An Inspector Calls: Themes and Characters

Overview of "An Inspector Calls"

• A three-act play set in 1912, in the dining room of the affluent Birling family in the fictional industrial city of Brumley, in the north of England
• The play revolves around Inspector Goole's visit to the Birlings and Gerald Croft, concerning the suicide of Eva Smith
• Each character is confronted with their involvement in Eva's death, revealing their actions and moral standing

Plot Summary

• The Birlings and Gerald Croft celebrate Sheila and Gerald's engagement when Inspector Goole arrives
• Goole informs them of Eva Smith's suicide by drinking disinfectant, prompting an investigation into the family's connections to her
• Arthur Birling admits to firing Eva Smith from his factory for leading a strike for higher wages
• Sheila Birling confesses to getting Eva dismissed from her next job at a dress shop due to jealousy
• Gerald Croft admits to having an affair with Eva, who he knew as Daisy Renton
• Sybil Birling admits to denying Eva assistance from her charity due to Eva's pregnancy and refusal to marry the child's father
• Eric Birling confesses to having a relationship with Eva and stealing money from his father to support her
• The Inspector rebukes the family for their actions and leaves
• The family discovers that Inspector Goole may be a fraud
• Arthur rings the Chief Constable, who confirms their suspicion
• Arthur, Sybil, and Gerald rejoice, while Sheila and Eric are upset by their behavior
• A phone call informs them that a police inspector is on the way to investigate a girl's death by disinfectant poisoning

Exam Assessment

• Part of Paper 2, Section A of the GCSE English Literature exam which requires an essay-length answer to a set question
• The essay is worth 34 marks, including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation, and grammar
• It is a closed-book exam so no access to the text during the exam
• Questions ask to analyze and write in detail about a particular aspect and the analysis should address the play as a whole

J.B. Priestley Context

• John Boyton Priestley (1894-1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and broadcaster
• "An Inspector Calls", his best-known play, was written in 1945
• Priestley was interested in subverting narrative structures, especially, in 'Time Plays', where characters are encouraged to look back at their past actions

Characters

• The play features carefully crafted characters that represent concepts or belief systems
• Key characters: Inspector Goole, Arthur Birling, Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling, Gerald Croft, and Eva Smith

Themes

• Key themes are guilt, responsibility, social class etc
• Understanding these themes aids in a "conceptualized approach" to the play, crucial for high marks in exams

Guilt and Responsibility

Elements of Guilt and Responsibility

• The telephonic conclusion acts as a portent to consequences for those rejecting accountability
• The Inspector serves as the embodiment of social accountability, making every character account for their involvement in Eva Smith’s demise
• Mr. and Mrs. Birling, emblematic of a selfish elder demographic, hold prominent societal roles but lack in extending compassion
• Sheila and Eric, weighed down by their guilt concerning their actions involving Eva, embody the capacity for a more empathetic younger set to embrace communal accountability

Impact of Guilt & Responsibility

• Priestley uses the Inspector as a mouthpiece for socialist ideologies, emphasizing accountability
• Inspector stresses that the privileged have a duty to aid the vulnerable
• Mr/Mrs Birling exemplify self-serving behavior, precipitating a chain of events
• Gerald feels remorse, yet later dismisses the Inspector as fake; Sheila feels guilty over her actions

Capitalism vs. Socialism

Elements of Capitalism vs. Socialism:

• Priestley utilizes characterization to present capitalism versus socialism
• The Inspector’s moralistic speeches condemn the capitalistic greed, which victimizes the impoverished
• Mr. Birling and Mr. Gerald represents the capitalistic side who treated Eva Smith as cheap labour

Impact of Capitalism vs. Socialism

• Presents Mr. Birling’s comfortable lifestyle while contrasting Eva’s impoverished situation
• Eva was exploited and marginalized by Mr. Birling and Mr. Gerald under the capitalistic system
• The play calls to action for Socialism and to avoid mistakes of the past to move forward

Class

Elements of Class:

• Symbolic Settings (The Birlings’ lavish home is sharply contrasted with the workers in Arthur’s factory
• Prejudice- The Birlings cannot genuinely empathize with those of the working class

Impact of Class:

• Sheila warns her mother to ‘not build a wall’ due to class differences
• Mr.Birling is concerned Mr. Gerald's engagement to his daughter may be a social step down

Gender

Elements of Gender:

• Relationships- Sheila’s and Gerlad's relationship highlights the expectations of women in 1912
• Exploitation- Gender is linked to class

Impact of Gender:

• Sheila challenges her father and refuses Gerald’s engagement to change patriarchal norms
• Priestley emphasizes how society has evolved since 1912

Generational Divide

Elements of Generational Divide:

• Sheila and Eric challenge their parents' views open
• Mr. Birling and the older generation ignores the Inspector's lesson about responsibility

Impact of Generational Divide:

• Gerald is initially accepting but later sides with the older generation
• Priestley’s 1945 audience would have seen themselves as the younger generation

Arthur Birling

• He is described as a heavy-looking, portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech
• A former Lord Major and magistrate, hoping to obtain a knighthood
• Wealthy factory owner, presented as a caricature of a Capitalist businessman opposed to Inspector Goole's Socialist aspirations
• In Act I, he delivers lengthy monologues that reveal self-centeredness, arrogance, and a myopic view of society
• dramatic irony reveals Arthur's short-sightedness
• He is unwilling to change as his personal beliefs don't allow it
• Blind to consequences, repeatedly defending himself and directing blame at others/ attempting to cover the tragedy

Sybil Birling

• "a rather cold woman and her husband's superior"
• Exhibits snobbish, uncaring, and dismissive behavior
• Symbolizes the privileges and selfish conduct of the upper class

Eric Birling

• First described as being "in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
• Description denotes his lack of confidence and social awkwardness
• In stark contrast to the other characters on stage, especially Gerald
• Attempts to challenge some of his parents' views early in the play
• Eric's language sharply contrasts with that of his parents
• Towards the end he becomes a much more assertive character

Sheila Birling

• First described as "a pretty girl in her twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited"
• The initial description suggests silliness and perhaps naivety
• Portrayed as sympathetic and courageous as she is the first character to empathise with Eva Smith
• Conveys a greater sense of intuition and her dialogue in Act I foreshadows future events in the play

Gerald Croft

• First described as "an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town"
• His description presents him in a positive light showing him to be confident amiable, and polite
• As the social superior of the Birling family, he represents immense privilege
• Presents little dissension to both Mr and Mrs Birling's attitudes and behavior

Inspector Goole

• Stage directions reveal "need not be a big man" but must create an "impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"
• Presented as a powerful figure with an imposing presence
• Priestley intentionally names the Inspector Goole which introduces a supernatural or ghost-like element to the play
• His entrance in Act I makes an immediate impact and changes the tone of the evening

Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

• Presented as the play's victim, and audience does not meet Eva Smith
• The audience relies on the Inspector, and his interrogation of the other characters, to reveal her character
• The audience relies on the Inspector, and his interrogation of the other characters, to reveal her character

An Inspector Calls: Context

• Priestley's "An Inspector Calls," published near the end of World War II, grapples with the era's pressing issues by weaving a narrative that challenges the existing societal order, while advocating for a shift towards collective responsibility and social justice
• Priestley, a known socialist was inspired to convey the declining Edwardian Era and promote socialism

Writer’s Methods and Techniques:

• Key literary techniques:
  • Dramatic Irony
  • Symbolism
  • Moralistic language
  • Imagery

Explore the themes, character development, and societal critique in Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls.' Analyze the Inspector's role, the Birling's responsibility, and Eva Smith's symbolism. Understand the play's structure and its impact on dramatic tension.