An Inspector Calls - Complete Plot Summary
Act 1 kicks off with the Birlings celebrating daughter Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Their cosy evening gets shattered when Inspector Goole arrives with shocking news about Eva Smith, a young woman who's taken her own life.
The inspector quickly uncovers how each family member contributed to Eva's downfall. Mr Birling fired Eva from his factory simply because she demanded better wages - showing his cruel priorities. Sheila then used her social status to get Eva sacked from her next job at Milwards department store, proving how the upper classes abuse their power.
Things get more complicated when the inspector reveals Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton. Gerald's reaction to this name hints at deeper secrets that'll explode in Act 2.
Key Point: Each character's selfish actions create a chain reaction that destroys Eva's life - this shows Priestley's message about social responsibility.
Act 2 exposes Gerald's affair with Eva/Daisy, whom he kept as his mistress before abandoning her. Sheila, disgusted by his betrayal, breaks off their engagement. Mrs Birling reveals her own cruelty by refusing Eva help from a charity, then hypocritically demands the father of Eva's unborn child be punished.
Act 3 delivers the biggest shock: Eric Birling is the father. He stole money from his father's business to support Eva, but she rejected both his money and marriage proposal. The Inspector's powerful final speech warns that we must look after each other or face terrible consequences.
The play's final twist questions whether the Inspector was even real. Whilst the younger generation (Sheila and Eric) show genuine remorse and change, their parents remain selfish and unrepentant - suggesting the cycle of exploitation will continue.