Priestley's play An Inspector Calls examines social responsibility and the connections between individuals. The play is set in 1912 and focuses on the wealthy Birling family and their encounter with an inspector investigating the death of a young woman named Eva Smith. Over the course of the evening, the inspector reveals how each family member in some way contributed to Eva's downward spiral and eventual death. By the end, the family begins to understand their role in society and their culpability in Eva's tragedy, showing how the actions of one can impact many.