An Inspector Calls
When the mysterious Inspector Goole disrupts the Birling family’s lavish celebration, their perfect world begins to crumble. What starts as a simple inquiry into a young woman’s death spirals into a thrilling interrogation that lays bare hidden sins and societal hypocrisy. A timeless tale of guilt and morality.
J.B. Priestley
1945
Main Characters
Arthur Birling
A self-assured businessman, Arthur embodies capitalist ideals and dismisses social responsibility, prioritising wealth and status over ethical considerations.
Sheila Birling
Initially naive and self-centered, Sheila undergoes significant transformation, developing a heightened sense of empathy and moral awareness as the inspector's revelations unfold.
Inspector Goole
An enigmatic and authoritative figure, Inspector Goole serves as the moral compass of the play, challenging each character to confront their actions and their impact on others.
Synopsis
The year is 1912, and the wealthy Birling family is basking in their own success. Arthur Birling, a pompous businessman, is toasting his daughter Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft, the heir to another powerful family. Champagne flows, egos inflate, and the future seems bright. But just as the night reaches its peak, a knock at the door shatters their illusions.
Enter Inspector Goole, an enigmatic and sharp-tongued figure who has come to investigate the suicide of a young woman, Eva Smith. At first, the Birlings dismiss Eva as a stranger, someone beneath their notice. But the inspector knows better—and with unnerving precision, he connects each family member to Eva’s downfall.
Arthur had dismissed her from his factory for demanding fair pay. Sheila, in a petty rage, had her fired from a shop job. Gerald admits to a love affair with Eva, while Mrs. Birling coldly turned her away from a charity when she was most desperate. And Eric, the black sheep of the family, reveals a tangled web of guilt that no one expected.
As the night wears on, the Birlings’ confidence crumbles. Inspector Goole forces them to confront the uncomfortable truth: their actions have consequences, and their privilege doesn’t absolve them of responsibility. Just as they begin to reckon with their guilt, the play delivers a final, haunting twist, leaving the audience questioning the line between truth and illusion.
J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is more than a play; it’s a searing critique of class, privilege, and the need for empathy. Its clever dialogue, suspenseful structure, and moral complexity make it as gripping today as it was in 1945. Prepare to be challenged, moved, and thoroughly entertained.
Quotes
"We don't live alone. We are members of one body."
"The time will come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."
"Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges."
Fun Fact
"An Inspector Calls" was first performed in the Soviet Union in 1945 before its London debut in 1946, reflecting its immediate post-war resonance and universal themes of social responsibility.