Characters and Plot Overview
Ever wondered how one person's death can expose an entire family's secrets? That's exactly what happens in An Inspector Calls when Inspector Goole arrives at the Birling household.
The story centres on the Birling family - Mr Birling (a factory owner), Mrs Birling (charity worker), their children Sheila and Eric, plus Gerald Croft (Sheila's aristocratic fiancé). They're celebrating Sheila's engagement when everything goes wrong. The mysterious Inspector announces that a young woman named Eva Smith has committed suicide, and shockingly, each family member has played a part in her tragic story.
Act One kicks off the investigation. Mr Birling fired Eva from his factory simply because she demanded better wages. Sheila then got Eva sacked from her next job at a shop because she thought Eva was mocking her. Both characters start showing very different reactions - whilst Mr Birling remains defensive, Sheila begins to feel genuine remorse and starts questioning her family's values.
Key Point: The play uses dramatic irony brilliantly - Mr Birling confidently talks about the 'unsinkable' Titanic and how there won't be a war, but the audience knows he's completely wrong about both!
