Act 1 - The Inspector Arrives
The play opens with the Birling family celebrating Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Mr Birling delivers self-important speeches about progress and business, dismissing the idea that people should care for one another in society.
Everything changes when Inspector Goole arrives to investigate Eva Smith's suicide. He shows Mr Birling a photograph, and Birling admits he sacked the girl for demanding higher wages. Whilst Sheila and Eric think their father was too harsh, Gerald supports his decision.
When Sheila sees the photograph, she realises she also played a role - she had Eva fired from a shop job out of jealousy. The situation becomes more complicated when Gerald recognises the name Daisy Renton (Eva's alias) and clearly knows more than he's letting on.
Key Point: The Inspector introduces the central theme that we all share responsibility for each other's wellbeing - a concept Mr Birling had just ridiculed.
