvement to to protect
protect their
their reputation.
reputation.
••Sheila and Gerald are alone on stage and Gerald
Sheila and Gerald are alone on stage and Gerald admits he did know Daisy, but admits he did know Daisy, but ••The Inspector then gives his famous ‘fire and blood and
The Inspector then gives his famous ‘fire and blood and anguish’ speech, where anguish’ speech, where
to Eva and her death in some way.

Sheila
Sheila explains
explains to to Gerald
Gerald thatthat thethe Inspector
Inspector has has already
already worked
worked this this out.
out. The
The he
he explains
explains society
society must
must change
change or or there
there will
will be
be violence.
violence. Goole
Goole says
says that
that
Inspector
Inspector re-enters
re-enters and and asks:
asks: “Well?”
“Well?” everyone
everyone must must feel
feel responsible
responsible for for everyone
everyone else. else.
••Gerald
Gerald and and MrMr and
and Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling begin
begin to to question
question the the role
role of
of the
the Inspector:
Inspector: was was
he
he aa real
real inspector?
inspector? Was Was thisthis all
all aa hoax?
hoax? DidDid the
the Inspector
Inspector showshow the the same
same photo
photo
Act
Act 22 to
to everyone?
everyone?
••Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling tries
tries to
to get
get rid
rid of
of the
the Inspector
Inspector but but hehe remains.
remains. ••Gerald
Gerald ringsrings the
the local
local police
police station
station and and finds
finds out
out there
there isis no
no Inspector
Inspector GooleGoole
••Gerald
Gerald reveals
reveals toto Mrs
Mrs Birling
Birling that
that her
her son
son Eric
Eric drinks
drinks aa lot
lot –– she
she initially
initially refuses
refuses working
working there. there.
to
to believe
believe him
him –– and
and hehe admits
admits that
that hehe once
once hadhad aa relationship
relationship with
with Daisy.
Daisy. Sheila ••Birling,
Birling, Mrs Mrs Birling
Birling and
and Gerald
Gerald begin
begin to to grow
grow in in confidence
confidence once once more,
more, knowing
A quick summary

Sheila knowing
works
works out that this was during the one summer when he wouldn’t go near her.
out that this was during the one summer when he wouldn’t go near her. their
their reputations
reputations are are inin tact
tact and
and believe
believe they
they cancan gogo back
back to to where
where theythey were.
were.
Gerald
Gerald explains that he met Daisy at the Variety Theatre (which was known for
explains that he met Daisy at the Variety Theatre (which was known for However, Sheila and Eric have changed and cannot
However, Sheila and Eric have changed and cannot ignore what has happened. ignore what has happened.
prostitutes),
prostitutes), and
and that
that he
he stopped
stopped Alderman
Alderman Meggarty
Meggarty –– an an important
important man man or or ••AA phone call comes from the police which Mr Birling answers:
phone call comes from the police which Mr Birling answers: the police explain the police explain
‘dignitary’
‘dignitary’ –– getting
getting involved
involved with
with her,
her, or
or essentially
essentially he he ‘rescued’
‘rescued’ herher from
from his
his aa young
young girl girl has
has committed
committed suicidesuicide and and aa police
police inspector
inspector is is coming
coming overover toto ask
ask
clutches.
clutches. them
them some some questions.
questions.
••Gerald
Gerald helped
helped Daisy
Daisy byby letting
letting her
her stay
stay inin aa friend’s
friend’s flat
flat but
but she
she eventually
eventually
became
became hishis mistress,
mistress, which
which meant
meant he he was
was having
having an an affair
affair with
with her
her behind
behind
Sheila’s
Sheila’s back.
back.
••Gerald
Gerald decided
decided to to later
later break
break off
off their
their relationship
relationship and and gave
gave herher money
money to to help
help
Revision Activity: The Plot

Challenge: Choose the eight most important events from the plot and draw
them in each of the boxes here.
Extra Challenge: Add a quote to each box that fits with each key event.
Mega Challenge: Why is each of these key events so important in the play?
What is the most crucial event that takes place in the play? Why?
Revision Activity: The Characters

Challenge: Go through the characters and highlight key information

Extra Challenge: Write down five key quotes for each character (with
the exception of Edna!)
Mega Challenge: Why did Priestley include each of these characters in
his play? What impact does each character have on the audience?

Edna’s role in the play is seemingly insignificant,

Edna
but she is the character that introduces the
Inspector to the Birlings and she is the only
genuine working class presence in the whole
play. Like Eva, Edna is ignored by the other
characters for most of the play which is hugely
symbolic in itself.
Mr Birling is described as “a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." He

Mr Arthur Birling
is proud that he has built up his business and made so much money himself.
Birling boasts of his achievements to others, particularly Gerald and Eric, explaining how he was once Mayor and is hoping to
get a knighthood soon. Plus, he uses his connections as a way of trying to influence the Inspector and protect his family’s
reputation.
Birling is very pleased his daughter is marrying someone whose family is higher up in society than he is and wants himself
and his family to continue to rise up socially. He tells Gerald: "it's exactly the same port your father gets.” Marrying Gerald
will also mean Birling and Co potentially merging with Crofts Limited rather than competing as rivals.
Birling seems confident that war will not happen and mentions about the Titanic being unsinkable, even though the war
takes place just two years after 1912 when the play is set, and the Titanic sinks just a few days after it is set. Priestley
shows Birling to be wrong about everything, including his optimism.
When the Inspector questions Birling, he never once admits responsibility for Eva Smith’s death and says he paid his workers
the ‘usual rate’ – no more or less.
Birling is more concerned with maintaining his reputation than taking any kind of responsibility, and is particularly concerned
when it is revealed that Mrs Birling was responsible for turning away a pregnant Eva looking for help with the charity she was
chairing. (“I must say, Sybil, that when this comes out at the inquest, it isn't going to do us much good. The press might
easily take it up—“). This, coupled with the fact Eric was stealing money from the company, means Birling is incredibly keen
to cover up as much as he can to protect his reputation.
In fact, Birling attempts to bribe the Inspector to hush up the investigation (“Look, Inspector – I'd give thousands – yes,
thousands…”) which of course the Inspector refuses. It seems as though Birling may not be getting his precious knighthood
after all, and the merger of Birling and Co with Crofts Limited seems unlikely.
As soon as the Inspector leaves, Birling works with his wife and Gerald to discredit Goole by claiming he is a fake and that no
girl has died at all – it is all a hoax.
It seems like Birling might be right, only for a phone call at the end to confirm that a girl had killed herself and a police
inspector is coming round to ask the family questions. Imagine how a man like Birling feels at this point. What message was
Priestley trying to give to people like Mr Birling?

Why is Mr Birling important?

•He represents middle class men who have made money via capitalism.
•He refuses to accept responsibility for anyone else except himself.
•He represents capitalism and its ideals.
•He also represents an older generation that is less likely to be influenced by ideas of
socialism.
She is initially describes as being "about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior” suggesting Mr Birling may

Mrs Sybil Birling

have married her for her social standing.
Mrs Birling is shown throughout the play to be very snobbish – thinking herself better than people from other classes – and
having very forthright and sanctimonious views.
She criticises her husband for failing to follow accept social conventions and etiquette (“Arthur, you're not supposed to say such
things-“) and is cruel in the way she describes Eva (“girls of that class”). She even refuses to believe that Eva would not accept
money from Eric when she knows it is stolen because Eva was working class ("She was giving herself ridiculous airs.")
Mrs Birling sees herself as a powerful figure and tries to use her social standing and power to get rid of the Inspector, but it fails.
She also denies recognising Eva from the photo she is seen despite the fact she was the last person in the family to have seen her
alive.
She refuses to believe that Eric is a drunkard, that Gerald had an affair and even that Alderman Meggarty is anything but a
morally perfect person. As chair of her charity, Mrs Birling used her power to ensure Eva received no financial aid despite her
being heavily pregnant.
Mrs Birling refuses to take responsibility for Eva or her future baby and instead says the father should take the responsibility – the
dramatic irony here being that Sheila and the audience have already worked out that Eric is the father, and thus Mrs Birling has
just pinned all the blame on her own son unknowingly.
Like Mr Birling, Sybil Birling always sees Eric and Sheila as children and not as adults and will not change her view on this
throughout the whole play.
Moreover, just like Arthur, Sybil tries to find any way out of accepting responsibility for Eva’s death by developing a theory that
Goole is a fake and the death a hoax. When it is revealed that Eva has died at the end of the play, Mrs Birling knows her
reputation will be damaged, her daughter is no longer marrying an aristocrat and her son is a drunkard who got a young girl
pregnant and stole money from the family business.

Why is Mrs Birling important?

She represents many of the upper and middle class attitudes from the time: arrogance, sanctimony,
snobbishness and selfishness.
She is part of the older generation that refuses to change or accept new ideas. She is happy to live in the status
quo.
She uses her influence to hurt other people rather than help them – it is difficult for the audience to do
anything but dislike Mrs Birling, as is the case with her husband.
Sheila begins the play very much as childlike: "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited." She is

Sheila Birling
innocent and naïve, living in a world where her biggest concerns are engagement rings and dresses.

She is engaged to be married to Gerald Croft, the son of wealthy aristo crats, but suggests she is not entirely happy after
mentioning about Gerald not going near her one summer. This implies she has more depth to her than we first think.

Unlike her parents, Sheila immediately feels empathy and pity for Eva when she hears her story and takes responsibility for her
role in her death when she knows what consequences her actions have had. By getting Eva fired from the Millwards department
store, Sheila realises she has forced Eva into a more difficult life.

As the play progresses, Sheila appears more understanding and perceptive of those around her: she sees Gerald’s reaction to the
name Daisy Renton and explains that the Inspector already knows how all the characters are connected to Eva.

She tries to protect her mother later in the play – a brilliant reversal of roles from the beginning – but her mother inevitably and
unknowingly denounces her own son.

Sheila shows a growing maturity as she explains she is not angry at Gerald but rather respects him more for his honesty as he
retells his relationship with Daisy.

In the final act of the play, Sheila shows a confrontational side and an anger at her parents for refusing to accept any
responsibility for Eva’s death ("pretend that nothing much has happened." “It frightens me the way you talk”).

It is clear that Sheila has changed by the end of the play and like her brother Eric is now more socially responsible. She is the kind
of younger head that could lead to a changing society, or face the harsh consequences of fire, blood and anguish as the Inspector
elucidates.

Why is Sheila important?

She shows how gender roles are clearly defined at the start of the play: she is meant to be the sweet, innocent and naïve girl that
gets married.
As the play progresses, her character changes and she becomes far more determined, confrontational and aware.
By the end of the play she represents a younger generation that is far more willing to take responsibility for the people around
them.
At the start of the play, Eric is described as "in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive." He is an awkward

Eric Birling
character that doesn’t seem to fit in very well with his family. This awkwardness seems to be explained once we find out that he
got an unmarried girl working class girl pregnant and stole money from his parents.

Eric is not naïve like his sister and is even willing to briefly challenge his father: “What about war?” It also suggests all is not well
in his relationship with his dad.

Moreover, it is soon revealed to the characters and the audience that Eric is a drunkard and drinks alcohol heavily, as Gerald
explains: "I have gathered that he does drink pretty hard.“

Like Sheila, who says that the workers are not cheap labour but rather people, Eric shows empathy for the workers of the factory:
“Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don't see why she should have been
sacked just because she'd a bit more spirit than the others. You said yourself she was a good worker. I'd have let her stay.”

Eric’s drinking can likely be equated with his thoughtless actions and the consequences he can now see as a result of what he did.
He got a young girl pregnant by violently threatening her, and can see how he has contributed to Eva’s death.

Eric, like Sheila, is disgusted by his parents’ reactions as the end of the play, and even tells his father: “I don't give a damn now
whether I stay here or not.” Whilst Birling thinks he may be able to protect his reputation, it appears his children have lost any
respect they might have had for him.

Eric has changed by the end of the play and realises his actions had consequences. He is now aware of his social responsibilities.

Why is Eric important?

He represents the younger generation that are more socially responsible than their
parents.
He drinks because he feels guilt about what he did: by violently forcing himself on Eva,
he got her pregnant and helped to drive her towards suicide.
Because he accepts responsibility by the end of the play, the audience come to
respect Eric a lot more.
Gerald Croft works at his father's company, Crofts Limited, a rival to Birling and Co. Although engaged to be married to

Gerald Croft
Sheila at the start of the play, we find out that his parents - Sir George and Lady Croft - are higher up the social hierarchy
than the Birlings (Mr Birling and Mrs Birling) and are aristocrats. It is also suggested by Mr Birling that Gerald’s parents
do not approve on the marriage to Sheila – they are, after all, not at the engagement party. Gerald is an attractive,
popular man of about 30 years old.

As the play develops, it is revealed that Gerald had an affair with Eva Smith when she was calling herself Daisy Renton.
He met her at the Variety Theatre in town and ‘rescued’ her from Alderman Meggarty (a well-known and highly
respected dignitary) who Gerald describes essentially as a womanizer.

Gerald and Daisy enter into a relationship behind Sheila’s back (during the same summer when he wouldn’t go near
Sheila, as she reminds him in Act One). Gerald eventually breaks it off and gives Daisy money to keep her going. He tells
her he has to go away on business.

It is the shock of hearing the name ‘Daisy Renton’ that reveals to Sheila and the Inspector that Gerald knew Eva, and
after all is revealed about his relationship with her, Gerald goes outside for fresh air to reflect on his relationship with
her.
Gerald is older than both Sheila and Eric, but is not as old as Mr and Mrs Birling. He initially takes some responsibility for
Eva’s death, but then like Mr and Mrs Birling at the end of the play is all too willing to cover it up and deny that Goole is
a real inspector. He seems happy enough at the end when it seems that Mr and Mrs Birling might be right. Gerald is
more concerned with protecting his reputation than he is taking

Why is Gerald important?

He represents the upper classes in the play
We – the audience – want him to change, after all, he did help Daisy with money, but
he doesn’t.
He represents how the old class system is hard to remove – aristocrats don’t want to
lose their power and their status.
Inspector Goole is described as "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his

The Inspector
fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit. He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking
hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking” when he enters in Act One.

Despite questioning a family of wealthy members of the upper middle classes, the Inspector appears calm and
assertive throughout. He uses his language like a machine to gain control over the other characters and seems
to have already pre-planned exactly who is going to speak to and when and how he will speak to them.

As Sheila comes to understand, the Inspector already knows how all the characters are connected to Eva.
Because of this, it seems to give him a ghost-like or supernatural quality to him.

Although Mr Birling tries to bribe him, Goole is not in the slightest bit interested. Nor does Birlings’ apparent
connections to the police or those in politics have any effect on the Inspector.

His final speech seems like a politician or a sermon to a congregation. When he leaves and we find out he was
not a real police inspector, it confuses us about who he was and why he was there, but the second phone call
at the end confirming a young girl has died adds in another ‘supernatural’ layer to the play.

Why is the Inspector important?

He seems to be operating on a different level of consciousness to the other characters

and this has led to a number of theories about who or what Inspector Goole is.
Could he a ghost? The name ‘Goole’ could be a pun on ‘ghoul’, which is similar to a
spirit or ghost. Could he be the voice of Priestley or the voice of God? Could he
represent the voices of the working classes as a collective? You can choose for
yourself.
Key quotes
Revision Activity:
Challenge: Choose five quotes from this
collection. For each one, write down what it tells
you about the character(s).
Extra Challenge: Choose five quotes from this
collection and for each one, explain what themes
or ideas that quote would fit into.
Mega Challenge: In your chosen five quotes,
analyse how Priestley employs language features
in order to have the impact on the audience.
Mrs Birling: Now, Sheila, don't tease
him. When you're married you'll
realize that men with important work
to do sometimes have to spend
nearly all their time and energy on
their business. You'll have to get
used to that, just as I had
Sheila: (taking out the ring) Oh – it's
wonderful! Look – mummy – isn't it a
beauty? Oh – darling - (she kisses Gerald
hastily.)
Act One
Birling: No, we won't. It's one of the happiest nights of my life. And one day, I hope, Eric,
when you've a daughter of your own, you'll understand why. Gerald, I’m going to tell you
frankly, without any pretences, that your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot
to me. She'll make you happy, and I’m sure you'll make her happy. You're just the kind of
son-in-law I always wanted. Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for
some time now – though crofts limited are both older and bigger than Birling and
company – and now you've brought us together, and perhaps we may look forward to the
time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for
lower costs and higher prices.

Birling: I’m delighted about this engagement and I hope it won't be too long before you're married. And I want to say this. There's a good deal of
silly talk about these days – but – and I speak as a hard-headed business man, who has to take risks and know what he's about – I say, you can
ignore all this silly pessimistic talk. When you marry, you'll be marrying at a very good time. Yes, a very good time – and soon it'll be an even better
time. Last month, just because the miners came out on strike, there's a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Don't worry.
We've passed the worst of it. We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests – and the interests of capital – are properly
protected. And we're in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity.

Gerald: I believe you're right, sir.

Eric: What about war?

Birling: Glad you mentioned it, Eric. I'm coming to that. Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two, or a few German officers have too much to
drink and begin taking nonsense, you'll hear some people say that war's inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks! The Germans don't want war.
Nobody wants war, except some half-civilized folks in the Balkans. And why? There's too much at stake these days. Everything to lose and nothing
to gain by war.

Eric: Yes, I know – but still -

Birling: Just let me finish, Eric. You've a lot to learn yet. And I’m taking as a hard headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance
of war. The world's developing so fast that it'll make war impossible. Look at the progress we're making. In a year or two we'll have aeroplanes that
will be able to go anywhere. And look at the way the auto-mobile's making headway – bigger and faster all the time. And then ships. Why, a friend
of mine went over this new liner last week – the titanic – she sails next week – forty-six thousand eight hundred tons – New York in five days – and
every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. That's what you've got to keep your eye on, facts like that, progress like that – and not a few
German officers taking nonsense and a few scaremongers here making a fuss about nothing. Now you three young people, just listen to this – and
remember what I’m telling you now. In twenty or thirty year's time – let's say, in 1940 – you may be giving a little party like this – your son or
daughter might be getting engaged – and I tell you, by that time you'll be living in a world that'll have forgotten all these capital versus labour
agitations and all these silly little war scares. There'll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere – except of course in Russia, which
will always be behindhand naturally.
Birling: Oh well – put like that, there's something in what you
say. Still, I can't accept any responsibility. If we were all
responsible for everything that happened to everybody we'd
had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn't
it?
Inspector: Very awkward
Birling: Well it's my duty to keep labour costs down. And if I’d
agreed to this demand for a new rate we'd have added about
twelve per cent to our labour costs. Does that satisfy you? So
I refused. Said I couldn't consider it. We were paying the
usual rates and if they didn't like those rates, they could go
and work somewhere else. It's a free country, I told them.
Gerald: You couldn't have done anything else.
Eric: He could. He could have kept her on instead of throwing
her out. I call it tough luck.
Birling: Rubbish! If you don't come down sharply on some of
these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth.
Birling: (cutting in) Just a minute, Sheila. Now , inspector,
perhaps you and I had better go and talk this over quietly in a
corner--
Sheila: (cutting in) Why should you? He's finished with you.
He says it's one of us now.
Act One
Inspector ... what happened to her then may have
determined what happened to her afterwards, and what
happened to her afterwards may have driven her to
suicide. A chain of events.
Inspector: There are a lot of young women living that sort of
existence in every city and big town in this country, miss Birling. If
there weren't, the factories and warehouses wouldn't know were to
look for cheap labour. Ask your father.
Sheila: But these girls aren't cheap labour – they're people.
Sheila: No, that's no use. You not only knew her
but you knew her very well. Otherwise, you
wouldn't look so guilty about it. When did you first
get to know her?
[he does not reply]
Was it after she left Milwards? When she changed
her name, as he said, and began to lead a different
sort of life? Were you seeing her last spring and
summer, during that time you hardly came near
me and said you were so busy? Were you?
Sheila [laughs rather hysterically]:
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. She looks at
him almost in triumph.
Inspector: And you think young women ought to be protected
against unpleasant and disturbing things?
Gerald: If possible – yes.
Inspector: Well, we know one young woman who wasn't, don't we?
Gerald: I suppose I asked for that.
Sheila: Be careful you don't ask for more, Gerald.
Mrs Birling: you seem to have made a great impression on this
child, inspector.
Inspector: (coolly) we often do on the young ones. They're more
impressionable.
BIRLING
You'll apologize at once ... I'm a public man -
INSPECTOR [massively]
Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.
Inspector: (massively taking charge) Allow me, miss Birling. (to Gerald.)
I can tell you why Miss Birling wants to stay on and why she says it
might be better for her if she did. A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively
sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery
and agony – hating life –
Sheila: (Distressed) don't please – I know, I know – and I can't stop
thinking about it –
Sheila: (eagerly) Yes, that's it. And I know I'm to blame –
and I'm desperately sorry – but I can't believe – I won't
believe – it's simply my fault that in that in the end she –
she committed suicide. That would be too horrible
Inspector: (sternly to them both) You see, we have to
share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to
share our guilt.
Sheila: (staring at him) yes. That's true. You know. (she
goes close to him, wonderingly.) I don't understand about
you.
Inspector: (calmly) there's no reason why you should.
Gerald: You've been through it – and now
you want to see somebody else put through
it.
Sheila: (bitterly) So that's what you think I'm
like. I'm glad I realized it in time,Gerald.
Gerald: no, no, I didn't mean -
Sheila: (cutting in) Yes, you did. And if you'd
really loved me, you couldn't have said that.
You listened to that nice story about me. I
got that girl sacked from Milwards. And now
you've made up your mind I must obviously
be a selfish, vindictive creature.
Act Two
Mrs Birling: Please don't contradict me like that. And in any case I don't suppose Sheila: (slowly, carefully now) You mustn't try to build up a kind
for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of of wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the inspector will
that class– just break it down. And it'll be all the worse when he does.

Sheila:(urgently, cutting in) Mother, don't – please don't. For your own sake, as Mrs Birling: I don't understand you. (To inspector) Do you?
well as ours, you mustn’t–
Inspector: yes. And she'd right.
Mrs Birling: (annoyed) Mustn't – what? Really, Sheila!

Mrs Birling: That – I consider – is a trifle impertinent, Mrs Birling: (rebuking them) I'm talking to
Inspector. the Inspector now, if you don't mind. (to
Inspector, rather grandly.) I realize that you
[Sheila gives a short hysterical laugh]
may have to conduct some sort of inquiry,
Now, what is it, Sheila? but I must say that so far you seem to be
conducting in a rather peculiar and offensive
Sheila: I don't know. Perhaps it's because impertinent is such
manner. You know of course that my
a silly word.
husband was lord mayor only two years ago
and that he's still a magistrate--

Gerald: (apologetically, to Mrs Birling) I'm Gerald: (distressed) sorry – I – well, I've
afraid it is, y'know. Actually I've never seen suddenly realized – taken it in properly
much of him outside this house – but- well, I – that's she's dead--
have gathered that he does drink pretty hard.

Note: Gerald explains that Eric is a very hard drinker to his mother. Act Two
Gerald: (hesitatingly) it's hard to say. I didn't feel about her as she felt about me. Gerald: and you're not going to have any. (to Mrs
Sheila: (with sharp sarcasm) of course not. You were the wonderful fairy prince.
You must have adored it, Gerald.
Birling.)you know, it wasn't disgusting.

Mrs Birling: it's disgusting to me.

Sheila: but just in case you forget – or decide not to come
back, Gerald, I think you'd better take this with you. (she Inspector: (very deliberately) I think you did
hands him the ring.) something terribly wrong – and that you're
going to spend the rest of your life regretting
Gerald: I see. Well, I was expecting this.
it.
Sheila: I don't dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In
fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I've Inspector: not yet. I'm waiting.
ever done before. I knew anyhow you were lying about Mrs Birling: Waiting for what?
those months last year when you hardly came near me.
Inspector: To do my duty.
Sheila: (distressed) Now, mother –
Mrs Birling: secondly, I blame the young man who
don't you see?
was the father of the child she was going to have. If,
as she said, he didn't belong to her class, and was
Mrs Birling: (understanding now) But
some drunken young idler, then that's all the more surely .... I mean ... it's ridiculous . . .
reason why he shouldn't escape. He should be made
an example of. If the girl's death is due to anybody,
then it's due to him. Act Two
Eric: ( bursting out) What's the use of talking about behaving sensibly.
You're beginning to pretend now that nothing's really happened at all.
And I can't see it like that. This girl's still dead, isn't she? Nobody's
brought her to life, have they?
Sheila: (eagerly) That's just what I feel, Eric. And it's what they don't
seem to understand.
Eric: whoever that chap was, the fact remains that I did what I did. And
mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her.
It's still the same rotten story whether it's been told to a police
inspector or to somebody else. According to you, I ought to feel a lot
better - ( To Gerald.) I stole some money, Gerald, you might as well
know - ( As Birling tries to interrupt.) I don't care, let him know. The
money's not the important thing. It's what happened to the girl and
what we all did to her that matters. And I still feel the same about it,
and that's why I don't feel like sitting down and having a nice cosy talk.
Sheila: And Eric's absolutely right. And it's the best thing any one of us
has said tonight and it makes me feel a bit less ashamed of us. You're
just beginning to pretend all over again.
Gerald: Everything's all right now, Sheila.
(Holds up the ring.) What about this ring?
Sheila: No, not yet. It's too soon. I must think.
Inspector: We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We
are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will
soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will
be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.
Sheila: I tell you – whoever that Inspector was, it was anything but a
joke. You knew it then. You began to learn something. And now you've
stopped. You're ready to go on in the same old way.
Birling: (amused) And you're not, eh?
Sheila: No, because I remember what he said, how he looked, and what
he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish. And it frightens me the
way you talk, and I can't listen to any more of it.
Eric: And I agree with Sheila. It frightens me too.
Birling: ... we've been had ... it makes all
the difference.
Gerald: Of course!
Sheila [bitterly]: I suppose we're all nice
people now.
Birling: (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-
Act Three
Revision Activity: Key Themes

Complete this table.

Now complete the tables for the following themes: Class, Reputation, Young v Old, Gender

RESPONSIBILITY
Key Quotes Extra Challenge: How does this quote fit into the theme? Mega Challenge: Why did Priestley use this quote?

Mr Birling: “a man Birling explains to Gerald and Eric his views on society: that everyone Priestley included Mr Birling in his play to represent ultra-
has to make his own should look out for themselves and not worry about other people. It capitalist views and show how middle and upper class society is
way - has to look is essentially a capitalist viewpoint. deeply entrenched in this system. Priestley also links together
after himself.” (Act 1) Birling and a lack of responsibility for other people.
Mark Scheme
AO Jargon-free criteria: Challenge: Read these
AO1 Understand and create responses to An Inspector Calls. AOs carefully and
highlight any key words.
In your answer to any essay question you should:
Extra Challenge: Write
• Create a style of writing that is able to critique the text, is
informed but also personal to you. down five success criteria
• Include textual references which may be quotations so for getting an excellent
that they back up and support your ideas and mark in your An Inspector
interpretations.
Calls answer.
AO2 Analyse how language, structure and form may have been
used by Priestley to create effects on an audience and create Mega Challenge: How will
meaning for them, referring to subject key terms and
terminology to support ideas. you structure your
paragraphs to ensure you
AO3 Establish links between An Inspector Calls and the worlds in
which it was set, written and performed. are meeting the
AO4 Vocabulary, sentence structures, spelling and punctuation assessment objectives
that all help to make your ideas clear. throughout your essay?
 Revision Activity: PETAZL Paragraphs Challenge: Write out a PETAZL
In order to succeed in your exam you will need to meet all the paragraph that answers the
assessment objectives. Trying to balance all these in your answer can be
question: “How does Priestley
quite difficult, but you can use PETAZL paragraphs to help you.
portray the Inspector when he
Here is an example:
is introduced in Act One?”
Q: “How does Priestley portray the Inspector when he is
introduced in Act One?” Extra Challenge: Go through
The Inspector is portrayed by Priestley as an intimidating man. We see and highlight all the different
this when Priestley describes the Inspector as having “an impression of parts of your PETAZL
purposefulness.” This stage direction helps the director and actor to
show the audience that the Inspector has entered the scene with a paragraphs. What do you
determined and firm attitude, suggesting he has already planned what need to add to it? Make your
he is about to do to the Birlings and has a ‘purpose’. This is just one way
in which Priestly presents the Inspector as an intimidating character. changes.
Point: This is your idea that responds to the exam task given to you. Mega Challenge: Use the
Evidence: This is a “quote” or example to support your idea and prove PETAZL structure to write an
to the examiner that you are right.
essay that responds to this
Technique: This is the language or structure technique that Priestley has task: “How does Priestley
used to affect the audience.
portray the Inspector when he
Analysis: This is where you explain what effects the technique has had
is introduced in Act One?”
on the audience and what Priestley was trying to do with it.

Zoom: This is where you zoom in and focus on one small part of the
quote and evaluate what effect it has on the audience.

Link: This is where you link back to the task and ensure you are actually
answering the question.
An Inspector Calls and Context
John Boynton Priestley was born in Yorkshire in 1894 and from an
early age he began writing. As a member of the middle classes he
had the chance to go on and study at university, but felt he would
get more of a feel for the ‘real’ world by going out to work
instead. Therefore, he became a junior clerk with a wool firm at
the age of 16.
During the First World War, Priestley joined the infantry and
narrowly avoided death on a number of occasions. After the war,
he went to Cambridge University and earnt a degree before
moving to London to work as a freelance writer. Although mostly
remembered for An Inspector Calls, Priestley wrote many, many
articles, novels and plays. He was very much into his politics and
this shone through in his writing.
In the 1930s Priestley became very much concerned about social being founded in 1948, the play helped to continue to change
inequality and this led to him setting up a new political party (T he attitudes towards social inequality in the country. This is what
Common Wealth Party) to try and fight this. The new party
wanted public ownership of land, greater levels of democracy,
and a new kind of ‘morality’ in politics. This party eventually went the two World Wars had caused.
on to merge with the Labour Party in 1945, but it was
instrumental in helping to establish the Welfare State in the
United Kingdom (which includes pensions, benefits, the NHS and
more).
During the Second World War he presented a very popular weekly
radio programme which the Conservative political party branded
as being very left-wing. The programme was cancelled by the BBC
because it was felt to be too one-sided and critical of the
Government at the time.
‘An Inspector Calls’ was published and performed in 1945 in the
Soviet Union as the Second World War came to an end. It was
written at a time when class divisions were becoming blurred in
Britain, where women were being given more rights and respect,
and people want great change in society.
The play itself is set in 1912 – a time before the two World Wars,
where class divisions were very clear, where women were poorly
treated, where social inequality was great and where there was
very little support for the elderly, sick, disabled and poorest in
society. It is important to remember that women were not even
given the vote in Britain until 1928; before that time movements
like the Suffragettes campaigned through militant action to make
significant changes to society.
In 1945 Clement Attlee’s Labour Party when a landslide election
victory despite Winston Churchill’s Conservatives leading the UK
to victory in Europe in the Second World War. It was clear that the
British people wanted great social change, and with the NHS
Priestley intended with his play; he wanted the people of Britain
to embrace change and make the most of the social upheaval that
Priestley continued to write into the 1970s, and died in 1984.
Challenge: Highlight key information from the
context summary and label with notes.
Extra Challenge: Write a paragraph about why
Priestley wrote his play and what effects you think he
wanted to have on his audience.
Mega Challenge: Think about how seeing this play in
1945 would have affected the audience at the time.
How does this differ to a modern audience? Does our
understanding of the play differ from back then?
 Revision Activity: Sample Exam Question

You will be given a choice of two questions – you must only answer one of these.

The questions might be based on character or they could be based on a theme.

Look at the choice below:

How and why does Sheila change in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:
 how Sheila responds to her family and to the Inspector
 how Priestley presents Sheila by the ways he writes.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

OR:

How does Priestley explore responsibility in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:
 the ideas about responsibility in An Inspector Calls
 how Priestley presents these ideas by the ways he writes.
[30 marks]
AO4 [4 marks]

Revision Activity:

Challenge: Choose one of the questions and make notes on how you would answer it. Plan out your answer.

Extra Challenge: Give yourself 45 minutes and practise writing out your answer to one of these questions.

Mega Challenge: Answer the question in 35-40 minutes and use your time to practise proof-reading your work,
ensuring you are meeting ALL the AOs in your answer.