inspector calls - plot
Act 1
part 1
summary - Birlings are celebrating Sheila and Gerald's engagement - the inspector interrupts to discuss Eva smiths suicide - the discussion causes conflict between Eric, Mr b and the inspector
quotes - Arthur birling - 'its one of the happiest nights of my life' - Gerald - laughs 'you seem to be a nice well-behaved family' - inspector - 'I'd like se information, if you don't mind
part 2
summary - the shift focuses to Sheila - Sheila feels sorry for Eva but when Sheila sees a photo of Eva she gets more upset and admits she complained about the girl and got her sacked from millwards - Eva smith then changes her name to daisy Renton - the shirt focuses to Gerald - he seems uncomfortable when hearing the name daisy Renton and Sheila realises they had an affair - Gerald wants to keep it from the inspector but he already knows
quotes - Sheila - 'what do you mean by saying that? you talk is if we are responsible' - 'so I'm really responsible - Gerald - ' so- for gods sake - don't say anything to the inspector'
Act 2
part 1
summary - Gerald still hopes to hide his involvement with Eva/Daisy - the inspector tells Gerald and Sheila that they are all responsible - Mrs Birling enters very confidently and acts superior to the inspector, Gerald an Sheila - Gerald reveals details of his affair with Daisy and Sheila breaks off the engagement
quotes - inspector - 'we'll have to share our guilt' - Mrs Birling - 'girls of that class' - Gerald - 'all she wanted was to talk - a little friendliness'
part 2
summary - Eva was pregnant an asked Mrs Birlings charity for help - Mrs Birling didn't like the girl and used her influence to have the claim rejected - the inspector manipulate Mrs Birling into stating that the father of Eva's child is entirely to blame for her death - the audience and the characters on stage gradually realise Eric is the father
quotes - Mrs Birling - 'I'm very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame' - 'As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!' - Sheila - 'Mother - stop! - stop!
Act 3
part 1
summary - Eric met Eva and made her pregnant - Eric accuses his mother of killing Eva and the baby, and says his father is unapproachable - The inspector reminds the Birlings that they are all responsible for Eva Smiths death - the inspector states his belief that all the members of society need to look after each other
quotes - Mr Birling (to Sheila) - 'you heard what i said' - Eric - 'you're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble' - Mr Birling (to Eric) - 'why you hysterical young fool - get back - or I'll -' - Inspector - 'we don't live alone. we are members of one body. we are responsible for each other'
part 2
summary - Gerald reveals the inspector wasn't a real police officer - they find out there is o dead girl at the infirmary - Arthur, Sybil and Gerald relax, thinking everything can be forgotten but Sheila and Eric still feel guilty and can't understand the others behaviour - the play ends with a call from the police saying a girl has died and an inspector is on his way to the house
quotes - Sheila - 'everything we said had happened really had happened' - Arthur - 'Nonsense! You'll have a good laugh over it yet' - Sheila - 'You began to learn something. And now you've stopped
Narrative structure
summary - Priestley uses a simple narrative structure (one plot, one set, one evening) in order to focus his social message - the drama is intensified by dealing with each character one by one, and removing them from the sage when they aren't needed - to make the play memorable, Priestley raises and lowers the tension throughout - cliff-hangers are used at the end of each act to keep the audience thinking