suggests, implies, connotes, demonstrates, symbolises, highlights, indicates, expresses,
conveys, evokes, resonates, reflects, embodies, represents
Summary of the Play:
Its set in the Edwardian era
Act 1:
The play begins in 1912 with a dinner at the Birling residence. Arthur leads a toast to the
impending marriage of his daughter, Sheila, and his son-in-law-to-be, Gerald Croft. The
family members joke happily among themselves, and Sheila teases Gerald about his distant
behaviour the previous summer, when, Gerald explains, he was especially occupied at “the
works,” the manufacturing company his father owns. That company, Crofts Limited, is a
direct competitor to Birling and Company, Arthur’s manufacturing business. Arthur believes
that Gerald and Sheila’s marriage will help bring the two companies closer together. Arthur
stresses that their competition, to this point, has been civil, and that the Crofts’ is the larger
company and the older, more distinguished family.
Sheila and Gerald tell one another, in front of the family at the dinner table, how lucky they
are to be engaged. Gerald presents Sheila a ring, and Sheila vows to keep it in her
possession forever. Birling tells the couple that, despite news reports to the contrary, he
believes that the world is in a “good time,” and that business operations will pick up, not
slow down, in the coming years. Arthur says that reports of German aggression should be
discounted, and that there is a new, “unsinkable” ship being built that will be able to travel
from the United Kingdom to New York in five days (The titanic). Arthur continues that
capital versus labour disputes, a topic of public discussion at the time, will not go on much
longer, except perhaps in Russia, which Arthur calls “always ... behind-hand.”
After dinner, the rest of the family leave and Arthur and Gerald speak privately while
drinking port. Arthur tells Gerald that, based on his public service as Lord Mayor in the town
of Brumley (in the North Midlands), he believes the English government might soon offer
him a knighthood. Arthur is especially excited about this prospect, he tells Gerald, because
he knows that Lady Croft, Gerald’s mother, thinks Gerald might be “marrying down” socially
in choosing Sheila for his bride. This is because the Birling family, though wealthy, does not
have a title as the Croft family does. Arthur tells Gerald that the knighthood should come
barring any unforeseen problems, like a “crime” in the family, or a “public scandal.” But
Arthur notes, he is only kidding about this, as he considers the possibility of either extremely
unlikely. Gerald appears relieved to hear that Arthur is up for a knighthood and offers to tell
his mother when the conferral is more certain.
Eric returns to the room where Arthur and Gerald are sitting. Arthur tells Eric and Gerald
that it is important for a man to look out “for himself” and “for his family.” He says that in
1912, there are some “cranks” and critics who argue that “everybody has to look after
,everybody else.” Arthur is suspicious of this kind of socialism, and he urges Eric and Gerald
to “mind their own business,” which, he says, will guarantee success in commerce and in
life. Gerald says nothing, and Eric tells his father that he has offered the family a good deal
of advice that night. Edna comes into the room and tells Arthur that a man wishes to speak
with him. He is an Inspector from the police department.
The Inspector enters, introducing himself as Goole. Arthur says he’s never heard of Goole
before, despite being an Alderman, Lord Mayor, and “a member of the Bench.” The
Inspector states that the two have not met. Arthur offers the Inspector a drink, and he
refuses, saying he is “on duty.” The Inspector tells Arthur that a girl named Eva Smith has
committed suicide that evening, after swallowing disinfectant. Eric cries out at this, and
Arthur says it is difficult news to hear.
The Inspector asks Arthur if he has heard of Eva Smith. Arthur says the name might be
familiar, but he isn’t sure. The Inspector shows Arthur, and Arthur alone, a photograph, and
refuses to show the picture simultaneously to Eric, noting that questioning multiple people
at a time would create confusion. Although Arthur is perturbed, he lets the Inspector
proceed. Arthur says that he employed Eva in his factory and discharged her in September
1910. Hearing this, Gerald offers to leave, but when the Inspector says he knows that Gerald
and Sheila are engaged, he asks Gerald to stay. Gerald, agitated, remains.
Arthur tells the Inspector that he dismissed Eva in a “straightforward” case. He argues that
he “can’t accept responsibility” for what has happened to Eva. The Inspector counters that
Arthur has initiated a “chain of events” leading to Eva’s death. Eric interjects that Arthur was
saying just before the Inspector arrived that men must look out for themselves and their
families, but not all society. Arthur describes why he dismissed Eva: she was the normal
wage but joined with other laborers to ask for a raise of three shillings a week. Arthur would
not grant this, saying it would cut into profits. The Inspector asks Arthur why he refused,
and Arthur objects to the idea that the Inspector would question his business practices.
Arthur says that the workers, including Eva, went on strike, but it lasted no more than two
weeks, after which the laborers were taken back on “at the old wage.” Eva, however, was
not offered her job back, as punishment for initiating the strike. Gerald announces that
Arthur did what he had to do, as the owner of a business.
Arthur asks the Inspector how he gets along with the Chief Constable, a man with whom
Arthur is friendly. The Inspector says he does not “see much” of the Chief Constable. When
Eric asks why Arthur couldn’t grant the raise, Arthur accuses Eric of being lazy. Eric responds
that they do not need to speak this way with the Inspector present. Sheila enters the room,
and wonders what’s the matter. The Inspector tells Sheila that a girl named Eva Smith, aged
twenty-four, has killed herself, and Sheila is appalled to hear it. Sheila is also shocked to
learn that Arthur fired Eva after the strike.
The Inspector begins questioning Sheila, who says she does not know anyone named Eva
Smith. The Inspector tells Sheila that Eva Smith went on to work at a clothing store called
Milward’s. Sheila admits to having shopped there before and asks to see the Eva’s picture.
, The Inspector shows Sheila, and only Sheila, and she gasps. Arthur becomes angry that the
Inspector has upset Sheila, and Sheila asks the Inspector if he knew “all along” that Sheila
had interacted with Eva previously, a question the Inspector does not answer.
Sheila admits to having gotten the girl fired from Milward’s. Sheila was shopping there in
January of 1911 and, after having tried on an unflattering dress, she noticed that the girl,
Eva Smith, seemed to find this funny. Sheila became enraged and said she would not return
to the store unless the girl, Eva, was fired. Sheila is mortified to hear that her actions might
have contributed to Eva’s death. The Inspector tells the room that Eva worked at Milward’s
under the name Daisy Renton, rather than Eva Smith, which is why Sheila did not recognize
her name.
All but Gerald and Sheila leave the room. Sheila notices that Gerald was shocked at the
name “Daisy Renton,” and she asks whether Eva/Daisy was the girl he was seeing in the
spring and summer when he claimed to have been occupied at work. Gerald admits to an
affair with a girl he thought was named Daisy. He asks Sheila to conceal this from the
Inspector, but Sheila tells Gerald that the Inspector must already be aware of this
information.
Act 2:
The Inspector returns to the room, where Sheila and Gerald are talking. Sheila says she
believes the Inspector already knows about Gerald’s relationship with Eva. Gerald tells the
Inspector he worries that Sheila is becoming “hysterical” and should be excused. Sheila
admits she might be hysterical, but asks to remain. Gerald asks Sheila if the reason she
wants to make him suffer the guilt of Eva/Daisy’s death is because she had to suffer, too.
Sheila counters that Gerald couldn’t really love her if he accuses her of being so spiteful.
Sybil enters and asks what the matter is. The Inspector tells her he is asking Sheila and
Gerald about Eva’s death, and Sybil tells the Inspector that his questions are “impertinent.”
Sheila warns Sybil that anything Sybil says might become fodder for the Inspector’s inquiry.
Sybil dismisses this warning and tells Sheila to be quiet. Sybil notes that Eric is distressed,
probably because he’s had too much to drink at the dinner. When Sheila mentions that
Eric’s drinking is a steady problem, Sybil counters that this isn’t the case, and is embarrassed
that the subject is brought up before the Inspector. Sybil asks Gerald whether Eric’s drinking
is a problem, and to Sybil’s chagrin Gerald agrees that it is.
Arthur returns to the room. He says he has tried to persuade Eric to go to bed because of his
drunkenness, but the Inspector warns that Eric, too, will be questioned that evening. Sheila
worries what will happen to the family when the Inspector has finished his investigation.
