An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

This story takes place in 1912, right before the 1st World War in

Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands (fictive town->

associations to other real industrial towns, like e.g. Bradford,

Birmingham or Burnley). The B. family is celebrating Sheila's

engagement to Gerald Croft, when inspector Goole arrives and tells

about a girl's (Eva Smith) suicide. After lots of questions, it turns

out that they are all, more or less responsible for this tragically

death.

After the inspector left they find out that he wasn't a real inspector

and that no girl died on the way to the Infirmary, after swallowing

some disinfectant!

Characters in detail: -

Mr Birling

* prosperous factory owner, not the social equal of his wife. He is

'a self made man'

* first priority is to make money 'It's my duty to keep labour cost

down'

* welcomes Croft into his family as he represents a business link

between his firm and that of Gerald Croft's father (a rival)

* has an honest approach to life, he tells the Inspector that he

wouldn't listen to Eva Smith's demand for a wage rise 'I refused,

of course' and is surprised why anyone should question why.

* strongly believes that 'a man has to make his own way'. He does

not consider the harm he may cause to other people because of his

attitude. He is a 'hard headed business man '

* he is a magistrate and former mayor who is looking forward to

receiving a knighthood

* he is very aware that Gerald's mother is rather against her son's

marriage because she believes him to be marrying beneath h...

... middle of paper ...

...r lodgings.

After a few more dates, Eva was going to have a baby. She didn't want

Eric to marry, so he gave her enough money to keep her going, but

finally she refuses even this (because she had found out that it has

been stolen). The problem about the money (about fifty pounds): Eric

got it from his father's office, without asking in advance! The

inspector left- the family is arguing (parents- children) and

discussing until Gerald returns and exposes the inspector as not real.

And after a call to the local Infirmary (no girl has been brought in

this afternoon who had committed suicide by drinking disinfectant)

it's seems clear that the whole thing had been a bluff. The family is

relieved… but right then the phone rings: it's the police, a girl had

committed suicide& a inspector is on the way to ask some questions…