This document follows the timeline of important events that occur throughout An Inspector Calls, looking separately at each act. Each event is accompanied by important quotes and an analysis of each quote mentioned.
The Birlings are
having an
engagement party
Inspector Goole arrives,
interrupting Mr Birling’s
speech
ACT ONE LAUREN HODGETTS
Shelia is questioned
about how she had Eva
fired from her new job
for Gerald and ‘we hear the sharp ring of
Shelia Mr Birling gets interrogated about how SHEILA; (miserably) So SHEIL
a front doorbell. BIRLING I’m really responsible? been
SHEILA: ‘Look- Eva Smith was sacked from his business.
stops to listen.’ This shows how Sheila plain
Mummy, isn’t it a BIRLING: ‘she had a lot to say – far too
The Inspector’s entrance is prepared to accept suppo
beauty?’ much – she had to go’
immediately shows the blame and feel guilty
This shows Sheila to Shows how Mr Birling thinks the working
conflict of power for her actions, unlike Howe
be very materialistic class are less important than himself and
between himself and Mr Mr Birling immatu
and child-like. his own class
Birling she stil
Birling leaves to tell Mrs
Edna leads the Inspector Sheila enters Birling what is happening blam
into the dining room blame
bei
Mrs Birling, Sheila and Eric
leave midway through the
speech, but Eric returns
Mr Birling gives a speech to Gerald The Inspector informs the Eric and Sheila are Gerald confes
and Eric about his views Birlings that a girl has sympathetic towards Eva’s involvement w
BIRLING: committed suicide death Renton to Sheila, a
‘I say there isn’t a chance of war’ INSPECTOR: ‘She’d swallowed ERIC: (bursting out) Well I influence her to h
‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ a lot of strong disinfectant. think it’s a dam’ shame.’ the Inspec
‘A man has to mind his own Burnt her inside out, of SHEILA; ‘But these girls aren’t SHEILA: (laugh
business and look after himself and course’ cheap labour – they’re people.’ hysterically) Why
his own’ The inspector is determined The younger generation are he knows. Of cours
This dramatic irony is used to to make it evident just how sad and empathetic towards Sheila knows t
influence the 1945 audience to take horrific Eva’s death was to Eva’s death, rather than Inspector alread
dislike to Mr Birling because of his show the extremes of the concerned with how it will everything and is
idiotic and arrogant predictions and suffering she was put through. effect the family socially. for them to adm
views.
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