An Inspector Calls LitChart

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An Inspector Calls
KEY FACTS
INTR
INTRODUCTION
ODUCTION
• Full Title: An Inspector Calls
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF J. B. PRIESTLEY • When Written: 1945
Priestley grew up in Manningham, England. His mother died • Where Written: England
when he was two years old and, at the age of sixteen, he left
• When Published: 1945 (play premiered in Soviet Union)
school to work as a junior clerk at a wool firm. He served and
was injured in World War I and then went to study at Trinity • Literary Period: mid-20th century British drama, social
realism
College. Priestley hosted a popular radio show, “Postscripts,”
from the beginning of World War II until the show was • Genre: Mystery drama
cancelled in 1940 after members of the Conservative • Setting: 1912; a comfortable home in Brumley, England
Party—including, it seems likely, Winston • Climax: Gerald returns to the Birling home after Goole has
Churchill—complained about Priestley’s broadcasting his left- left, to report that the Inspector wasn’t actually a real
wing politics. He continued nevertheless to have a political inspector, and to hypothesize that the whole thing was a
presence in the UK: he and a group of friends founded the hoax—that there was no single girl that all of the Birlings had
1941 Committee, which advocated for a national wages policy offended, and no suicide that they precipitated.
and for railways, mines, and docks to come under public
control; in 1942, he co-founded the Common Wealth Party, EXTRA CREDIT
which sought to advance the causes of “Common Ownership,” Ghoulish Goole. Many interpretations of the text consider the
“Vital Democracy” and “Morality in Politics.” Priestley wrote Inspector’s ghostly name to be symbolic of the mystery that
novels, plays, and newspaper articles throughout his life, surrounds his character.
including An Inspector Calls in 1945. He was married three
times.
PL
PLO
OT SUMMARY
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The play begins in a nice dining room, with the prosperous
The play takes place right before the First World War, during a Birling family joyously celebrating the engagement of their
moment of rising international tensions and significant daughter, Sheila, to Gerald Croft. Everybody is in good spirits.
industrial expansion. The industrial expansion resulted in a gain Mr. Birling gives a toast, and Gerald gives Sheila her
in influence and wealth for industrialists of the period (like Mr. engagement ring, which she puts on her finger very excitedly.
Birling). The early decades of the 20th century also marked the Mr. Birling encourages Gerald and Sheila to ignore the
end of the Victorian era, and the consequent loosening of the pessimistic “silly talk” going around these days, and claims that
formerly rigid class system; the Labour Party, founded in 1900, fear of an inevitable war is “fiddlesticks.”
was beginning to gain leverage and to become increasingly
A Police Inspector arrives, and reports that he is investigating
committed to socialist ideas. Socialism and Communism were
the suicide of a young woman who recently swallowed
also on an upswing in many places around the world. The
disinfectant and died in the Infirmary. When he mentions that
Russian Revolution, in which Communists overthrew the Czar
her name was Eva Smith, Mr. Birling identifies that she used to
of Russia, began in 1917.
work at his factory, before he forced her to leave when she
became the ring- leader of a strike for higher wages.
RELATED LITERARY WORKS
Sheila returns to the room, and is very upset to hear about the
Insofar as the text is a political allegory of class tensions, it is girl’s tragic suicide. The Inspector goes on to tell the family that
reminiscent of Animal Farm, which also explores political Eva Smith, after Birling put her out, was hired at a
conflict and the rise of Communism in a small representative shop—Milward’s—but was fired on the basis of a customer’s
narrative (though Animal Farm was strongly anti-Communist, complaint. When the Inspector shows Sheila a picture of the
Orwell was himself a Socialist). In its suspense and the girl, she begins to sob and runs out of the room. Upon re-
structuring of its narrative around a scaffolding of revelations entering, Sheila explains that, out of jealousy and in a bad
and reveals of true identity, it resembles many of Alfred temper, she had told the manager of Milward’s to fire the girl
Hitchock’s 20th century thriller films, including Vertigo, To Catch after seeing her smile at a salesgirl when Sheila tried on
a Thief, and North by Northwest. something unflattering.
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The Inspector then recounts that, after Milward’s, the girl aged, with easy manners and provincial speech. Birling is
changed her name to Daisy Renton. Gerald appears startled by identified by the Inspector as the initiator of Eva Smith’s
this. When they are left alone for a moment, Sheila discovers downfall: he refused her request for a raise in his factory and
that Gerald had been having an affair with Daisy Renton all of forced her to find work elsewhere. He is portrayed throughout
the previous summer. When the Inspector returns, Gerald the play as a fierce capitalist, who cares only for the prosperity
confesses to his acquaintance with Daisy Renton— he met her of his own company—even at the sacrifice of his laborers’ well-
at the Palace Music Hall, and ended up inviting her to live in a being—and for the prospect of ever greater success. He further
set of rooms that belonged to a friend of his who was seems to care more for success than for his own children, as
temporarily away. Gerald excuses himself to take a walk, and people. When, at the end of the play, the Birlings discover that
Sheila returns his engagement ring. the Inspector was a fraud and no suicide has taken place, Mr.
The Inspector now shows Mrs. Birling the girl’s photograph. Birling is triumphant and relieved that the revelations will not
The front door slams, and Mr. Birling discovers that his son, precipitate a social scandal. He is resistant to any lesson that
Eric, has stormed out of the house. Though she resists, Mrs. might be gleaned from the Inspector’s interrogation, and
Birling finally admits that she had used her influence some remains unchanged by it.
weeks previous to deny the pictured girl aid from the Women’s Mrs. Birling — Mrs. Birling is described as being “cold” and Mr.
Charity Organization, as she was prejudiced against the girl’s Birling’s “social superior.” Throughout the questioning process,
case. The Inspector contributes the additional fact that the girl she resists the Inspector’s inquiries and reminds him, to Sheila’s
was pregnant when she committed suicide, and that it was due frustration, of the Birlings’ high social status. Despite her
to her pregnancy that she was asking the Charity Organization reluctance, Mrs. Birling finally admits to having used her
for help. Mrs. Birling confirms that the child’s father had given influence in the Women’s Charity Organization to deny aid for
the girl money but that the girl refused it because she found out Eva Smith because she was prejudiced against her manner and
it was stolen. Mrs. Birling claims that the only people offended by the girl’s falsely assuming the name “Mrs. Birling.”
responsible for the girl’s downfall and suicide are the girl After the revelations at the end of the play that the whole
herself and the man that got her pregnant. inspection was a hoax, Mrs. Birling prides herself on having
Eric re-enters the house, and admits to impregnating the girl resisted the Inspector more than the rest of her family. And, like
and offering her stolen money. He divulges that he stole the her husband, she feels completely relieved of any responsibility
money from his father’s office. she had felt previously.
The Inspector leaves the Birlings brooding and guilty. Gerald Sheila — The daughter of Mr. Birling and Mrs. Birling, Sheila is a
returns to the room and announces that as he was walking he young woman in her early twenties who is generally excited
met a policeman and discovered that the supposed Inspector about life and is engaged to Gerald Croft. She is most upset by
wasn’t really an inspector after all, and proposes his further the news of the girl’s suicide, and expresses the most remorse
hypotheses that there was no single girl that all of the Birlings among the Birling's for her involvement in it. Throughout the
offended, and no suicide that the Birlings precipitated. He and play, she warns her mother against presumptuously putting up
Mr. Birling prove these hypotheses to be correct after calls to walls between themselves and the less fortunate girl, and, in
the Police Department and to the Infirmary. The Birling parents the end, insists that it remains just as significant that the
celebrate these discoveries, as they feel they have escaped Birlings did what they confessed to doing despite the absence
both scandal and guilt, but Sheila and Eric remain affected by of a social scandal and legal consequence, or even any suicide.
the proceedings and cannot forget what’s been revealed. Ger
Gerald
ald Croft — Gerald is engaged to Sheila. During the
The telephone rings. After Mr. Birling hangs up, he reports that inspection, Gerald admits to having had an affair with the girl in
it was the police, informing him that a girl just died on her way question—at the time, Daisy Renton—which prompts Sheila to
to the infirmary after swallowing some disinfectant, and that a return his engagement ring. Gerald comes out seeming the
Police Inspector is on his way to ask some questions. The least guilty of all for the girl’s suicide. In the end, it is he who
Birlings stare “guiltily and dumbfounded.” As Sheila rises to realizes that the whole inspection, and all of its premises, was a
stand, the curtain falls slowly. hoax. Nonetheless, he also seems less affected by the
Inspector's casting of blame than Sheila and Eric, and Sheila
denies his offer to renew their engagement.
CHARA
CHARACTERS
CTERS Eric — Eric is the son of the family. He disapproves of his
father’s decision to deny Eva Smith’s request for higher wages,
MAJOR CHARACTERS and becomes drunk and upset throughout the course of the
Arthur Birling – Arthur Birling is introduced as a “fairly evening, which prompts Sheila to expose him as a heavy-
prosperous” manufacturer and a family man with a wife and drinker, unbeknownst to his parents. In the middle of the play,
two children, Sheila and Eric. He is large-bodied and middle Eric storms out of the house. When Eric returns, he admits to

being exactly the person—Eva Smith’s impregnator—that his Edna – The Birling family's maid, who cleans, pours drinks, and
mother had most blamed for the girl’s suicide, and to having announces guests, but otherwise has little role in the play.
stolen money from his father. His parents are ashamed of him
and continue to remind him what he’s done; but he is likewise
ashamed of them for overlooking the true significance of the THEMES
bad deeds that they all have been exposed as having
committed. He joins Sheila in her judgment of their parents’ In LitCharts literature guides, each theme gets its own color-
ignorance and in her regard for the significance of the facts at coded icon. These icons make it easy to track where the themes
hand. occur most prominently throughout the work. If you don't have
a color printer, you can still use the icons to track themes in
Inspector Goole — Goole is allegedly a police officer who has black and white.
come to investigate the potential involvement of the Birlings in
the recent suicide of a girl by the name of Eva Smith.
Throughout the play, he conducts himself in a manner
WEALTH, POWER, AND INFLUENCE
unsuitable for a police inspector: he takes moral stances The Birlings are a family of wealth and power, who
throughout his interrogation, usually in support of labor rights, take pride in their high social position. Mr. Birling is
and in the end he universalizes Eva Smith’s case to the cases of a successful businessman, and the family inhabits a
many such disadvantaged lower class citizens throughout the nice home with a maid (and likely other servants). The play
country. In the end of the play, it turns that he is not an begins with the family celebrating and feeling generally pleased
Inspector after all, and is suspected instead to be a person from with themselves and their fortunate circumstance. Throughout
the town with socialist tendencies and a grudge against Mr. the Inspector’s investigation, however, it comes out that several
Birling. The final revelation—the call from the infirmary that of the Birlings have used their power and influence immorally,
there really was a suicide—renews suspicion about the in disempowering and worsening the position of a girl from a
Inspector’s identity, as it makes it seem that Inspector Goole lower class: Mr. Birling used his high professional position to
did somehow know what was going to happen, and was not force Eva Smith out of his factory when she led a faction of
merely seeking to make the Birlings cognizant of their moral workers in demanding a raise; Sheila, in a bad temper, used her
wrongs. social status and her family’s reputation to have the girl fired
from Milward’s; Mrs. Birling used her influence in the Women’s
Eva Smith — Eva Smith is an employee at Birling’s factory who
Charity Organization to deny the girl monetary aid. Both Sheila
leads a group of workers in a strike for higher wages. When
and Mrs. Birling acted upon petty motivations in injuring the
their request is denied, she is forced to leave the factory. The
girl; Mr. Birling acted upon selfish, capitalist motivations.
Inspector alleges that Eva Smith repeatedly changed her name,
and is the same girl that Sheila requested be fired, that Mrs. Throughout the play, as these acts are revealed, the Birlings’
Birling denied aid, and that Gerald and Eric had affairs with. As social status becomes a point of conflict amongst members of
Gerald points out, however, there is no evidence that this is the family, as the children grow ashamed of their family’s ability
true. As such, Eva Smith becomes not just a character in the to use their influence immorally and the parents remain proud
play, but also a symbol within the play. of their social and economic position and do not understand
their children’s concern.
MINOR CHARACTERS The play demonstrates the corruption implicit within a
capitalist economy in which wealth and influence are
Daisy Renton — Daisy Renton is the girl that Gerald Croft has
concentrated in a small portion of the population. The few
an affair with and sets up in his friend’s empty set of rooms.
wealthy people at the top maintain the social hierarchy in order
Sir George Croft — Sir George Croft is Gerald’s father, and the to retain their high position, and have the power, on a petty
owner of Crofts Limited, a larger competitor with Birling’s whim, to push the powerless even further down the ladder.
business though older and more successful. And, in the conflict at the end of the play between the younger
Chief Constable — A friend of Mr. Birling’s, who leads the and older members of the Birlings, it becomes clear that as the
police department. Birling seems to believe that his friendship powerful settle into their power, they become blind to the
with the Chief Inspector protects him from any damage possibility that they may be acting immorally, seeing
regarding the Inspector's revelations about Eva Smith. themselves as naturally deserving of their positions and
Joe Meggarty — An alderman whom the Birling parents deem therefore of their actions as being natural and right (as
respectable, before Sheila and Gerald inform them that he has opposed to selfish attempts to maintain the status quo that
a reputation as a womanizer. Gerald claims that he initially puts them at the top).
went over to Daisy Renton in order to save her from
Meggarty’s harassment.

BLAME AND RESPONSIBILITY represented by the Inspector (and by J.B.
Priestley)—challenges and seeks to erase the line between
The question asked throughout the play is: who is
public and private, by de-privatizing the economy, but also by
responsible for the suicide of Eva Smith? Who is to
making those who are privileged to see that what they consider
blame? The arc of the play follows the gradual
"private", by nature of their privilege, has an outside influence
spreading of responsibility, from Mr. Birling, to Mr. Birling and
on the world from which they are insulated. In other words, the
Sheila, to Mr. Birling and Sheila and Gerald, and so on and so
Inspector argues not just for a de-privatized economy but a de-
forth. Each of the characters has different opinions about
privatized sensibility, a recognition that what seems private to
which of them is most responsible for the girl’s suicide. Mrs.
the privileged are in fact strands of a public web of
Birling, most extremely, ends up blaming her own son, by
relationships and the moral obligations such relationships
suggesting that the person most responsible is the man that
create.
impregnated the girl, before realizing that the person in
question is Eric.
In the end, the Inspector universalizes the shared responsibility
CLASS POLITICS
that the Birlings feel for the girl’s death, into a plea for Mr. Birling describes the politics of the day as
something like Socialism: “We are members of one body. We revolving around “Capital versus Labor agitations.”
are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will Mr. Birling is a representative Capitalist, who cares
soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will only about his company’s profit. He speaks of himself as “a
be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” The lesson of the hard-headed, practical man of business,” and looks forward to
Inspector, and of the play at large, is that our actions have an the prospect of being knighted. The girls who lead a worker’s
influence beyond themselves and therefore that we are already strike in his factor, meanwhile, represent the Labor side of the
responsible for each other so long as we are responsible for conflict in trying to improve the rights and wages of laborers
ourselves and our own actions. The play contends that and the lower classes.
Socialism simply recognizes and builds upon this truth, in de- Birling loosely articulates his understanding of the agitations in
privatizing wealth and power and thus building an economy and his speech to Eric and Gerald: “a man has to make his own
politics on the foundation of shared responsibility. way—has to look after himself…and so long as he does that he
won’t come to much harm… But the way some of these cranks
PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after
everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in
The Inspector, and the play at large, challenges the
a hive—a man has to mind his own business and look after
“privacy” of the private sphere, by revealing that
himself.” The Inspector speaks the voice of Socialism, of the
actions that the family may have conceived of as
Labor side of the conflict; he seeks to make the Birlings realize
private and personal really have an effect beyond themselves
the implicit corruption of Capitalism by emphasizing how easy
and their family. For example, Sheila’s revelation that Eric
it was for them to cause pain for the lower class without even
drinks more than his parents had thought—“he’s been steadily
realizing at the time the significance of their own actions.
drinking too much for the last two years”— seems like private
information but turns out to have a greater effect, insofar as it
helps to identify (in the Inspector’s alleged story) Eric as the MORALITY AND LEGALITY
father of the girl’s child. The play interrogates the way that people
In addition, what begins as an inspection of truths that had real construct, construe, and apply their moral values,
consequence on someone outside of the immediate Birling especially in relation to legality and illegality. Do
family, ends up also uncovering truths and drama that pertain actions have moral consequence in themselves, or in relation to
more privately to the family. For example, the Inspector’s their effects on other people; or can we only measure morality
discovery of Gerald’s relationship with Daisy Renton results in in relation to legal rulings? When the legal consequences of the
the severing of his engagement to Sheila. The inspector has to truths revealed by the Inspector’s questioning have been
remind the family to keep their private drama out of his removed (through the revelation that the Inspector is not, in
investigation: “There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, for fact, an inspector), there remains a question about what
you all to adjust your family relationships.” significance and moral weight the uncovered truths hold. The
status of their significance changes at each level of revelation:
This blurring of the line between the public and the private
that the Inspector wasn’t an inspector, that the girl wasn’t all
reflects the play’s interest in class politics, in the conflict
the same girl, that the girl didn’t commit suicide.
between those who want to maintain the privatization of
wealth and production, and those who desire the After the discovery that the Inspector wasn’t an inspector, Eric
communalization of the same. The Socialist perspective—as declares, “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 Related Characters: Arthur Birling (speaker), Sheila,
inspector or to somebody else.” After the discovery that there Gerald Croft
was no suicide, Mr. Birling declares, “But the whole thing’s
different now… And the artful devil knew all the time nobody Related Themes:
had died and the whole story was bunkum”; at the same time,
Sheila insists, “Everything we said had happened really had Page Number: 9
happened. If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But Explanation and Analysis
it might have done.” The final turn—the police’s phone call
In this passage, Arthur Birling, the patriarch of the Birling
reporting a suicide—confirms Sheila’s view that, given the facts
family, gives a toast in which he welcomes Gerald Croft into
revealed by the Inspector, it was only a matter of luck that
the family. (The speech is important because it provides all
something tragic didn’t ensue that time—as something tragic
the expository information we need for the moment--Sheila
did, in fact, ensue shortly after.
and Gerald are getting engaged.) Birling is described as a
While Mr. and Mrs. Birling feel wholly relieved of their guilt by successful businessman, and his tone is casual yet emotional
the final revelation, Sheila and Eric insist at each level that the as he congratulates his daughter and future son-in-law.
truths uncovered by the Inspector about the family’s actions
There are a couple things to notice here. First, Arthur
still remain significant and entail moral consequences. The
defines himself as a "hard-headed business man," even in the
play’s conclusion suggests the playwright’s sympathy with
middle of his engagement toast. Indeed, Arthur is so
Sheila and Eric’s view.
focused on business and the capitalistic mindset that he
thinks of his daughter's marriage in business terms--he later
SYMBOLS describes it as a "merger" between the Birling and the Croft
family businesses. Furthermore, Birling claims that now is
Symbols appear in blue text throughout the Summary and the "best of times" for marriage. He ignores the harsh
Analysis sections of this LitChart. realities of the time: as we know, World War I is about to
begin. Birling's ignorance of the real world makes him seem
small-minded and petty; by the same token, it allows the
EVA SMITH audience, with the benefit of hindsight, to feel a little
The symbol of Eva Smith is the character that the superior to Birling and Birling's family--the Birlings don't
Inspector constructs by explaining that she has know what's about to happen to their country, but we do.
changed her name multiple times, was injured by each of the
Birlings in turn, and consequently commits suicide. In fact, the
Inspector seems to have created her as an amalgam of several I tell you, by that time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have
women, each of them separately harmed by the different forgotten all these Capital versus Labor agitations and all
Birlings. As a combination of many working class women these silly little war scares. There’ll be peace and prosperity and
affected by the Birlings, Eva Smith represents the working rapid progress everywhere.
class, the Labor side of the Labor vs. Capital agitations, who get
squashed by the powerful upper class, such as the Birlings.
Related Characters: Arthur Birling (speaker)
QUO
QUOTES
TES Related Themes:
Note: all page numbers for the quotes below refer to the Page Number: 10
Dramatists Play Service, Inc. edition of An Inspector Calls
published in 1998. Explanation and Analysis
As Arthur Birling proceeds with his toast, it becomes clearer
and clearer that he's a businessman first and a father
Act 1 Quotes
second. Birling's advice to his daughter Sheila and his new
There’s a good deal of silly talk about these son-in-law, Gerald, could be interpreted as fatherly and
days—but—and I speak as a hard-headed business man, who kind--he's telling them not to listen to cynics and doubters
has to take risks and know what he’s about—I say, you can and focus on their own happiness. And yet Birling's speech
ignore all this silly pessimistic talk. When you marry, you’ll be isn't really about marriage at all: the "happy future" he
marrying at a very good time.

mentions is a future in which capitalism has triumphed over Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker)
its opponents, and businessmen like Birling have achieved
massive success. Related Themes:
Birling's lofty vision of the future makes it clear that he
Page Number: 15
defines himself in terms of his wealth and success as a
businessman. And yet for all his emphasis on the future, Explanation and Analysis
Birling is clearly wrong--as we know very well, World War I
Inspector Goole has now come to the Birling home and
is about to begin (not exactly a "silly little war scare"...), and
begun his inquiry. Goole begins by speaking to Mr. Birling
class revolutions continue to take place around the world.
about his relationship with Eva Smith, a former employee of
So Birling tries to give the impression of being wise and
his. Birling examines a photograph that Goole gives him, but
fatherly, but when viewed from an outsider's perspective,
when Birling's relatives want to look at the photograph as
he's greedy, selfish, and short-sighted.
well, Goole prevents them from doing so. He explains that
he wants to work with Birling, then proceed to the other
family members.
A man has to make his own way—has to look after Goole's explanation isn't entirely convincing, but it's
himself—and his family, too, of course, when he has designed to justify the slow, theatrical structure of the play
one—and so long as he does that he won’t come to much harm. itself. One by one, Goole will move from Mr. Birling to Sheila
But the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d to Gerald, etc.--with each new character, we will learn more
think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were about the moral limitations of the Birling family. Of course,
all mixed up together like bees in a hive. Goole's decision to show the photograph to only one person
at a time is also practical--as we'll see, Goole is fooling the
Related Characters: Arthur Birling (speaker) Birling family into thinking that they've wronged the same
person; if Goole were to show the same photograph to two
Related Themes: people, his illusion would be dispelled.
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis If we are all responsible for everything that happened to
everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very
During the period when the play is set, there was a lively
awkward, wouldn’t it?
debate in England over the future of the English economy.
Should a small group of wealthy capitalists be allowed to
continue owning their own factories and facilities, leaving Related Characters: Arthur Birling (speaker)
their workers to toil for tiny wages? Or should the wealth be
redistributed, so that society as whole could benefit from Related Themes:
industrialization? Mr. Birling clearly takes the former point
of view: as a successful businessmen and capitalist, he looks Page Number: 16
out for his own interests, not those of his workers.
Explanation and Analysis
Birling's speech is important because although he frames it
The Inspector continues to talk about Eva Smith with
in strictly economic terms, we'll come to see that it has
Arthur Birling. Birling admits that he knew Eva Smith when
serious moral implications. Birling thinks that he can go
she worked for him, but angrily denies that he had anything
through life never caring about other people; his philosophy
to do with her death. Birling doesn't deny that he had a
is that everybody should "take care of themselves," contrary
major influence on the course of her life; his point is that
to what socialist "cranks" believe. The play will show the
people can't be held accountable for every single person
moral limitations of such a philosophy--Birling will cause
they influence.
enormous misery to other people, then turn his back on
them. The key word in this passage is "awkward." Birling isn't
denying that he influenced Smith, or even that he ruined her
life--his point is simply that acknowledging his own guilt
would be publicly and privately embarrassing to him. Birling
It’s the way I like to go to work. One person and one line of is shown to be obsessed with his social status; thus, he
inquiry at a time. Otherwise, there’s a muddle.

conceals (even to himself) the true nature of his crimes. Page Number: 19
Birling's statement could be considered the "capitalist's
alibi"--unchecked capitalism, we can see, is an ideology that Explanation and Analysis
ruins lives and drives people to immoral actions. And yet the This quote, made by Sheila, in Act I. Sheila is far more
powerful businessmen who cause suffering to other people sympathetic about Eva Smith's fate than her father is.
claim deniability; they're not "truly" responsible for their Unlike Arthur, Sheila believes that workers should be
fired employees. treated well and paid fairly. Moreover, Sheila feels guilty
about being so happy with her own life, at a time when
millions of people like Eva Smith are suffering.
Birling: It’s a free country, I told them. However, while Sheila's sympathy for Eva seems sincere,
Eric: It isn’t if you can’t go and work somewhere else. she's not necessarily a better person than her father is. In
fact, the quote subtly suggests that Sheila's sympathy for
Related Characters: Arthur Birling, Eric (speaker), Eva Eva at this point is a kind of "bad faith" -- the state of mind in
Smith which one says one thing and yet believes another, perhaps
even lying to oneself in the process. First, Sheila displays a
Related Themes: level of condescension toward Eva by referring to her as
"this girl." Second, while Sheila pities Eva, she also describes
Related Symbols: Eva's situation as "destroying herself so horribly," which
implies that despite her pity Sheila considers Eva's fate to
Page Number: 17 be at least to some extent her own fault. Even Sheila's
seeming shame at feeling so happy herself while Eva was
Explanation and Analysis suffering comes across as somewhat callous, as Sheila
Arthur Birling proceeds to tell the Inspector more about his focuses on her own shame rather than Eva's more dreadful
relationship with Eva Smith. Smith, we learn, was something suffering. So while Sheila makes a show of supporting Eva --
of a union organizer; she wanted to mobilize the people who and may even believe that she does support Eva -- she never
worked for Birling to ensure that they'd get better wages actually does anything about it. She's all talk. And, ultimately,
and fairer hours. When Smith demanded that Birling pay his Sheila's show of sympathy for Eva seems more a way for
employees more, Birling responded in classic capitalist Sheila to make herself feel better rather than anything
fashion: he told Birling that she was "free" to work meant to actually help Eva.
somewhere else if she didn't like her wages.
Birling's response to Eva Smith illustrates the flaws in the
free market. It's all very well for someone like Birling to Inspector: There are a lot of young women living that sort
preach sanctimoniously about freedom to run one's own of existence, Miss Birling, in every city and big town in this
business--but at the end of the day, his "philosophy" is just country.
an excuse for his own greediness. As Eric points out, a Sheila: But these girls aren’t cheap labor. They’re people.
country isn't truly free if people like Eva can't find a good
place to work. Birling's smug definition of freedom, then, is
Related Characters: Sheila, Inspector Goole (speaker)
sorely lacking in substance.
Related Themes:
I can’t help thinking about this girl—destroying herself so Related Symbols:

horribly—and I’ve been so happy tonight.
Page Number: 21
Related Characters: Sheila (speaker), Eva Smith Explanation and Analysis
Sheila continues to voice her support for Eva Smith and
Related Themes:
Eva's fellow workers. Unlike her father, who considers all his
workers mere "objects," to be manipulated and changed as
Related Symbols:
he sees fit, Sheila thinks that workers are human beings, too.

Act 2 Quotes
The passage is significant because Inspector Goole hints at
the scale of the tragedy involved in Eva's suicide. Eva is just Miss Birling has just been made to understand what she
one woman, but she's indicative of a much broader trend in did to this girl. She feels responsible. And if she leaves us now,
European society. In a country where there's lots of money and doesn’t hear any more, then she’ll feel she’s entirely to
concentrated in a few people's pockets, millions like Eva are blame, she’ll be alone with her responsibility.
forced to live hard lives, sometimes even ending with
suicide. Although the play focuses on only one such worker, Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker), Sheila, Eva
Goole makes it clear that "Eva Smith" could refer to any Smith
number of different people--a point that will come back to
haunt the Birling family in Act III of the play. Related Themes:
Related Symbols:
Gerald: We’re respectable citizens and not dangerous
criminals. Page Number: 29
Inspector: Sometimes there isn’t as much difference as you Explanation and Analysis
think.
In this passage, Gerald tries to get Sheila, hisfiancé, to leave
the room. Gerald pretends that he's doing so in order to
Related Characters: Gerald Croft, Inspector Goole "spare" Sheila from tragic information. But it's perfectly
(speaker) obvious that he's trying to get Sheila out of earshot so that
she doesn't hear anything more about his marital
Related Themes: infidelities. Inspector Goole calmly replies that the "right"
thing to do would be to keep Sheila in the room--if she were
Page Number: 23
to leave now, she'd get the wrong idea and assume that she
Explanation and Analysis was solely responsible for a woman's death.
In this passage, Gerald Croft angrily tells Inspector Goole This is one of the key passages in the play, because it says a
that Goole shouldn't be harrassing the Birling family. He lot about the Inspector's motives. In one sense, Inspector
claims that the Birlings are a respectable group--they're not Goole seems to be trying to cause the Birling family as much
criminals. Goole coolly replies that criminality and pain as possible--although he frames his response to Gerald
respectability aren't so different, deep down. Goole's in moral terms, his real motive is punishment, not kindness.
statement could serve as a kind of thesis statement for the And yet Goole does make a fair point: the Birlings are all
play itself: although the Birlings, and plenty of other families equally guilty of Eva Smith's death (it's not just Sheila's
like them, are seen as normal and respectable in their fault). By now, it's pretty clear that Goole already knows
capitalistic society, their money and good manners conceal a that the other Birlings played a part in Eva's suicide--the
secret deviousness and vindictiveness that causes misery to only remaining mystery is how. By staying in the room,
other people, usually without punishment. It seems to be Sheila mitigates her sense of guilt, but also comes to see
Goole's goal to bring some punishment, or at least self- how immoral her supposedly respectable family really is.
awareness, to the Birlings.
The passage further suggests the link between capitalism
and misery. Birling professes to be a good man and a good If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.
businessmen, and yet he only ascends to become wealthy by
treating his workers horribly. Perhaps it's impossible to be a
Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker)
great businessman and a moral human being at the same
time: businessmen are rewarded for ignoring their workers' Related Themes:
feelings and needs.
Page Number: 30

Inspector Goole isn't like any police officer the Birlings have
ever seen before (an early sign that he's not, in fact, a police

I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact,
officer at all!). He's fond of theorizing and moralizing at the in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I’ve ever
most inappropriate times. Here, he suggests that as the done before.
Birling family becomes increasingly aware of its role in Eva
Smith's suicide, they'll have to share their guilt. In a way,
Related Characters: Sheila (speaker), Gerald Croft
sharing guilt is what families are meant to do: instead of
punishing just one person with the blame, the family dilutes
Related Themes:
blame by spreading it around and supporting each other.
Goole's statement raises another important question--who Page Number: 41
is truly responsible for Eva Smith's suicide? By now, it's
pretty clear that no single person pushed Eva to suicide; Explanation and Analysis
instead, everybody was a little bit responsible, a fact that In this passage, Sheila tells Gerald that they're not going to
allows for convincing deniability. (For example, Arthur get married; she returns his engagement ring. Sheila's
Birling claims that many other factors must have caused explanation for not wanting to marry Gerald is simple
Eva's suicide.) It's as if the Birling family itself (and enough: Gerald has had an affair with another woman, and
unrestricted capitalism, which it represents) is one single, lied about it. The fact that Gerald didn't tell Sheila about his
evil character--a character that clearly caused Eva's death. affair is bad enough--but he also tried to keep her from
finding out about it when Inspector Goole called.
The passage is interesting because Sheila doesn't seem
You know, of course, that my husband was Lord Mayor particularly angry with Gerald anymore. In a way, she claims,
only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate? she respects him more than she ever has before: they've
finally been forced to be honest with each other. The
passage raises an interesting point--perhaps Goole's visit to
Related Characters: Mrs. Birling (speaker), Arthur Birling
the Birlings isn't as destructive as it seemed. Goole is
dismantling the Birling's pretensions of goodness, but he's
Related Themes:
also allowing them to live more honest lives. Sheila, perhaps
Page Number: 31 the most moral of the Birlings, seems to genuinely want to
be an honest, good person, and so allows these public
Explanation and Analysis revelations to influence her private life and morality.
Here, Mrs. Birling's hypocrisy is clear. She insists that
Inspector Goole should leave as soon as possible, sparing
the family any further consternation. Her reasons for We’ve no excuse now for putting on airs.
insisting so are fascinating: she claims that good,
respectable people like her family members have nothing of
Related Characters: Sheila (speaker)
substance to learn from the life of a poor girl like Eva Smith.
Even worse, Mrs. Birling cites the fact that her husband
Related Themes:
used to be a Lord Mayor, and still works as a magistrate.
Such information, we're left to assume, is supposed to mean Page Number: 43
that Mr. Birling is above all moral suspicion. High-ranking
people can't possibly be bad! Explanation and Analysis
The statement could also be interpreted as an implied Inspector Goole now turns to Mrs. Birling. Mrs. Birling
threat: it's as if Mrs. Birling is reminding Inspector Goole continues her claims that she shouldn't have to sit through
that he's playing with fire by inquiring into the lives of Inspector Goole's tiresome investigation: she's from a good
powerful people. If Goole isn't careful, Arthur Birling could family, and therefore can't be guilty of any crimes. And yet
ruin Goole's entire career. Mrs. Birling is one of the most Sheila interjects, telling her mother that it's time to stop
openly hypocritical characters in the play; simultaneously pretending to be good and "putting on airs." The Birlings are
threatening her guest to close the investigation and a wealthy family, it's true, but just because they're wealthy
claiming that her husband is above all suspicion. doesn't mean they're inherently good; if anything, their
wealth has allowed them to commit more crimes and get
away with them scot-free.

Sheila isn't an entirely "good" character, but she seems to Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker), Arthur
differ from her family in wanting to make genuine moral Birling, Mrs. Birling, Sheila, Gerald Croft, Eric
progress. Similarly, she's tired of her parents for pretending
to be good at all times, simply because of their wealth. It Related Themes:
seems perfectly obvious to Sheila that wealthy people
shouldn't be held immune from all guilt or punishment--just Page Number: 48
the opposite is true.
In this passage, the Birling family has descended into
arguing. A once-happy betrothed couple has split up, and
You’ve had children. You must have known what she was everyone else is shouting at one another. The Birlings have
feeling. And you slammed the door in her face. learned that they're all greedy, drunk, disloyal, and even
complicit in a woman's death. Goole listens to the Birlings
Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker), Mrs. arguing, and tells them that they'll have to work out their
Birling, Eva Smith new "relationships" later--for now, they need to focus on
Eva Smith.
Related Themes: Goole's statement can be taken in any number of senses.
First, it's a sign that the Birlings, in spite of the new
Related Symbols: information they've received, are still making a big mistake:
they're focusing too exclusively on each other's
Page Number: 44 privatefaults, instead of showing real compassion for the
deceased, or accepting the larger social ramifications of
their actions (the fact that because they are so wealthy and
Here, the Inspector's questions to Mrs. Birling become powerful, they have undue influence over others). Second,
considerably more pointed and accusatory. It has come out Goole's statement reminds us that his investigation has
that Mrs. Birling used her influenced position in a charity to permanently changed the Birling family. It's possible that
deny care and comfort to Eva Smith (now possibly named the family will be permanently disgraced, or fall apart from
Daisy Renton) when she came for help. Smith was pregnant, within. Yet it's also possible that the Birlings--particularly
it's revealed: she wanted charity from Mrs. Birling, but Mrs. Sheila--will learn from the experience and try to become
Birling gave her none. better people.
Inspector Goole's accusations suggest that Mrs. Birling has
committed a grave sin: she refused help, not only to a grown
woman but also to a child. Mrs. Birling claims that the
This girl killed herself—and died a horrible death. But each
woman should have known better, but such an explanation
of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it.
simply isn't satisfactory. While Mrs. Birling objects to Eva
But then I don’t think you ever will.
Smith for having gotten pregnant without being married,
her refusal to help Eva Smith punishes an innocent child for
its parents' supposed mistakes. Goole phrases his Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker), Arthur
indictment of Mrs. Birling in highly gendered language: it's Birling, Mrs. Birling, Sheila, Gerald Croft, Eric, Eva Smith
particularly bad for Mrs. Birling to deny Eva help, he claims,
because Mrs. Birling herself has been a mother. Mrs. Birling Related Themes:
refused to listen to one of the most basic instincts in her
body--a mother's instinct to help other mothers--because of Related Symbols:
her narrow morality and her petty emphasis on
appearances and class. Page Number: 53
Act 3 Quotes The Inspector comes to the conclusion he's been

anticipating this entire time. He's shown the Birling family
There’ll be plenty of time, when I’ve gone, for you all to that they caused the death of Eva Smith: in various ways,
adjust your family relationships. each Birling (and Gerald) has ruined Smith's life and pushed

If all that’s come out tonight is true, then it doesn’t much
her to kill herself. Goole predicts that the Birlings will never matter who it was who made us confess.
be able to forget their sins.
Why, exactly, did Goole come to visit the Birlings? His visit Related Characters: Sheila (speaker)
seems far different from that of a typical police officer: he
seems more philosophical, and more concerned with Related Themes:
morality than with solving a crime. It's as if Goole just wants
to teach the Birlings a lesson about the importance of Page Number: 56
personal responsibility. While Arthur Birling wants to
believe that it's "every man for himself," Goole has Explanation and Analysis
endeavored to prove the opposite point of view. After Inspector Goole leaves, Gerald reenters with a
shocking revelation--Inspector Goole wasn't a policeman at
all. The Birling parents are delighted by this news, but Sheila
maintains that it doesn't matter whether or not the
There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John
Inspector was real. Unlike Arthur Birling, who insists that, if
Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and
the Inspector was a fake, all their problems have been
fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined
solved, Sheila takes the point of view that they're guilty
with our lives, with what we think and do. We don’t live alone.
either way. Arthur Birling is most concerned with the social
We are members of one body. We are responsible for each
repercussions of his crimes, while Sheila cares more about
other.
her own sense of guilt. Inspector Goole might not put her
family in prison, but he's still exposed the family's complicity
Related Characters: Inspector Goole (speaker), Eva Smith in a horrible crime and an unjust society, which is far worse.
Related Themes:
Whoever that chap was, the fact remains that I did what I
Related Symbols:
did. And Mother did what she did. And the rest of you did
Page Number: 53 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.
As the Inspector proceeds with his indictment of the Birling Related Characters: Eric (speaker), Mrs. Birling, Inspector
family, he gives a kind of "moral" for the investigation. The Goole
Birlings have tried to pretend that they're all alone in the
world, responsible for each other, but nobody else. The Related Themes:
truth, Goole insists, is that all people are responsible for
other people. The only way to lead a moral life, then, is to Related Symbols:
care about strangers, and to treat all people with respect.
This relatively personal lesson is then a clear analogy to the Page Number: 61
class politics Priestley has been alluding to throughout--in
pure capitalism, the wealthy only look out for themselves at Explanation and Analysis
the expense of all others, while in socialism (the ideology Sheila isn't the only one who's learned a valuable lesson
Priestley espoused) everyone supports everyone else. from Inspector Goole. Eric, Sheila's sister, agrees that it
The passage is also critical because it shows that Goole's doesn't matter whether or not Inspector Goole was a "real"
motives for visiting the Birling family weren't just moral or police officer or not. Goole's credentials don't change the
criminal punishment. Instead of ruining the Birlings' fact that Eric did what Goole said he did: he impregnated an
reputations, he wanted to teach them to be better people. unmarried woman and then abandoned her.
While certain members of the Birling family seem not to The passage reinforces the possibility that some of the
have understood Goole's point (Arthur Birling, for example), characters will choose to learn from their mistakes. Eric
others, such as Sheila, seem to have gotten the message-- probably won't face any actual punishment from society for
perhaps Sheila will try to be a better person from now on. his actions, and yet it seems that he'll try to be more morally
upright in the future, never again hypocritically claiming to
be a "good" man when he's not.

SUMMARY AND ANAL

ANALYSIS
YSIS
The color-coded icons under each analysis entry make it easy to track where the themes occur most prominently throughout the
work. Each icon corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart.
ACT 1
The scene is set in the dining- room of a house that belongs to a The appearance and quality of the Birlings’ dining- room suggests
fairly wealthy manufacturer. The house is described as nice, that they are a family of wealth and class.
solid, with good furniture, and an ornate floor lamp. It is
“comfortable” but not “cozy.”
The curtain lifts to reveal a family—the Birlings—and one non- The presence of a maid and of good quality port reinforces the
family member, Gerald, sitting at the dining-room table. Edna, image of the Birlings as a well-off family. They are all dressed for a
the maid, is cleaning the bare table of stray champagne glasses special occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are described in terms of their
and dessert plates. The family begins to drink port, and status markers—their speech, their social positions—which
everyone is wearing appropriate “evening dress.” Arthur Birling, indicates, from the start, the play’s concern with class and status.
the father, is characterized as a large man with provincial Also note the different ages of the characters: the established older
speech; his wife is cold and her husband’s “social superior.” parents comfortable and proud of their position; the successful
Sheila, the daughter, is in her early twenties and appears to be thirty-year old; the two twenty-somethings who seem less set in
excited about life. Gerald Croft is an attractive thirty-year old their places, making one more excited by life and the other
man-about-town. Eric is in his mid-twenties and appears a little uncomfortable.
uneasy. The family is celebrating a special occasion.
Mr. Birling opens the play by thanking Edna for the port she has The fact that Mr. Birling knows the port to be the same port that Mr.
brought out of the sideboard, and offering it to Gerald, with a Croft purchases suggests that the Birlings and the Crofts belong to a
promise that it is the same port that Gerald’s father similar social and economic circle, but also that Mr. Birling may
customarily purchases. When Gerald qualifies that he doesn’t aspire to be like Mr. Croft.
know much about port himself, Sheila expresses relief that her
fiancé is not one of those “purple-faced old men” who are
knowledgeable in such matters.
Birling encourages his wife to drink, reminding her that it is a In chastising her husband for a rather harmless remark, Mrs. Birling
special occasion. Edna takes her leave and Birling remarks how betrays her concern for the family’s conduct and social manners;
nice the evening is. Mrs. Birling reproaches her husband for she clearly wants to make a good impression on Gerald Croft.
having made such a comment, but he responds that he was only
treating Gerald like a family member.
Sheila mentions, as an instance in which Gerald had seemingly Sheila is resistant to the gender roles typical of the period—the man
opted out of membership in the family, that he had largely busy with work, and the woman left alone in the house— and is
ignored her the summer before. He defensively cites how busy uncomfortable with her mother’s suggestion that marriage will
he was at the works and Mrs. Birling chimes in that once Sheila create this role division. Sheila’s resistance suggests that she is more
is married she’ll realize that men with important work socially progressive than her mother, not surprising given her
sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on business. younger age.
Sheila says that she will be unable to get used to that, and
warns Gerald to be careful.
©2018 LitCharts LLC www.LitCharts.com Page 12

Eric begins to laugh uncontrollably and rises from his chair. Eric is acting strangely, for reasons that we do not yet know but will
Sheila inquires what he is laughing about, and he replies that he become clearer as the play progresses. The dynamic of the nuclear
just felt the need to laugh; Sheila calls him “squiffy.” Eric family is fairly standard: Eric and Sheila tease each other in typical
provokes Sheila, and she calls him an ass, at which point Mrs. sibling manner, and their mother attempts to put an end to their
Birling tells the two of them to stop it. To change the subject, bickering.
she asks Arthur to give his “famous toast.”
Birling rises to deliver the promised toast. He prefaces the It becomes clear that Mr. Birling is excited about his daughter’s
speech by regretting that Gerald’s parents could not join in on marriage not only for her own happiness but also for his own more
the celebrations because they’re abroad, but then expressing self-interested business and social prospects. He is always looking to
his gladness that they are having such an intimate gathering. move further up in the world, and an "alliance" with the even more
He names the night one of the happiest of his life, and tells well-off Crofts will help him do that.
Gerald that his engagement to Sheila means a “tremendous lot”
to him. He mentions that he and Gerald’s father are business
rivals—though Gerald’s father’s business, Crofts Limited, is
older and bigger—and relishes in the possibility of a future
partnership between the Crofts and Birlings. Gerald seconds
his desire for this prospect.
Mrs. Birling and Sheila object to Arthur’s discussing business Again, Mrs. Birling monitors her husband’s contributions to the
on such a night, so Arthur raises his glass. They all raise their conversation, in an attempt to keep him in line with the tone of the
glasses, and Sheila drinks to Gerald. Gerald rises and drinks to evening. Sheila’s pleasure with the engagement ring because it's the
Sheila, and then brings out a ring. Sheila asks if it’s the one he one Gerald wants her to have suggests she's not as progressive as
wanted her to have, he affirms, and she exclaims that it’s she thinks. She likes it because he likes it.
wonderful, shows it to her mother, and slips it onto her finger.
Birling mentions that there’s been a lot of “silly talk” around Mr. Birling briefly indicates the political atmosphere of the
lately, but he encourages Gerald and Sheila to ignore all the time—the frightening prospect of war, and heightened political
pessimism and to rest assured that the notion that war is conflict between those who care most for the prosperity of their
inevitable is “fiddlesticks.” He promises Eric, Gerald, and Sheila own business and those who care more for the rights and fair wages
that in twenty or thirty years everyone will have forgotten of the businesses’ laborers. Birling believes in the current status quo,
about the “Capital versus Labor agitations” that currently seem which places him on top, and dismisses any change to that order as
so prominent. ridiculous.
Mrs. Birling leaves with Sheila and Eric, who is whistling “Rule Mr. Birling demonstrates his preoccupation with his social status
Britannia,” and Birling sits down with Gerald. Birling tells and class position, and assumes that others—such as the
Gerald, in a confidential manner, that he recognizes that Mrs. Crofts—are likewise preoccupied. He considers his prospective
Croft may have wanted her daughter to marry someone in a knighthood to be very important for his advancement, both in his
better social position; he lets Gerald know, as a concession for eyes and in the eyes of the Crofts.
this, that he might be granted a knighthood in the near future.
Gerald congratulates him.

Eric re-enters the room, sits down and pours himself a glass of Birling reinforces a traditional gender stereotype that women care
port. He reports, dismissively, that he has left his mother and more about their appearance and clothing than men.
sister talking about clothes. Birling informs him that clothes
mean more to women, because they function as a sign of self-
respect.
Birling begins in again on his lecture. He tells Eric and Gerald Birling speaks out for the “Capital” side of the conflict that he laid
that a man has to “make his own way,” and not listen to those out earlier, by arguing for the priority of business and self-interest
people who preach about everybody needing to look after over communal interest.
everybody else. He concludes his speech with another glass of
port.
Edna enters and announces that a police inspector by the name Eric’s uneasiness at Gerald and Arthur’s suggestion that he has
of Goole has called on an important matter. Birling instructs gotten into trouble foretells guilt that will be confirmed later on in
her to let him in, and jokes with Gerald that Eric has probably the play. Birling demonstrates his familiarity with the local police
gotten himself into trouble. Eric appears uneasy at the officers as a sign of power. This is the sort of "soft" power—of
suggestion. The Inspector enters and makes an “impression of connection and influence—that the rich display almost without
massiveness, solidity, and purposefulness.” Birling identifies knowing it. Birling's unfamiliarity with Inspector Goole will also
that he must be a new inspector, as he does not recognize him, prove significant as the play progresses.
despite having been an alderman for years and knowing most
of the police officers well.
When Birling presses the Inspector on the reason for his The Inspector’s introduction of the girl’s suicide establishes the
appearance, he explains that he is investigating the suicide of a main premise of the play and sends a sudden shock through the
young woman who recently swallowed disinfectant and died in comfortable world of the Birling's. Birling's claim not to know the
the Infirmary. The Inspector says that he has been to the dead girl despite the fact that she worked for him is an attempt to
girl’s room, where he found a letter and diary. She used more insulate himself from her suicide, to assert to no connection to her
than one name, he says, but her real name was Eva Smith. or her death, almost to deny that he knew her as a human being.
Birling appears to recognize the name, and the Inspector She was just a name on his payroll, he seems to be saying.
informs him that she had been employed in his works. When
Birling claims to know no more, the Inspector pulls out a
picture to show him.
Gerald and Eric attempt to look at the photograph as well, but The Inspector's strict procedural protocol of only showing the
the Inspector does not allow them, preferring to work on only picture to one person at a time will become very significant later in
one line of inquiry at a time. the play.
At the Inspector’s prying, Birling admits that he does Birling is forced to admit that he does know and remember the girl,
remember Eva Smith, and that he had discharged her from his and that he took an active role in her firing.In asking whether his
factory. Eric wonders aloud whether it was because of Birling’s father should be deemed responsible for the girl’s suicide, Eric takes
discharging her that she killed herself. Gerald asks if Birling a stance against his father's position that no person owes any
would prefer that he left, and Birling say that he doesn’t mind, responsibility to anyone else. This is the first of many such
and then lets the Inspector know that Gerald is the son of Sir attributions of guilt that will be made throughout the play. Birling
George Croft. With this piece of information, the Inspector seeks to overawe the Inspector by revealing Gerald's importance.
explicitly asks Gerald to stay. The Inspector's response that Gerald should stay suggests he too is
somehow involved.

Birling contests that he had nothing to do with the girl’s suicide, The Inspector theorizes about the nature of responsibility: in some
because her time at his business long preceded her death, but sense, he proposes, we are responsible even for events very distant
the Inspector disagrees, explaining that what happened to her from the immediate consequences of our actions, because our
at the business might have determined what happened actions precipitate others, which precipitate others, and so on and
afterwards, leading up to the suicide. Birling concedes his point, so forth. Birling sees sense in the Inspector’s point, but still denies it
but still denies responsibility, saying that it would be very as a usable way of living one's life as it would create "awkwardness."
“awkward” if we were all responsible for everything that The implication of the play is that "awkwardness" is not suitable
happened to anyone we’d had anything to do with. grounds to dismiss one's own responsibility.
Eric chimes in with a reference to his father’s previous pep talk, Eric puts the Inspector’s notion of responsibility into contrast with
and Birling explains to the Inspector that he had recently been Birling’s previous lecture about the sole necessity of looking after
giving Gerald and Eric some good advice. Then Birling oneself and not concerning oneself with the well- being of others.
describes Eva Smith as a lively, attractive girl, who was up for Eric sees that the "free" world that Birling sees is not so free, in
promotion, but who became the ring- leader of a group of girls actuality, for the poor. That in some sense Birling's position is based
who went on a strike for a raise—25-shillings per week instead on an illusory and self-serving view of the world. It's noteworthy
of 23. He refused the girls’ request in order to keep labor costs that the older more successful Gerald takes Birling's side.
down, and instructed them that if they didn’t like their current
rates, they could go and work somewhere else, given it was “a
free country.” Eric retorts that the country isn’t so free if you
can’t find work somewhere else. Birling quiets him, but Eric
continues to contest his father’s decision, and Gerald defends
Birling’s side.
After the Inspector expresses allegiance with Eric’s As Birling begins to feel more vulnerable, he increases the social
disapproval, Birling inquires how well the Inspector knows pressure he brings against the Inspector. He seeks to use his
Chief Constable. The Inspector replies that he doesn’t see him connections to control or limit this investigation.
often, and Birling warns him that he is a good friend of the
Chief.
Eric continues to ask his father why the girls shouldn’t have Eric again displays his growing allegiance with the laborers’ side of
demanded higher wages, and adds that in the same position, he the conflict, in defending their right to higher wages. The
would have let them stay. Birling chastises Eric, then asks the investigation is beginning to introduce conflict into the family.
Inspector what happened to the girl after he let her go. Sheila Birling seeks to shield her daughter from the investigation, for the
enters the room; when her father tells her to run along, the simple reason that she's a woman.
Inspector holds her back for questioning. He tells her what’s
happened, and Sheila is very upset by the news of the suicide.
When Birling and Gerald chime in that there’s nothing more to Up until this point, it has seemed as though the Inspector came for
be revealed, the Inspector asks if they’re sure they don’t know the sole purpose of interrogating Mr. Birling, but it comes out now
what happened to the girl afterward, suggesting that one of the that he has come to question others of the Birling family as
remaining Birlings does. The Inspector reveals that he hasn’t well—that he sees multiple people in the family as possibly
come to the house to see Mr. Birling alone. connected to this suicide.

The Inspector reminds the family that Eva Smith used more As at other moments throughout the investigation, the Inspector
than one name, and then tells them that, for the months universalizes Eva Smith’s situation, by comparing her to the
following her dismissal from Birling’s, the girl was unemployed countless other girls in her position as an underpaid, downtrodden
and downtrodden. He reminds the family that many young laborer. Sheila seems, like her brother (and unlike the older members
women are similarly suffering in their underpaid labor of the family), to be growing sympathetic with the laboring class.,
positions. Sheila objects that the working girls are people seeing them as people and not just resources.
rather than cheap labor, and the Inspector agrees. He then
continues to recount the tale of Eva Smith: she was hired at a
shop, Milward’s, but was fired after a couple of months because
of a customer’s complaint. When the Inspector says this last bit,
he looks at Sheila, who now appears agitated.
Sheila asks what the girl looked like, and then sobs and leaves Sheila acts suspiciously and as though guilty when she sees the girl’s
the room when the Inspector shows her the girl’s photograph. picture.
Birling scolds the Inspector for upsetting his daughter and their
celebratory evening.
Gerald asks the Inspector if he can look at the photograph, but The Inspector reminds the family of his peculiar procedural
the Inspector reiterates his preference for maintaining one line preferences, and contributes yet another pointed theoretical
of inquiry at a time. Eric exasperatedly interjects that he’s had statement inspired by the case, regarding the thin line between
enough and makes to leave, but the Inspector insists that he criminality and innocence, which seems to suggest that even those
stay. He adds that sometimes there isn’t as much difference as acting within the law can be responsible for great harm.
it seems between respectable citizens and dangerous criminals.
Sheila re-enters and asks the Inspector if he knew all the time Sheila admits to her participation in the girl’s firing from Milward’s;
that she was guilty. The Inspector says that he had an idea she her recognition of her own guilt makes her feel even worse about
might have been, on the basis of the girl’s diaries. Sheila asks Eva Smith’s fate.
the Inspector if she’s really responsible, and he says not
entirely, but partly.
Sheila explains that she had told the manager of Milward’s to Sheila’s reasons for demanding that Eva Smith be fired from
fire the girl, threatening that if they didn’t fire her, Mrs. Birling Milward’s were petty and thoughtless. Because of her family’s
would close the family’s account there. Sheila admits that she prominence and high economic position, Sheila was able to have a
was acting out of a bad temper, which was provoked by seeing significant influence on the life of another person—to satisfy her
the girl smile at a salesgirl while Sheila was looking at the own vanity by having another woman fired. The hurt Sheila caused
mirror trying on something that didn’t suit her and had looked was much greater than what she endured.
better on the girl. When Sheila effusively expresses her
remorse, the Inspector harshly responds that it’s too late.
The Inspector continues on with his narrative of the dead girl’s The inspection begins to incite various personal conflicts within the
difficult travails, now adding that after she was fired at family; here, it provokes Gerald to expose his unfaithfulness to
Milward’s, she changed her name to Daisy Renton. At the Sheila, thus weakening their formerly strong engagement.
mention of the name, Gerald looks startled and pours himself a
drink. The Inspector and Eric depart, leaving Gerald and Sheila
alone; Sheila questions Gerald about his startling at Daisy’s
name, and he admits that he knew her. She asks if it was Miss
Renton that he was seeing during the spring and summer that
he was so busy, and he grants that it was and apologizes.

Gerald pleads with Sheila to not mention that he knew Daisy Sheila has caught on to the logic and rigor of the Inspector’s
Renton, and Sheila laughs and insists that the Inspector surely investigation, and is confident that it will be exhaustive.
already knows. “You’ll see. You’ll see,” she says triumphantly.
ACT 2
The scene and situation remains the same as at the end of Act The Inspector points out the hypocrisy in Gerald’s wanting to
1, except that the main table is slightly more upstage. The protect Sheila from unpleasant things, in light of his previous
Inspector remains at the door, and then enters the room and activities with Daisy Renton. It is clear that Gerald only wants
looks expectantly to Gerald. Gerald suggests that Sheila should Sheila to leave so that she won’t hear more about his infidelity.
be excused from the proceedings, but she insists on staying for
the rest of the interrogation. The Inspector asks Gerald if he
thinks women shouldn’t have to deal with unpleasant things,
and then reminds him of one woman who wasn’t spared.
When Sheila again insists on staying, Gerald suggests that she Previously so content and apparently in love, Gerald and Sheila
only wants to see someone else go through the questioning. have become increasingly antagonistic with one another since the
His suggestion offends her and she accuses him of judging her revelation of Gerald’s affair. The Inspector makes another general
to be selfish and vindictive. The Inspector offers his remark about the necessity of sharing guilt, which renews suspicion
interpretation that Sheila simply doesn’t want to be alone with about his unusual investigative methods and effusive theorizing.
her responsibility and that, if nothing else, we have to “share
our guilt.” Sheila agrees with him, but then begins to question
his strange manner for a police officer.
Before he can respond, Mrs. Birling strides in. She has been Sheila has clearly been influenced by the proceedings thus far, and
informed of the proceedings, and insists to the Inspector that disapproves of her mother’s continued stridency. She tries to
the family will not be able to assist him any more. Sheila begs convince Mrs. Birling of the importance of humility at this point in
her mother not to act so stridently and risk saying or doing the investigation.
something that she’ll later regret. She and Gerald and Mr.
Birling, she explains, had all begun confident until the Inspector
began questioning them.
Mrs. Birling suggests that Sheila go to bed, because she won’t Again Sheila appears to have already learned and internalized
be able to understand the motives of a girl “of that class.” Sheila lessons from the interrogation— in addition to humility, she has
again refuses to leave, and again warns her mother against developed an increased respect for the lower classes and greater
building a wall between herself and the girl that the Inspector is hesitance to draw sharp lines between classes of people. Mrs.
bound to tear town. Mrs. Birling continues on in this vein, Birling, meanwhile, stubbornly invokes the family’s social status,
taking offense at the Inspector’s inquiry and reminding him of thus betraying her own ignorance of the lessons to be learned from
her husband’s high position as a magistrate and former Lord the proceedings, and refusing to believe that people of her class
Mayor. could even understand those of the lower class.

Mrs. Birling reports that her husband is in the other room The inspection has resulted in numerous personal revelations,
calming Eric down from his excitable mood. When she explains including this revelation of Eric’s drinking habits. Sheila uses this
that her son isn’t used to drinking so much, Sheila corrects her information, and her mother’s surprised reaction to it, to support
by revealing that Eric has been consistently over-drinking for her insistence that Mrs. Birling needs to be more humble and not so
the past two years. Mrs. Birling doesn’t believe it, but Gerald presumptuous, that wealth and the trappings of "respectability" do
testifies that Eric is indeed a heavy drinker. Sheila reminds her not automatically equal moral rightness.
mother that she had warned her not to presumptively build
walls between herself and others that she deemed less
respectable.
Birling enters and reports that Eric has refused to go to bed as The Inspector is letting on that Eric, too, played a part in Eva Smith’s
his father asked him, because the Inspector has requested that downfall, but Mrs. Birling in the arrogant blindness of her privileged
he stay. He asks the Inspector if this is true, and then position is blind to this implication.
encourages him to question the boy now, if he is going to at all.
The Inspector insists that Eric wait his turn. Sheila provokes her
mother, “You see?” but Mrs. Birling doesn’t understand.
Birling takes offense at the Inspector’s tone and handling of the Again, suspicion is raised at the Inspector’s manner. As at their
inquiry. The Inspector coolly proceeds to ask Gerald when he discovery of Eric’s drinking habits, the Birlings are surprised by the
first got to know Daisy Renton. His presumption of an revelation of Gerald’s affair. The Birling parents are continually
acquaintance between Gerald and the girl surprises the Birling taken aback by the actual behavior of their children and relations,
parents. Gerald half-heartedly attempts to seem surprised by and yet remain seemingly incapable of drawing lessons from it.
the Inspector’s presumption, but then he gives in and confesses
that he met the girl in the bar at the Palace Music Hall, a
favorite destination for “women of the town.”
Gerald explains that he was going to leave the bar when he Though the investigation is a formal procedure, Gerald’s sudden
noticed a girl who appeared different from the rest. In the exclamation reminds us as well of its emotionally fraught and tragic
middle of describing this girl, he exclaims “My God!,” having just content. Again, Mr. and Mrs. Birling are proven to have been
internalized the girl’s death. He continues his description of her ignorant of the actual behavior of others in their "respectable" class,
as charmingly dressed, and notes that at the moment he as they learn with great surprise about the universally known
noticed her she was being harassed by Old Joe Meggarty. Mrs. immoral behavior of an alderman they presumed to be respectable.
Birling bristles at the idea that Gerald is speaking of Alderman
Meggarty, whom she had always thought respectable, but
Gerald and Sheila confirm that Meggarty is a renowned
womanizer.
Gerald goes on to describe his first meeting with Daisy Gerald portrays his own role in Daisy Renton’s narrative to be rather
Renton—he took her out of the bar to the County Hotel, where innocent and well intentioned—he helped her in a time of
he asked her questions about herself. She vaguely mentioned impoverishment and need, and the affair, according to him, only
her jobs at Birling’s and at Milward’s. Gerald realized a few came secondarily. And this may even be true, but it also suggests he
nights later, when they met again, that she was completely did not understand the level of influence he would have over her
impoverished, and offered her to live in a set of rooms that once he put her up.
belonged to a friend of his who was away on a trip. He assures
the Birlings that he did not put her there in order to sleep with
her, and that the affair only came after.

Gerald apologizes to the Inspector, but Sheila insists that she The investigation veers into the personal when the Inspector
rather more deserves the apology. The Inspector asks firsts inquires about the terms of Gerald’s affair and his level of affection.
whether the girl became his mistress and then whether he was Gerald was willing to have an affair with a poorer woman he did not
in love with her. Gerald responds affirmatively to the first love—he was in it for enjoyment. Also note how Gerald doesn't think
question and hesitatingly to the second. to apologize to the woman to whom he is engaged.
Gerald reports that he broke off the affair in the first week of Gerald comes off relatively cleanly. Yet while, from his point of view,
September, right before he was to go away for several weeks; the affair ended smoothly, and with Daisy Renton’s compliance,
she took it very well, and Gerald gave her a small parting gift of that Daisy Renton went off to be by herself suggests that she may
money to help her support herself for a while. She didn’t have needed to emotionally recover; that she was more in love with
mention to Gerald what she planned on doing afterward, but this man who had helped her than he ever understood.
the Inspector fills him in that she went away to a seaside place
to be alone.
Upset by the proceedings, Gerald excuses himself to walk The inspection has taken a serious toll on the family, now severing
outside and be alone for a bit. Sheila returns her engagement ties between the previously engaged Sheila and Gerald. Sheila's
ring to him before he leaves. She respects him for his honesty, comment is interesting, as they are exactly the same people who sat
she says, but believes that they just aren’t the same people who down to dinner; now they just know more about each other. Birling
sat down to dinner, and that they would have to re-build their seeks to keep things comfortable and "reasonable" more than he
relationship anew. Birling tries to convince Sheila to be more does about his daughter's emotional well-being or pride.
reasonable, but Sheila replies that Gerald knows better than
her father does what she means; Gerald concurs.
Mrs. Birling announces that it seems they’ve almost reached Gerald, like Sheila before, is confident that the Inspector still has
the end of it, but Gerald interrupts that he doesn’t think so, unforeseeable tricks up his sleeve. He seems, in addition, to suspect
before he walks out the door. Sheila points out that the the consistency of the Inspector’s procedures, given that he was
Inspector never showed Gerald the picture of the girl, and the never shown a picture as the other Birlings were.
Inspector responds that he didn’t think it necessary.
The Inspector shows the photograph to Mrs. Birling, who Mrs. Birling, like Mr. Birling earlier, refuses to admit she knows or
denies recognizing it. The Inspector accuses her of lying. Birling recognizes the girl, even though Sheila can see that she does. The
demands that the Inspector apologize for his accusation, but Inspector bluntly does not believe this, and his response to Mr.
the Inspector instead retorts that public men “have their Birling suggests that Birling and his family have been enjoying the
responsibilities as well as their privileges.” Birling responds that privileges of their public success while not recognizing their
the Inspector was never asked to talk to Mr. Birling about his responsibilities. Sheila again tries to make her parents realize the
responsibilities. Sheila contributes her feeling that the Birlings lessons before their eyes: that they shouldn’t presume their own
no longer have a right to put on airs. She then confronts her superiority or doubt the integrity of the investigation.
mother, insisting that she could tell by her expression that Mrs.
Birling indeed recognized the photograph.
The front door slams, and there is some question about The Inspector now focuses on Mrs. Birling, clearly indicating that he
whether Gerald has returned or Eric has left. The Inspector knows that she does know the girl and about her participation in the
continues his interrogation of Mrs. Birling by identifying her as girl’s fate.
a prominent member of the Brumley Women’s Charity
Organization. He asks about a meeting of the interviewing
committee a couple of weeks previous.

Mr. Birling asks why his wife should answer the Inspector’s Mrs. Birling joins her husband, daughter, and daughter’s fiancé in
questions, and the Inspector informs him that the girl had admitting that she, too, played a part in Eva Smith’s downfall. Based
appealed to the Women’s Charity Organization two weeks on her personal annoyance at the girl, Mrs. Birling denied her
prior. According to the Inspector, the girl initially called herself aid—an action similar, though more serious, to Sheila getting the girl
Mrs. Birling, which Mrs. Birling notes having found very fired.
impertinent. At the Inspector’s provocation, Mrs. Birling admits
that she was prejudiced against the girl’s case and used her
influence to assure that the girl be refused aid from the
committee.
The Inspector asks Mrs. Birling why the girl wanted help, and Mrs. Birling refuses to play into the Inspector’s motive to awaken
Mrs. Birling initially refuses to answer, determined not to cave the Birlings to their responsibility for the girl’s death. She sees her
under his pressure as the other three did, and convinced that role on the charity organization not as to help people but to wield
she is not ashamed of anything she’s done. She explains simply influence in deciding who does and doesn't deserve aid.
that she wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim and so used her
influence to deny her aid, and then reiterates that she’s done
nothing wrong.
The Inspector states that he thinks she has done something The girl’s pregnancy adds yet another layer of tragedy to her suicide,
very wrong that she will regret for the rest of her life. He and augments Sheila’s feelings of devastation and guilt. The fact
wishes that she’d been with him at the Infirmary to see the that the Inspector has withheld this piece of information until this
dead girl, and then he reveals the more devastating fact that point, however, makes it seem as though he has conducted the
the girl had also been pregnant when she killed herself. Sheila is investigation specifically with the goal of creating suspense and
horrified and asks how the pregnant girl could have wanted to increasing astonishment.
commit suicide; the Inspector answers that she had been
“turned out and turned down too many times.”
The Inspector adds that it was because she was pregnant that Sheila’s disapproval of her mother for refusing the girl aid mirrors
she appealed to the Women’s Charity Organization. Mrs. Eric’s disapproval of his father for refusing her a raise. Both Eric and
Birling repeats what she reports having said to the girl—that Sheila continue to express growing sympathies with the lower class,
she ought to go appeal to the child’s father, as providing for the while the Birling parents remain defensive of their use of power and
child was his responsibility. Sheila tells her mother that she influence and willingness to stand in judgment of the lower classes
thinks what she did was “cruel and vile.” (despite the fact that their own class has been revealed by the
Inspector to be not as respectable as it first appeared).
It comes out that the child’s father had offered the girl money, Mrs. Birling stubbornly refuses to accept any culpability for the girl’s
but that she didn’t want to take it because it was stolen. The suicide, and instead places guilt on the girl herself. She thereby
Inspector asks Mrs. Birling if it wasn’t a good thing that the girl demonstrates allegiance with her husband’s philosophy about the
refused to take the money. She says possibly, but stands firm in priority of self-responsibility over mutual responsibility.
refusing to accept any blame. At the Inspector’s lead, Mrs.
Birling claims that, if the father was indeed guilty of thievery,
then he is entirely responsible for the girl’s suicide and
deserves to be punished.

Sheila cries out “Stop” to her mother, and asks her if she doesn’t Mrs. Birling realizes too late that she has foolishly placed blame on
see what’s going on, right after the Inspector voices his her own son. Mrs. Birling seems to have believed that the father of
eagerness for Eric’s return. When the door slams, signifying the baby must also have been lower class. Her blindness makes it
Eric’s return, Mrs. Birling finally understands and asks the impossible for her to see that her own class—her own son—might be
Inspector if her son is all mixed up in this. The Inspector "mixed up in this."
responds that, if he is, it’ll be clear what to do with him, based
on what Mrs. Birling has just said. The Inspector holds his hand
up as the front door sounds; everyone waits and looks towards
the door; Eric enters pale and distressed. The curtain falls
slowly.
ACT 3
The scene is the same as at the end of Act 2. Eric is standing Intra-family antagonisms ensue when Eric learns that both his
near the entrance of the room and asks if they know. The mother and sister have betrayed him. The Inspector has to ask the
Inspector confirms that they do, and Sheila reveals that their Birling family to sort through their private problems after he has
mother placed blame on whichever young man got the girl into cleared up the more public problems that he is addressing in the
trouble. Eric bitterly accuses his mother of making it difficult investigation.
for him, and Mrs. Birling defends that she couldn’t have known
the man in question was him, as he’s not the kind of person to
get drunk. Sheila corrects her as she did before, which prompts
Eric to blame Sheila for betraying his drinking habits. The
Birling parents begin accusing Sheila of family disloyalty, when
the Inspector cuts them off and encourages them to address
their family relationships after he’s finished.
Eric pours himself a drink and begins to explain his story: he Eric’s relationship with Eva Smith was very similar to Gerald’s, but
met the girl the previous November in the Palace bar, while he was different enough to render his actions punishable: like Gerald,
was “a bit squiffy,” and started talking to her. He clarifies that he met her at a bar and then continued to see and sleep with her;
she wasn’t there to “solicit.” He went back to her place that unlike Gerald, however, he incidentally got her pregnant. Also like
night. At her father’s insistence, Sheila removes her mother Gerald, he tried to be responsible in providing the girl with money;
from the room. Eric continues: he saw the girl a number of unlike Gerald, however, (as will soon be seen), the money he
times after, and one of the times, she told him she was provided was obtained illegally.
pregnant. The girl didn’t want to marry him because he didn’t
love her. He gave her fifty pounds to support her.
When Mr. Birling asks where the fifty pounds came from, Eric Eric is the first of the Birlings to be accused of committing a legal
confesses that he took it from his father’s office. Mrs. Birling crime. The other Birlings did things that were immoral, but none
enters again, curious, and her husband informs her of both of that necessarily defied a law. Because of the definable illegality of
the son’s wrongdoings—impregnating the girl and stealing Eric’s wrongdoing, the Birling parents will be more upset with him
Birling’s money. Eric explains that he got the money by than they were with Sheila or with each other.
collecting small accounts, giving the firm’s receipt, and then
keeping the money for himself. When his father asks him why
he didn’t just ask him for help, Eric replies that he’s not the
“kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.”

The Inspector leadingly asks Eric if the girl found out that his Eric avenges the blame that his mother placed on him by returning
money had been stolen, and Eric says that she had and that she the gesture and blaming her in turn. At the same time, the girl who
refused to see him afterward, but then he asks how the Mrs. Birling refused aid turned down on account of her low morals
Inspector had known that. Sheila reveals that Mrs. Birling sat now is revealed as quite moral—refusing money in a time of need.
on the committee that assessed the girl’s need for aid. Eric The girl's use of the name Mrs. Birling in front of the charity
turns to his mother to blame her for the girl’s suicide and organization also takes on a new light, as she may have been
begins to threaten her. referencing the fact that she was carrying Eric Birling's child.
The Inspector states that he does not need to know any more, The Inspector’s departing reminder makes it seem as though the
and reminds the family that each member is responsible for the main project of his inspection all along was to convince the Birling
death of Eva Smith. He tells them to never forget it. Mr. Birling family of the immorality of their separate actions toward Eva Smith,
offers the Inspector a bribe of thousands of pounds, but the of their responsibilities as people with wealth and power and as
Inspector refuses it. people in general. Birling, with his bribe, continues to try to use
power and influence to evade responsibility.
The Inspector deduces a moral from the investigation—though The Inspector speaks in the vein of the people that Mr. Birling
Eva Smith has gone, there are millions and millions of Eva positioned himself against in the beginning of the play, strongly
Smiths still alive, who have hopes and suffering and aspirations, asserting the fundamental humanity of all people and therefore the
and who are all implicated in what we think, say, and do. He responsibility of everyone for everyone.
insists that everyone is responsible for each other, and then
walks out.
Sheila is left crying, Mrs. Birling is collapsed in a chair, Eric is The Birlings recover from this bombardment of information. Mr.
brooding, and Birling pours himself a drink and then tells Eric Birling places most blame on Eric, presumably because his
that he considers him to be most blameful. He fears for the contribution to the affair –given its illegality—will result in the
public scandal that will surely result from the investigation and greatest social scandal and will do most harm to the family’s name.
that might harm his chances at a knighthood. Eric asks what
difference it makes if he gets a knighthood now; Birling warns
Eric that he’ll be required to repay everything he’s stolen and
work for nothing until he has.
Sheila is upset that her parents are acting as though nothing Sheila and Mr. Birling split in their respective opinions of the moral
has happened. She then wonders aloud whether the Inspector consequence of the Birlings’ actions; Sheila thinks that they have
wasn’t actually a police inspector at all. Birling judges that it ethical significance regardless of their legal assessment; Birling, on
would make a big difference if the Inspector had been a fake, the other hand, cares only about the legal and social consequences.
while Sheila judges that it wouldn’t, because what is really
important are the truths revealed by the questioning. Birling
recalls that the Inspector did talk like a Socialist.
Edna announces Gerald’s entrance. Gerald inquires how the Gerald confirms Sheila’s earlier hypothesis that the Inspector was
Inspector behaved with them since his departure, and then he bluffing about his affiliation with the police department. Suddenly
reveals that the Inspector wasn’t a real police officer. Gerald the legal ramifications of what the Inspector revealed disappear.
met a police sergeant on his walk and asked him about
Inspector Goole; the Sergeant swore that there was no
inspector by the same name or description.

The Birling parents are very excited by this news, and Birling The removal of the legal (and therefore social) consequences of
calls Chief Constable to verify that there is no Inspector whose what has happened widens the split between the family members.
name is Goole or who matches his description. Birling exclaims The Birling parents care about their position, and therefore when
that this makes all the difference, and again Sheila and Eric the legal issues are gone consider themselves home free. Eric and
insist that it doesn’t. Birling reasons that the inspection was Sheila, who care about Eva Smith herself and the basic morality of
probably set up by someone in the town who doesn’t like him. the Birlings' actions, don't agree.
Mrs. Birling reminds her family that she was the only one who Mrs. Birling sees the interaction with the Inspector as one based on
didn’t give in to him, and suggests that they now discuss the power: only she didn't give in to him. Now she wants to keep the
affair amongst them and determine if there is anything to do entire affair private and handle it themselves (and also prepare to
about it. Birling agrees with his wife, and adds that that the deal with any other consequences beyond the Inspector).
Inspector may not be the end of it.
Birling demands that Eric, who is looking sulky, begin to take The rift widens between the older Birlings who wish to put their
some interest in the matter. Eric responds that his problem is deeds and the inspection behind them, and those (the children) who
rather that he’s taken too much interest, and Sheila joins him in cannot forget what they've done and what happened to the girl with
this sentiment. Mr. Birling and Mrs. Birling voice their desire to whom they were connected.
“behave sensibly” in the circumstance, but their children rebut
that they can’t pretend that nothing’s happened, when the girl
is still dead and the family members still did the things they
confessed to doing. Both sides continue to protest and defend
their own positions.
Gerald proposes that the one fact that Eric and Sheila are Gerald's hypotheses turns the philosophical and moral screw of the
assigning great significance—that Eva Smith is dead—may not play even further: if Eva was not a single individual and there was no
even be a fact after all. He asks the Birlings how they know that suicide, then there were no dire consequences. The play has already
they’ve all committed offenses to the same girl, suggesting that created a contrast between legality and morality. Now it asks the
the photographs the Inspector showed the family members question of whether immoral behavior is less immoral if there are no
might actually have been distinct photographs, and not of the serious consequences. Gerald and Birling seem to think not.
same girl. Birling catches on, and reasons that they only had the
Inspector’s word for it, but now that they know that he lied
about his identity, he might well have been lying about it all.
Gerald asks what happened after he’d left. Mrs. Birling Mrs. Birling revisits her performance in the questioning, and
recounts that the Inspector accused her of seeing Eva Smith retrospectively sees that she had been manipulated into answering
only two weeks previous, and that she had assented even as the Inspector wanted her to; she thus tries to use the Inspector’s
though the girl hadn’t called herself Eva Smith before the newfound guilt to bolster her own innocence.
Committee. She admits that she had felt compelled to provide
what the Inspector expected from her.
Eric still doesn’t believe Gerald’s claim, and insists that the girl Even though Eric should logically be the most relieved, he is also the
that he got pregnant was the same that asked his mother for least willing to dismiss the girl’s suicide as an invented hoax, likely
aid. Gerald proposes that even that could have been nonsense. because he feels guiltiest for the offenses that he committed. It's
Eric fights back, arguing that it’s not nonsense because the almost like Eric needs the consequence in order to feel the guilt he
girl’s still dead, but Gerald asks “what girl?” Eric still holds to the knows he should feel.
idea that the girl he knew is dead, even though he has no
evidence for it apart from the Inspector’s testimony.

Birling triumphantly continues to hypothesize that the Again, the case is further unraveled, and its ethical significance
Inspector simply shocked them into submission with his initial further confused, when it turns out that no suicide took place. Yet,
description of the girl’s suicide, in order to more easily bluff oddly, as Eva Smith ceases to be a real person, she becomes even
them throughout his inquiry. Gerald suggests that they call the more of a symbol of all poor women and people affected by the
Infirmary to confirm whether or not there was any suicide at all, blind and uncaring power of the rich.
and though Birling objects that it will look “queer,” he proceeds,
and discovers from the hospital that they haven’t had a suicide
for months.
Gerald, Mr. Birling, and Mrs. Birling relax at this news and pour In contrast to their parents and Gerald, Sheila and Eric firmly
themselves a drink. Sheila refuses to celebrate, and continues believe that the investigation and the truths it revealed remain
to claim that what has happened remains important, and that it significant. They take the position that t that uncaring acts toward
was only lucky that it didn’t end tragically this time. Eric joins others that could result in harm to others, even if no such harm
her in refusing to pretend that everything is as it was before. occurs, are immoral and must be responded to as such. Sheila's
Sheila articulates that she can’t forget what the Inspector said refusal to renew her engagement to Gerald is a refusal to go back to
and how he made her feel, and that it frightens her that her the unthinking, comfortable state she occupied before.
parents can so easily forget it. She refuses Gerald’s offer to
renew their engagement.
Just as Birling begins to make fun of his overly serious children, The play concludes on an ambiguous note: did the Inspector know
the telephone rings. After Birling hangs up, he reports that it that a girl had or was going to commit suicide by disinfectant, or is
was the police, alerting him that a girl has just died on her way the play just a constructed political allegory that ultimately proves
to the infirmary, after swallowing some disinfectant, and that a Sheila’s point:“If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But
Police Inspector is on his way to ask some questions. The it might have done”? Taken symbolically, it's possible to see this
Birlings stare “guiltily and dumbfounded.” As Sheila rises to sudden death as a response to the question about morality when
stand, the curtain falls slowly. there are no consequences: that even if some immoral acts based on
denying the humanity of others don't produce consequences, they
will eventually result in consequences, not just for those harmed
but for those like the Birlings who do the harming. Sheila standing
as the curtain falls seems to indicate not just her willingness but her
desire that the Birlings be forced to face what they have done.

HOW T
TO
O CITE
To cite this LitChart:
MLA
Batkin, Liza. "An Inspector Calls." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 3 Apr
2014. Web. 25 Apr 2018.
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MANUAL
AL
Batkin, Liza. "An Inspector Calls." LitCharts LLC, April 3, 2014.
Retrieved April 25, 2018. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/an-
inspector-calls.
To cite any of the quotes from An Inspector Calls covered in the

Quotes section of this LitChart:
MLA
Priestley, J. B.. An Inspector Calls. Dramatists Play Service, Inc..
1998.
CHICA
CHICAGO
GO MANU
MANUAL
AL
Priestley, J. B.. An Inspector Calls. New York: Dramatists Play
Service, Inc.. 1998.

An Inspector Calls LitChart

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What is known about J.B. Priestley's background and career?

What is known about J.B. Priestley's background and career?

What is the historical context of when the play is set?

What is the historical context of when the play is set?

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I can’t help thinking about this girl—destroying herself so Related Symbols:

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Explanation and Analysis

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Explanation and Analysis

Act 3 Quotes The Inspector comes to the conclusion he's been

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SUMMARY AND ANAL

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