PLOT SUMMARY

Act 1
The Birling family (Arthur, Sybil, Sheila and Eric) and Gerald Croft, are having a meal to celebrate the engagement of
Sheila and Gerald.
Arthur Birling makes a toast. In it, he informs the younger members of the family that their future looks bright and that
it is important to look after themselves. Priestley makes use of dramatic irony to undermine Arthur Birling – Birling says
there won’t be a war and talks about the success of the Titanic.
Just as Mr. Birling says, “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”, the doorbell rings.
Shortly after, the maid shows Inspector Goole into the room.
The Inspector explains that a young woman has died after drinking bleach. He questions Mr. Birling, who admits to
having her sacked after she was involved in a strike at the factory. The Inspector then questions Sheila, who admits to
having the girl sacked from Milwards because she was jealous that the girl looked better in the dress she liked than she
did.

Act 2
The Inspector’s attention falls on Gerald. When questioned, he admits that he knew the girl. After meeting her at the
Palace Music Hall in Brumley, Gerald set her up in the flat of a friend and they became lovers. After a happy period, it
came to an end and Eva / Daisy left Brumley and went to the seaside. After the questioning, Gerald goes for a walk.
The Inspector questions Mrs. Birling next. She admits that the girl came to her charitable organisation and asked for
help, as she was pregnant and could not ask the father for money. Mrs. Birling believes the girl is putting on graces and
is offended that she uses the name “Mrs. Birling”. She therefore persuades the other members of the charity to refuse
her request. Mrs. Birling is defiant and refuses to accept she did anything wrong. She tells the Inspector that the father
of the child is to blame and it is the Inspector’s “duty” to arrest him.
Instead of leaving as Mrs. Birling hoped, the Inspector waits to “do his duty.”

Act 3
Eric returns to the house and into the firing line. He knows that his secret is already out but does explain what happened
– he had an affair with the girl and she fell pregnant. He offered to marry her but she declined, knowing that he didn’t
love her. Eric gave her money to begin with, which he stole from his father’s business. When she realised the money was
stolen, she refused to take any more.
The Birling family appear to have learnt their lesson and seem sorry for what they have done. The Inspector tells them
that we all have to look after each other and that there are plenty of other people in the world like Eva Smith. He then
leaves.
Shortly after, Gerald Croft returns from his walk. He brings into doubt the identity of the Inspector (having spoken to a
policeman who has never heard of him) and even explains that it is possible that Eva Smith never existed.
Quickly convinced by Gerald’s arguments, Mr. and Mrs. Birling decide that it was a joke and laugh the whole thing off.
They have not really learnt anything.
Eric and Sheila are not so easily swayed. They argue with their parents that this doesn’t change anything – they are still
responsible for the terrible things they did.
The telephone rings – it is for Mr. Birling. A young woman has just died at the infirmary and a police inspector is on his
way to the house. The play ends on this chilling note, leaving both the audience and the Birlings in suspense.

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 CHARACTERS ( AO1)

Mr Birling
A prosperous factory owner – who is 'a self- made man.' Birling is arrogant, insecure, selfish, only cares
about appearances and his social status and his business as indicated in ‘It's my duty to keep labour costs
down.’ He welcomes Croft into his family as he represents a business link between his firm and that of
Gerald Croft's father (a rival) – this will secure his financial stability. Has a direct and detached approach to
his workers; he tells the Inspector that he wouldn't listen to Eva Smith's demand for a wage rise 'I refused,
of course' and is surprised why anyone should question why. Mr Birling strongly believes that 'a man has to
make his own way'. He does not consider the harm he may cause to other people because of his attitude.
He is a 'hard headed business man ' He is a magistrate and former mayor who is looking forward to
receiving a knighthood – to be even more socially superior. He is optimistic about the future. He refuses to
accept any responsibility for Eva 's death. He becomes increasing annoyed by the Inspector's questioning
and Eric's unsympathetic attitude. He uses his power and status to threaten the Inspector through his
friendship with the Chief Constable. The most disturbing part of the play for Birling is the scene in which he
learns that his own son is shown to be a thief, a drunkard and is responsible for fathering a child. When he
learns of all this he exclaims 'You damned fool - why didn't you come to me when you found yourself in
this mess?' At the end of the play he grudgingly wishes things were better but even here he still thinks in
terms of money 'Look, Inspector - I'd give thousands' He continues to ignore the shameful things that his
family has done. When it appears that the Inspector might be a hoaxer he is happy to believe that
everything is as it was a few hours ago. He copies the Inspector and laughs when he remembers the faces of
Eric and Sheila and accuses them of being 'the famous younger generation who know it all'. This is an
example of pride coming before a fall, a moment later of course he is panicking as the phone rings again. Mr
Birling represents Priestley's hatred of businessmen who are only interested in making money. He will never
alter his ways and it is left to the younger generation to learn from their mistakes.

Key Quotes

'You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finchley told me it's the same port your father gets from
him.'‘Now you have brought us together, and perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings
are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices. ’

'I'm talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war.'

‘So as long as we behave ourselves don’t get into the police court or start a scandal -eh?’’
'Sheila's a lucky girl - and I think you're a pretty fortunate young man too, Gerald' Themes
‘Fiddlesticks! The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war.’ Social Class
‘The titanic- she sails next week’-‘Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’
'man has to mind his own business and look after himself.' Reputation

Hypocrisy

Exploitation

Capitalism

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Sybil Birling

Sybil Birling is cold -hearted and sophisticated and regarded as her husband's social superior. She is described
at the start as "about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior." She is a ‘snob’, very
aware of the differences between social classes and therefore very arrogant. She is dismissive of the poorer
classes and has no respect for them or the inspector. She is a liar, very controlling and is patronising to her own
children. She sees Sheila and Eric still as "children" and speaks patronisingly to them. She uses her power to
judge people , especially the working classes and says that Eva ‘was giving herself ridiculous airs." when Eva
does not take the money.
Believes she is always right and therefore ignorant – She is set in her own ways and class and doesn’t believe a
girl can have “fine feelings” Apathetic and uncaring, she dismisses Eva/Daisy as just ‘girls of that class.” Her
charity work is conducted for selfish reasons. Mrs Birling’s attitude is unchanged by the events of the play
She tries to deny things that she doesn't want to believe like Eric's drinking, Gerald's affair with Eva, and the
fact that a working -class girl would refuse money even if it was stolen, claiming "She was giving herself
ridiculous airs." She admits she was "prejudiced" against the girl who applied to her committee for help and
saw it as her "duty" to refuse to help her. Her narrow sense of morality dictates that the father of a child
should be responsible for its welfare, regardless of circumstances.
At the end of the play, she has had to come to terms with the fact that her son is a heavy drinker who got a girl
pregnant and stole money to support her, her daughter will not marry a good social 'catch' and that her own
reputation within the town will be sullied. Yet, like her husband, she refuses to believe that she did anything
wrong and doesn't accept responsibility for her part in Eva's death.

How does Priestley portray some of the main ideas and themes through Mrs Birling in the play?

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 Sheila Birling

At the start of the play she is 'very pleased with life'. She is young, attractive and has just become engaged.
Presented as a spoilt, materialistic and frivolous upper- class girl . Sheila is portrayed as naïve, shallow ,
self – centred, materialistic and superficial in the beginning, but undergoes a tremendous amount of
learning and growth during the play. Represents hope and change from exploitative capitalism to shared
responsibility and community consciousness. She displays a genuine sense of remorse, sensitivity and
sympathy for Eva Smith when she finds about her death, and her unreasonable behaviour which led to Eva
losing her job her the store. She is very distressed by the girl's suicide and thinks that her father's behaviour
was unacceptable. She readily agrees that she behaved very badly and insists that she never meant the girl
any harm.

• Her true nature is revealed when she is horrified by her part in the events and realises ‘ but these girls
aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.’ She is also very perceptive; she realises the Gerald knew Daisy
Renton, that Eric is guilty of mistreating Eva and that her father was unfair to Eva. She displays curiosity and
a growing maturity as she becomes resentful of her parent’s thinking and conduct. When she says ‘I must
obviously be a selfish, vindictive creature,’ we realise that by the end Priestley has successfully enabled
Sheila to develop her social conscience and awareness of her own responsibilities and her errors in
judgement. Sheila is the first to see the truth and learns from the Inspector’s visit. Her response to the
tragedy is one of the few encouraging things to come out of the play. She is genuinely upset when she hears
of Eva's death and learns from her own behaviour. She also appears keen and anxious to change her
behaviour in the future, 'I'll never, never do it again.' She learns of her responsibilities to others less
fortunate than herself (the idea of the community) and is sensitive. Her readiness to learn from experience
is in great contrast to her parents.

Key Quotes

“I went to the manager and told him this girl had been very impertinent – and – and - ”
“Why- you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t
know yet. You’ll see. You’ll see.”
“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do the Inspector will just break
it down. And it’ll be all the worse when he does”
Yes, go on, Mummy”
“(rather distressed) I can’t help thinking about this girl- destroying herself so horribly- and I’ve been so
happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me.”
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people.”
Themes
“She was a very pretty girl…that didn’t make it any better.”
“And if I could help her now, I would-” Power, Gender
“I’ll never, never do it again to anybody…I feel now I can never go there again” Inequality
“No, he’s giving us the rope- so that we’ll hang ourselves” Generation Gap
Bitterly ”I suppose we’re all nice people now
Social class
“It frightens me the way you talk” Social / Collective
“We killed her” Responsibility

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 Eric Birling

He had some innate sense of responsibility, because Eric is awkward and

although he got a woman pregnant, he was concerned and embarrassed at the
offered her money. He was obviously less worried about start of the play
stealing (or 'borrowing' from his father's office) than he
was about the girl's future. So, was Eric, initially, the most Lacks self -confidence
socially aware member of the Birling family? and does not the
respect of his family

He feels guilt and frustration with Irresponsible and immoral at

himself over his relationship with first – drinks alcohol
the girl. He cries, "Oh - my God! - excessively and has taken
how stupid it all is!" as he tells his advantage of Eva
story. He is horrified that his ERIC
thoughtless actions had such He is appalled by his parents'
consequences. inability to admit their own
responsibility. He tells them
forcefully, "I'm ashamed of you."
Eric is the only character who has When Birling tries to threaten him
behaved illegally in the play – but in Act III, Eric is aggressive in
the theft from his father was in return: "I don't give a damn now."
order to support the girl. Do you think Eric has ever stood up
to his father in this way before?

Which themes and ideas does Eric reflect in the play?

Some Key Quotes

‘not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive’

he ‘suddenly guffaws’

drinks ‘pretty hard’.

‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.’

The inspector says that Eric treated her ‘as if she were
an animal, a thing, not a person.’

“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for

the highest possible prices”

she didn’t want me to marry her. Said I didn’t love

her- and all that. In a way, she treated me- as if I were
a kid. Though I was nearly as old as she was.”
"We did her in all right."

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Gerald Croft
Portrayed from the beginning of the play as an upper- class gentleman who occupies a position of privilege in
society and in the Birling’s home. Mr Birling is clearly intent on impressing Gerald Croft from the beginning of
the play in order to win his favour and to be finally connected to his family through the engagement and
marriage to Sheila. He represents the stubbornness of the aristocracy and is clearly a sought -after man due to
the financial stability his alliance with the Birling’s will bring. He is described "an attractive chap about thirty,
rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred man-about-town."
Priestley uses Gerald to highlight the power and status that the upper classes possess in society and the
hypocrisy and selfishness they display. Gerald provides a strong contrast to Eric, Mr Birling’s natural son and
Priestley uses Gerald to show the tensions between Eric and his father.
Through Gerald, Priestley shows that it was common for the upper classes to behave arrogantly towards the
working and lower classes and also to accept the condescending behaviour that other upper and middle classes
towards them.
Key Quotes

“You couldn’t have done anything else” (sacking Eva Smith)

“After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals”

(about Sheila): “She’s obviously had about as much as she can stand” Themes
Social Class
“Why should you [stay]? It’s bound to be unpleasant and disturbing”
Power
“It’s a favourite haunt of women of the town”
‘[Daisy] gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help” Exploitation
Class Division
“Everything’s all right now Sheila. What about this ring?”
Hypocrisy
“That man wasn’t a police officer…I’m almost certain”

“But how do you know it’s the same girl? ...

We’ve no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl”

How does Priestley present Gerald Croft in An Inspector Calls?

You must include:

AO1 (Your understanding and interpretation of Gerald in relation to the other characters and the themes and quotations)
AO2 (Name and Explain the Language devices and stage directions that portray ideas about Gerald)
AO3 (Context – Ideas about the historical, political and social background)
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Inspector Goole

Represents and promotes socialism, responsibility and compassion. He is the primary catalyst in the play.
Represents their conscience – represents morality and is Priestley’s social voice in the play. Determined,
discerning and a solid, unshakeable character in pursuit of the truth and ‘he creates at once an impression of
massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”. Direct, unemotional and grows in stature as the play progresses.
The inspector dismisses the Birling’s ostentatious display of wealth, power and self- importance through his line
of questioning. He intimidates them, which exposes their culpability. He is mysterious and omniscient through
his knowledge of the events of Eva’s life and death. Through his line of questioning, he controls the speech,
actions and movement on stage and grows in stature and authority. Inspector Goole serves several functions in
the play. He acts as the storyteller, linking all the separate incidents together into one, coherent story and
through this he highlights the “A chain of events” (may have driven her to suicide). Priestley has him to supply
dates for events, or fill in background about the girl. He also behaves rather like a priest, someone to whom
characters confess their sins, helping them to see the extent of their involvement in the downfall of Eva Smith,
and encouraging them to acknowledge their guilt and repent.
Goole creates moments of tension and intrigue and acts as vehicle for Priestley’s moral message. Through the
Inspector’s final dramatic speech, Priestley skilfully warns the audience of the potential social disasters of failing
to support or help those in need in society and reminds them that ‘it is better to ask for the earth than take it.’
The omniscient Inspector is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective / social responsibility. The
Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption and the selfish attitudes of the twentieth century
society.

Key Quotes

• ‘Need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”
•Key“He
Quotes
is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit of the period. He speaks carefully, weightily and has a
disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking”
• “Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She’d been taken there this afternoon because she’d
swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of course”
• “A chain of events” (may have driven her to suicide)
• “it’s better to ask for the Earth than to take it”
• “Goole. G. double O-L-E”
• “it would do us all a bit of good if sometimes we tried to put ourselves in the place of these young women counting
their pennies in their dingy little back bedroom”
• (To Gerald) “And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things?”
• “A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively sort of girl, who never did anybody any harm. But she died in misery and agony-
hating life-”
• “If there’s nothing else we have to share our guilt”
Themes
• Millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths
Social Responsibility
• ‘We are all members of one body’
• ‘And you’ve slammed the door on her face’ Social Class

Morality

Collective Responsibility

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Eva Smith

Eva Smith is absent from stage and from the play but has a powerful presence in the lives of the Birlings.
Priestley represents the masses of poor, working class people through Eva. Eva embodies the voiceless and
faceless poor and oppressed people of England at the time the play was set. Eva is described in an idealized
way – innocent victim, pretty, a good worker. She is presented as a symbol of the working class woman. In
some ways, Priestley presents her as a martyr. The lower she sinks in her fortunes, the more honourable and
noble she appears. She refuses to treat others as they have treated her, even though she is in a position to
create scandal for them all. Through Eva Smith, Eva represents ordinary people who can be destroyed when
society fails to grant them the right of basic human dignity. When Eric says ‘the one I knew is dead,’ we get
the impression that he feels responsible and guilty about his conduct and carelessness. Through the other
characters like Eric, we recognise that Eva was overlooked because of her social status
Her connection to the characters in the play is what prompts their confessions. Through Eva, Priestley
promotes the idea that we have collective social responsibility. Despite her lower social class and death, Eva
could be said to have the upper hand in the play as she is the one who has revealed the secrets of the Birlings
and the Crofts and injustices she was subjected to. Mr Birling says ‘Rubbish! If you don’t come down sharply
on some of these people , they’de be asking for the earth.’ Clearly Mr Birling, who represents all other
middle- class people believe that workers do not have the right to demand for fair wages and working
conditions. Since Inspector Goole is Priestley’s mouth piece and promotes collective responsibility, he reminds
the Birlings that ‘it is better to ask for the earth, than take it’

“
Timeline of Events that led to Eva’s death Key Quotes
‘Now – about this girl, Eva Smith. I remember her
September 1910 Eva sacked by Birling & Co. quite well now. She was a lively good-looking girl –
December 1910 Eva employed by Milwards. country-bred, I fancy – and she’d been working in
one of our shops for over a year. A good worker too.”
Late January 1911 Eva sacked by Milwards.
March 1911 Eva becomes Gerald's mistress. “…and died, after several hours of agony…”
Early September 1911 Gerald breaks off the affair.
“She was a very pretty girl…that didn’t make it any
Eva leaves Brumley for two months. better.”
November 1911 Eric meets Eva.
“She was young and pretty and warm-hearted- and
December 1911/January 1912 Eva finds she is pregnant.
intensely grateful. I became at once the most
important person in her life- you understand?”
Late March 1912 Mrs. Birling turns down Eva's application for help.
Early April 1912 Eva's suicide/the Inspector calls
“She was giving herself ridiculous airs…claiming
elaborate fine feelings…that were simply absurd in a
girl in her position.”
Themes
Social Class
“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
Social Responsibility
Class Division
Gender Inequality

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 Dramatic Devices ( AO2)

Stage Directions and Setting Staging

All the action in 1 room – claustrophobic
Act 1 - Priestley uses stage directions to set the
and intense. Suggests that the Birling’s live
scene and give us information about the Birling
in a closed, protected world, sheltered
family before we even see them. The setting
from reality. The Inspector and social
suggests that the Birlings are a comfortable and
responsibility is not welcome.
well – off middle to upper class family. We can also
tell that they are all feeling relaxed and confident
at the beginning of the play: Cliff Hangers
• set - large suburban house
• Act 1: The inspector returns at the end of the
• furniture - ‘solid …but not cosy and homelike’ scene and asks his question ‘Well?’ This is a cliff-
• props – suggests wealth ‘champagne glasses’, hanger – audience want to watch on to see how
Gerald and Sheila react.
‘decanter of port’
• Act 2: The front door slams, announcing Eric’s
• costume ‘evening dress of the period’ white tie
return, but the audience have to wait until Act 2
and tails – a formal occasion for his confession.
• lighting – ‘pink and intimate’ (The front door bangs every time someone enters
At the start of the play the Birling’s are seated and or leaves the house. The characters and audience
relaxed. By the end all standing and shouting and can hear this, and wonder who enters the house-
crying. effective sound effect in creating tension

• Act 3: Ends off with the telephone ringing

sharply and disturbing the atmosphere that
they have restored after the inspector leaves -
builds up the tension
Dramatic Irony (when an audience knows more
about the characters/action than the characters
on stage).
Birling says war won’t happen ‘I say there isn’t
a chance of war’ but the audience knows there
Priestley uses dramatic irony to show how
were two World Wars about to happen
ridiculous and wrong Birling’s opinions are.
The dramatic irony makes the audience think Birling says that the Titanic won’t sink –
Birling is foolish and lacking in knowledge about ‘absolutely unsinkable’ – we know it did, later
that year.
the future. It also makes his political opinions
seem wrong. Priestley is also showing the Birling thinks there’ll be no tension between
audience his concern about such idiotic people employers and employees ‘you’ll be living in a
and the degree of power they have in this society. world that will have forgotten all these Capital
versus Labour agitations’ but there were strikes
in1907-1912 because of poor conditions and
the General Strike of 1926 (AO3)

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 Dramatic Devices

The Entrance of the inspector

Sound Effect- The ‘doorbell’ Edna interrupts Birling in the middle of his speeches. The ‘sharp’ ring
would startle the audience – and suggests that the Inspector may be a ‘sharp’ (as in intelligent and
possibly aggressive) person. The ring also interrupts Birling suggesting that the Inspector will have
power and control over Birling.
Change of lighting from pink and intimate’ to ‘brighter and harder’ when the inspector arrives. This
suggests again that the Inspector is a ‘hard’ character who will wreck the cosy world the Birlings live
in.
His name ‘Inspector Goole’ also suggests something unpleasant/interesting about the inspector –
e.g. ‘ghoul’ means ghost

The inspector is a dramatic device Timing (Tension created through the timing)
• The Inspector ‘inspects’ or interrogates each person in
turn. He shows a photo of Eva Smith to each character in Timing of entrances and exits is crucial.
turn that only they see. The audience is intrigued and
wants to know what this is. • The Inspector arrives immediately after Birling
has told Gerald about his impending knighthood
• The inspector ‘creates at once an impression of
and about how "a man has to look after himself
massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’. He also speaks and his own."
‘carefully, weightily’ and ‘has a disconcerting habit of • Sheila runs off stage when she realises she is
looking hard at the person he addresses before actually the reason Eva was sacked - creates intense
speaking’. This interests an audience – we want to know atmosphere.
why he is there and how people will react to his • Sheila and Gerald are left alone to discuss
questioning. Daisy Renton- this draws information out for
• Inspector leaves the room, having introduced Eva Smith’s audience.
change of name to Daisy Renton. Audience want to know • Tension is further created by the way
why this has occurred – suspense and intrigue builds up. information is gradually revealed, one person
• Interrogation of Birling. Birling feels uncomfortable and at a time. The audience and characters are kept
tries to threaten Goole with his friendship with Colonel on their toes.
Roberts- Goole is not afraid of the power and status that •
Mr Birling has.

Tight Structure of Play

• Follows the rules of Greek Drama- the three unities of place, action and time are kept to in a realistic
manner. i.e. The Drama all unfolds in one place- Birling’s Dining room. Action all takes place in one
evening, time passes in the same way as in real life. This makes the play realistic.
• The Inspector acts like a Greek chorus (Narrator). He sums up what has happened, and explains to both
actors and the audience the lessons we must learn.
• Equally might be seen as a simple crime/ mystery play- ‘Who dunnit?’
• Furthermore, The play has myth-like quality in that it carries a moral message that we should take
better care of our fellow human beings, so in some ways is like a parable.
• The play has a didactic purpose
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 Themes ( AO1)

Responsibility
Mr Birlings sense of responsibility stops at his business and he does not understand or
appreciate the value of social or community responsibility. The inspector wanted each
member of the family to share the responsibility of Eva's death; he tells them, "each
of you helped to kill her. However, his final speech is aimed not only at the
characters on stage, but at the audience too especially when he says, ‘One Eva Smith
has gone- but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John
Smiths still left with us’, Through Eva’s death, Priestley promotes collective
responsibility, demonstrating that everyone is society is linked, in the same way that
all the characters are linked to Eva Smith. Priestley promotes the idea that everyone
is a part of "one body” and have collective responsibility, as the Inspector sees
society as more important than individual interests The inspector challenges the
values of individualism. Priestly wanted the characters to develop a social conscience
and to embrace collective responsibility. He reveals the consequences of
individualism when he claims that “if men will not learn that lesson, when they will
be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” In the play, both Sheila and Eric develop
a social conscience and have learnt that they need to be accountable for their actions.
In this way, Priestley indicates that that they have embodied the values of the
Inspector and have become more socially responsible. Priestley also suggests through
Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald Croft, that many people in society are entrenched in
their individualistic and capitalist belief system and are only concerned with personal
responsibility as indicated in ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after
himself’

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 The Generation Gap
The play demonstrates the contrast between the older and younger generations. Sheila,
Eric and Eva represent the huge generation gap in the play. The ideas of the parents are
locked in the old way of thinking where children need to follow in the footsteps of their
parents in an unquestioning way. They would like to think that they can control their
children's thinking. They have little sympathy for Eva Smith and are only sorry that she has
died because it could impact on their lives.
It is clear that the younger generation are different by the end of the play. They are no
longer controlled by their parents and their ideas. While Mr and Mrs Birling refuse to
accept responsibility for their conduct and actions towards Eva Smith, their children are
taking responsibility and show remorse for their actions. They express sympathy for the
strikers in Act 1 and they also show greater sympathy for Eva Smith. Through this, Priestley
suggests hope for the future of Britain where people and governments are more socially
and communally responsible for one another.
.

Gender Stereotypes

The women and men in the play have very definite and prescribed roles. They conform to
the typical male and female gender stereotypes of their time. However as the play
progresses, these stereotypes are challenged as Sheila comes more into her own- she
reveals herself as a strong, independent thinker who challenges her father and mother
due to her learning and compassion for Eva Smith, whom she recognises as a woman just
like her. Her decision to give the ring back depicts her pride and sincerity about her
feelings. Gender roles were well defined for the wealthy and middle class. Men worked
to support their families and they were to protect their wives and daughters.
Women were to marry into money so that they didn’t have to work and they planned
parties, visited friends and had children. Being a member of the poor working class, Eva
was amongst the most marginalised in society, placing her at the bottom of the social
ladder, with no financial stability, social security, or options for a better life. However,
Eva has challenged the gender stereotype by refusing the money from Eric and by not
agreeing to marry him. She is also responsible for rallying up support for the strike, which
portrays her beliefs and views on capitalistic industrialist and the inequality and
oppression suffered by workers. This portrayal of Eva presents her as being a strong,
independent, fair woman who challenges the status quo.

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 Social Class
We learn about the poor, working class and the quality of their lives through the inspector and
the Birlings. Their upper class lifestyle is revealed through Sheila's frivolous and extravagant
habits, Mr Birling's rise to the upper class through his positions in society, Mrs Birling’s
aristocratic attitude and her charity, Gerald's frivolous and irresponsible attitude towards Daisy
Renton, Eric's alcoholism and abuse of Eva. Mr Birling uses Gerald to promote his social class.
The divisions in social class are strengthened through the conduct of the upper classes who
abuse their power and status; leading to the marginalisation and further inequality and
unfairness. They are never relaxed and content, but always on edge making excuses, displaying
pretences and hiding their true nature. The middle and upper classes tend to repress their
needs and hide their secret desires and inappropriate behaviour. These people are completely
reliant on the class system to protect them and hide their inadequacies and oppressive,
capitalistic ways. Eva represents ordinary people; the working- classes who can be destroyed
by indifference when society fails to grant them the right of basic human dignity. When Mrs
Birling says she does not recognise Eva it is because to her, she has no identity – she does not
exist because she is lower class. The hierarchy shown at the start of the play is destroyed by
the Inspector’s arrival.

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