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1 Jan 2026
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Exploring 'An Inspector Calls': Context, Characters, and Events
L
Lara Grimshaw
@laragrimshaw_gxhm
1 / 4
The World of 1912
Picture a society where your social class determined everything about your life. In 1912, if you were wealthy like the Croft family, you belonged to the upper class and enjoyed special treatment. Poor people were stuck in the working class, struggling to survive.
J.B. Priestley wrote this play in 1945 during World War Two, but he deliberately set it in 1912 - before disasters like the Titanic sinking and World War One. This clever choice means the audience knows terrible events are coming, even though the characters don't.
Priestley had a powerful message: if society doesn't learn from its mistakes and stop treating people unfairly, more disasters will follow. He wanted his 1945 audience to recognise that their own world still had serious problems with inequality that needed fixing.
Quick Tip: Remember that the play uses dramatic irony - we know things the characters don't, which makes their confident predictions seem foolish.
Priestley's Background and Class Divisions
Priestley lived through both world wars and understood inequality firsthand. Born in Bradford in 1894, he left school early to work, later studied at Cambridge, and became a journalist. His socialist beliefs got him in trouble - the BBC even cancelled his radio show for talking too much about socialism.
In 1912, status and wealth created massive divisions between classes. Middle-class businessmen and professionals like doctors lived comfortably, whilst working class people slaved away in factories for tiny wages. There was no proper support system, so if you couldn't provide for yourself, you were basically stuffed.
This harsh reality meant working-class families constantly faced poverty and hardship. Factory owners got rich whilst their workers struggled to feed their families.
Remember: The lack of social support in 1912 made life extremely precarious for ordinary people - one mistake could ruin everything.
Arthur Birling represents this selfish middle-class attitude perfectly. He's a respected businessman who puts money and status above his own children's happiness.
The Birling Family Characters
Meet the Birling family - they're wealthy, selfish, and about to get a massive reality check. Sybil Birling obsesses over appearances and proper etiquette, caring more about what people think than actual morality. She's the typical upper-class wife who values status above everything.
Eric Birling shows how family pressure can destroy young people. He's secretly an alcoholic (though it's not really secret to anyone except his oblivious parents). As Arthur's heir, he represents the next generation that could either repeat past mistakes or learn from them.
Gerald Croft belongs to the upper class and seems perfect for Sheila. However, he's proved himself untrustworthy by cheating on her with Eva Smith. His betrayal reveals how upper-class men often felt entitled to use working-class women.
Sheila Birling starts as a typical spoilt rich girl, but she's the only family member who genuinely learns and changes. She develops enough backbone to stand up to her parents and call off her engagement when she discovers Gerald's lies.
Character Tip: Watch how Sheila's character development contrasts with her parents' stubborn refusal to change.
The Inspector and Eva Smith
The Inspector is the play's most mysterious and powerful figure. Though he claims to be investigating Eva Smith's death, he's more like a moral judge than a typical police officer. His working-class background doesn't stop him from intimidating the wealthy Birlings - he's got this commanding presence that puts Mr Birling firmly in his place.
Eva Smith (who also used the name Daisy Renton) represents every working-class woman struggling in 1912's harsh society. Though she never appears on stage, her story drives the entire plot. Each family member contributed to her downfall through their selfish actions.
Eva's tragic fate demonstrates how vulnerable working-class people were to the whims of their social superiors. She lost jobs, support, and hope because wealthy people prioritised their own interests over basic human decency.
The parlour maid Edna might seem unimportant, but she introduces the Inspector to the family, giving him immediate credibility and importance in their eyes.
Key Point: Eva Smith isn't just one person - she represents all working-class people who suffered under an unfair social system.
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Stefan S
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring 'An Inspector Calls': Context, Characters, and Events
L
Lara Grimshaw
@laragrimshaw_gxhm
Ever wondered what happens when someone's dark secrets get exposed? J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' is a gripping drama that reveals how one family's selfish actions led to a young woman's death. Set in 1912 but written in 1945, this... Show more
The World of 1912
Picture a society where your social class determined everything about your life. In 1912, if you were wealthy like the Croft family, you belonged to the upper class and enjoyed special treatment. Poor people were stuck in the working class, struggling to survive.
J.B. Priestley wrote this play in 1945 during World War Two, but he deliberately set it in 1912 - before disasters like the Titanic sinking and World War One. This clever choice means the audience knows terrible events are coming, even though the characters don't.
Priestley had a powerful message: if society doesn't learn from its mistakes and stop treating people unfairly, more disasters will follow. He wanted his 1945 audience to recognise that their own world still had serious problems with inequality that needed fixing.
Quick Tip: Remember that the play uses dramatic irony - we know things the characters don't, which makes their confident predictions seem foolish.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
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Priestley's Background and Class Divisions
Priestley lived through both world wars and understood inequality firsthand. Born in Bradford in 1894, he left school early to work, later studied at Cambridge, and became a journalist. His socialist beliefs got him in trouble - the BBC even cancelled his radio show for talking too much about socialism.
In 1912, status and wealth created massive divisions between classes. Middle-class businessmen and professionals like doctors lived comfortably, whilst working class people slaved away in factories for tiny wages. There was no proper support system, so if you couldn't provide for yourself, you were basically stuffed.
This harsh reality meant working-class families constantly faced poverty and hardship. Factory owners got rich whilst their workers struggled to feed their families.
Remember: The lack of social support in 1912 made life extremely precarious for ordinary people - one mistake could ruin everything.
Arthur Birling represents this selfish middle-class attitude perfectly. He's a respected businessman who puts money and status above his own children's happiness.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Birling Family Characters
Meet the Birling family - they're wealthy, selfish, and about to get a massive reality check. Sybil Birling obsesses over appearances and proper etiquette, caring more about what people think than actual morality. She's the typical upper-class wife who values status above everything.
Eric Birling shows how family pressure can destroy young people. He's secretly an alcoholic (though it's not really secret to anyone except his oblivious parents). As Arthur's heir, he represents the next generation that could either repeat past mistakes or learn from them.
Gerald Croft belongs to the upper class and seems perfect for Sheila. However, he's proved himself untrustworthy by cheating on her with Eva Smith. His betrayal reveals how upper-class men often felt entitled to use working-class women.
Sheila Birling starts as a typical spoilt rich girl, but she's the only family member who genuinely learns and changes. She develops enough backbone to stand up to her parents and call off her engagement when she discovers Gerald's lies.
Character Tip: Watch how Sheila's character development contrasts with her parents' stubborn refusal to change.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Inspector and Eva Smith
The Inspector is the play's most mysterious and powerful figure. Though he claims to be investigating Eva Smith's death, he's more like a moral judge than a typical police officer. His working-class background doesn't stop him from intimidating the wealthy Birlings - he's got this commanding presence that puts Mr Birling firmly in his place.
Eva Smith (who also used the name Daisy Renton) represents every working-class woman struggling in 1912's harsh society. Though she never appears on stage, her story drives the entire plot. Each family member contributed to her downfall through their selfish actions.
Eva's tragic fate demonstrates how vulnerable working-class people were to the whims of their social superiors. She lost jobs, support, and hope because wealthy people prioritised their own interests over basic human decency.
The parlour maid Edna might seem unimportant, but she introduces the Inspector to the family, giving him immediate credibility and importance in their eyes.
Key Point: Eva Smith isn't just one person - she represents all working-class people who suffered under an unfair social system.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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4.8/5
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user