The play follows the wealthy Birling family and Gerald Croft during a dinner party celebrating an engagement. Their evening is interrupted by Inspector Goole, who investigates the suicide of a young working-class woman, Eva Smith. As the night unfolds, it is revealed that every person in the room played a part in her downfall. 2. Key Characters to Know
Understanding these two ideologies is vital for explaining the conflict between the Inspector and Mr. Birling.
Ultimate Guide: An Inspector Calls GCSE Revision JB Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a staple of the GCSE English Literature curriculum. Written in 1945 but set in 1912, it is a powerful "didactic" play (a story intended to teach a lesson) about social responsibility, age, and class. an inspector calls gcse revision
Eva Smith is the victim of both her low class and her gender. The play highlights how the powerful exploit the vulnerable. 4. Top Revision Tips
Mr. Birling’s speeches about the Titanic and the impossibility of war make him look foolish to a 1945 audience, immediately undermining his capitalist views. The play follows the wealthy Birling family and
The play was performed just after WWII. Priestley wanted to ensure that the "old" world of 1912 (inequality and war) didn't return.
The "moral mouthpiece" of the play. He represents Priestley’s socialist views. He is mysterious, commanding, and seems to know the truth before he even asks. Ultimate Guide: An Inspector Calls GCSE Revision JB
Priestley suggests that the "younger generation" (Sheila and Eric) are "more impressionable" and capable of change, whereas the "older generation" (Arthur and Sybil) are stuck in their ways.
A "heavy-looking, rather portentous" man. He represents capitalism and the "hard-headed" businessman who refuses to take responsibility.