Act 2 Analysis

Act 2 of An Inspector Calls delves deeper into each character's involvement with Eva Smith, revealing their individual and collective responsibility for her fate.

Mr. Birling becomes increasingly defensive and concerned about potential scandal.

Quote: "I don't like the tone nor the way you're handling this inquiry."

This reaction shows Mr. Birling's prioritization of reputation over moral responsibility.

Mrs. Birling's prejudices and lack of empathy become more apparent as she discusses Eva Smith's case.

Quote: "Girls of that class--"

This statement reveals Mrs. Birling's classist attitudes and her inability to empathize with those she considers beneath her social status.

Sheila continues to show growth and insight, recognizing the gravity of the situation and the family's collective guilt.

Quote: "And probably between us we killed her."

Sheila's realization demonstrates her moral development and willingness to accept responsibility.

Gerald Croft's involvement with Eva Smith is revealed, complicating his relationship with Sheila and the Birling family.

Quote: "She was very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes-"

This description humanizes Eva Smith and highlights the personal nature of Gerald's involvement.

Vocabulary: Dramatic irony - A literary device where the audience knows more about the situation than the characters, creating tension and highlighting the characters' ignorance or misunderstandings.

The Inspector continues to serve as a catalyst for revelation and moral examination, pushing each character to confront their actions and beliefs.

Highlight: The Inspector's questioning technique creates a domino effect, with each revelation leading to further disclosures and increasing tension within the family.

Character Analysis: Mr. Birling

Mr. Birling, a central character in An Inspector Calls, embodies the capitalist mindset of early 20th century Britain. His quotes and actions reveal a man focused on personal gain, social status, and maintaining the status quo.

Quote: "a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself and his family too"

This statement reflects Mr. Birling's individualistic philosophy, rejecting the idea of collective social responsibility.

Quote: "as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense."

Mr. Birling's dismissal of community and interconnectedness highlights his narrow worldview and foreshadows the play's central theme of social responsibility.

His character arc throughout the play demonstrates his resistance to change and inability to learn from the Inspector's revelations.

Quote: "Still, I can't accept any responsibility."

This refusal to acknowledge his role in Eva Smith's fate underscores Mr. Birling's moral failings and lack of personal growth.

Highlight: Mr. Birling's predictions about the future, including his comments on the Titanic and the impossibility of war, serve as dramatic irony, emphasizing his shortsightedness and lack of understanding of the wider world.

Character Analysis: Sheila Birling

Sheila Birling undergoes significant character development in An Inspector Calls, transforming from a naive, privileged young woman to a more socially aware and empathetic individual.

Quote: "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."

This statement early in the play hints at Sheila's capacity for empathy and her potential for growth.

Sheila's reaction to her role in Eva Smith's dismissal from Milwards demonstrates her ability to accept responsibility and feel genuine remorse.

Quote: "I'll never, never do it again to anybody."

This promise reflects Sheila's moral awakening and her commitment to change her behavior.

As the play progresses, Sheila becomes more perceptive about the Inspector's methods and the family's collective guilt.

Quote: "No, he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang ourselves."

This insight shows Sheila's growing understanding of the situation and her ability to see beyond her family's denials.

Highlight: Sheila's character arc serves as a contrast to her parents' static views, representing the potential for younger generations to break free from outdated social attitudes.

Themes and Symbolism

An Inspector Calls explores several key themes through its characters and plot developments:

1. Social Responsibility: The play examines the interconnectedness of society and the impact of individual actions on others.

Quote: "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."

This central message, delivered by the Inspector, encapsulates the play's core theme.

2. Class and Privilege: The Birling family's attitudes and behaviors highlight the inequalities and prejudices of early 20th century British society.

Example: Mrs. Birling's dismissal of Eva Smith's plea for help based on class prejudice illustrates the harmful effects of social stratification.

3. Generational Divide: The contrasting reactions of the older and younger characters to the Inspector's revelations highlight changing social attitudes.

Highlight: Sheila and Eric's willingness to accept responsibility and change their behavior stands in stark contrast to their parents' rigid denial.

4. Gender Roles: The play explores the limited options available to women like Eva Smith and the double standards applied to male and female behavior.

Example: The different reactions to Gerald's affair with Eva compared to Eva's pregnancy out of wedlock highlight the gender-based moral standards of the time.

5. Time and Progress: The play's setting on the eve of World War I and references to future events create a sense of impending change and the inevitability of social progress.

Symbolism: The Inspector can be interpreted as a symbolic figure representing social conscience or even time itself, forcing the characters to confront their past actions and their implications for the future.

Dramatic Techniques

J.B. Priestley employs several dramatic techniques in An Inspector Calls to engage the audience and convey his message:

1. Dramatic Irony: The audience's knowledge of historical events that the characters are unaware of creates tension and highlights the characters' shortsightedness.

Example: Mr. Birling's confident assertions about the Titanic and the impossibility of war take on a darkly comic tone for the audience aware of future events.

2. Time Manipulation: The play's structure, with its single setting and real-time progression, creates a sense of urgency and inevitability.
3. Character Revelations: The gradual unveiling of each character's involvement with Eva Smith builds suspense and allows for in-depth character exploration.
4. Symbolism: The Inspector serves as a symbolic figure, representing social conscience, justice, or even a supernatural force.
5. Foreshadowing: Subtle hints and comments throughout the play prepare the audience for later revelations and thematic developments.

Quote: "You'll see. We'll be having a public scandal."

This early comment by Mr. Birling foreshadows the play's events and the family's exposure.

6. Cliffhanger Ending: The play's ambiguous conclusion leaves the audience questioning the nature of the Inspector and the reality of the events portrayed.

Highlight: The final phone call revealing a real inspector is on his way creates a cyclical structure and leaves the audience to ponder the meaning and implications of the story they've witnessed.

These techniques combine to create a thought-provoking and engaging theatrical experience that challenges audiences to examine their own social responsibilities and moral choices.

Act 1 Analysis

Act 1 of An Inspector Calls introduces the main characters and establishes the central conflict. The Birling family is celebrating Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft when Inspector Goole arrives to investigate a young woman's suicide.

Mr. Birling is portrayed as a capitalist businessman focused on profits and social status. His dialogue reveals his shortsightedness and lack of social responsibility.

Quote: "I say - fiddlesticks! The Germans don't want war."

This quote demonstrates Mr. Birling's misplaced confidence and foreshadows the dramatic irony of his predictions.

Mrs. Birling is presented as a traditional upper-class woman concerned with propriety and maintaining social hierarchies.

Quote: "When you're married you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business."

This statement reflects Mrs. Birling's acceptance of traditional gender roles and prioritization of business over family.

Sheila Birling shows more empathy and willingness to accept responsibility for her actions.

Quote: "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."

Sheila's comment demonstrates her growing awareness of social inequalities and her capacity for change.

The Inspector's arrival disrupts the family's celebration and begins to unravel their carefully constructed facade.

Highlight: The Inspector's methodical questioning technique, focusing on "one person and one line of inquiry at a time," creates tension and suspense.