An Inspector Calls Key Content List: Context Stage

An Inspector Calls Key Content List:
Context
Stage Directions and Location
Character Analysis
Themes
Plot and Analysis
Example Question<br>

Stage Directions/ Location and Setting – What can you remember?<br>

What are Stage Directions? stage direction
noun
an instruction in the text of a play indicating the movement, position, or tone of an actor, or the sound effects and lighting.<br>

Important Examples from the Text<br>

Stage Directions The use of stage directions is very explicit in this play, possibly because Priestley wanted the message of his play to be very specifically communicated to the audience.

The stage directions indicate a number of things about the Birlings.
1. Wealth – the descriptions of the room and furniture, give the impression of a rich and privileged background.
2. Relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Birling – Mr. Birling is at the top of the table, reflecting the acceptable attitudes of the time, but also a potential emotional disconnect between these two characters. You can describe ‘space’ as a metaphor for their separate relationship.
3. Change in the lighting – ‘pink and intimate, becomes ‘ brighter and harder’ when the Inspector calls. Pink – rose tinted glasses reference – the Birling’s don’t live in the real world and look at things in their own way. The ‘brighter and harder’ light could be the truth, and also could be seen to be angelic. Also, behaves as a spot light on the Birlings’ mistakes.<br>

Stage Directions 4. Edna clearing the table – this highlights the social class of the Birlings and the colonial way in which they appear to live at this time. Further more, it would appear that she is clearing away the remains of a celebration and this tells us that the family are celebrating, particularly as it mentions that ‘they are all pleased with themselves’.
5. Focus on appearances – Each character is described in physical detail, which highlights to the audience how much people were judged on the basis of physical appearance at this time. It also leads us to make a judgement on these characters before we meet them.<br>

Location and Setting Location
There are a number of locations mentioned outside of the dining room, where each of the characters spend time outside of the family.
This achieves two things:
It seems like the members of the family all lead different lives, that the rest of the family don’t know about.
It makes the dining room scenario even more surreal and the life of the Birlings’ appear even more detached from reality.
Setting
Set in the fictional town of Brumley, in 1912 (although written in 1945). Essentially, this is a social commentary on responsibility for the wars and the audience watching would appreciate the irony of Mr. Birling’s comments, which reflect the ignorance of people at the time.<br>

Characters in ‘An Inspector Calls’<br>

Mr. Birling Physical Description in the Stage Directions
‘ a heavy looking, rather portentous man, in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech’ – Priestley gives us a number of ways in which we can judge this character using fairly leading description here Obsession with Status
Sheila’s marriage to Gerald is business deal to Birling – ‘Crofts and Birling are working together for lower costs and higher prices’ will be the result.
He also has his own ambitions - ‘I was Lord Mayor here two years ago. There’s a very good chance of a knighthood’ Quantity of Speech
Birling uses speech to ensure that he can maintain control – as his power diminishes, you can note that he speaks less and less. We can surmise that that power does not lie in how much you say, as the Inspector speaks little but maintains authority. Whenever Birling is challenged, note that he responds
‘angrily’ in the stage directions. Note how this represents the change in how his character is presented by Priestley. A criticism of society
As a previous Lord Mayor, you would expect Birling to care for his community, yet we learn that in reality he does not support this – as he refers to it as ‘community and all that nonsense’. Priestley is criticizing those that would elect someone like Birling to this position. Dramatic Irony and Mr. Birling – are guided to dislike Birling and see him as ignorant!
Birling states that worker/employer conflict will come to nothing – BUT there are many riots from 1912 onwards relating to this.
He states that the Titanic is ‘ unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’. Say no more about this one!
He states that there will be no war with the Germans! How wrong could he be, there were 2!!<br>

Mrs. Birling An uncharitable charity worker
Brumley’s Women’s Charity Organisation – Yet she will not show charity to Eva Responsibility
Mrs. Birling does not see others’ problems as her responsibility
‘Go and look for the Father of the child. It’s his responsibility’. Stage Directions
‘about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior’. Social Superiority
From the beginning, Sybil Birling is described as the social superior and she is the most callous and unforgiving of all the characters. Priestley is commenting on the cruelty of the upper classes (an extreme comment) The relationship between etiquette and moral standards
Mrs. Birling is more concerned about the expectations of her social status, than doing the right thing.<br>

Sheila Birling Traditional Values
In Act 1, Sheila seems like a silly, but traditional girl. She reveals her insecurity when she states that she doesn’t ‘feel engaged’, until she receives her ring from Gerald. Responsibility
Repetition of the word ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility’ by Sheila, reflects that this is always on Sheila’s mind. Foreshadowing the future
Sheila expresses her concerns about where Gerald has been over the Summer: ‘Last Summer when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you’ A change in Sheila
In Act 1, we discover that Sheila has a part to play in the demise of Eva Smith. ‘I told them that if they didn’t get rid of that girl (Eva Smith), I would never go near the place again’. However, she changes and part of the reason for this is that she learns the importance of responsibility, telling her Mother: ‘stop before its too late’. The Maturing of Sheila – the ‘other inspector’
Sheila becomes like the Inspector in language and behaviour as she seeks the truth. She uses shock tactics, questions, makes revelations and contradictions.<br>

Gerald Croft Gerald – a changed man?
Gerald takes the same attitude at the end of the play is similar to that of the Birling's; he is more concerned about being caught than he is about the action itself. ‘Everything is alright now Sheila’. Gerald – the Gentleman
Gerald is a Croft – a wealthy family and is engaged to Sheila.
Note that Mr. Birling’s engagement speech is directed primarily at Gerald, and not Sheila. He is noted to be ‘the easy, well-bred young man, about town’. Gerald and Daisy Renton (Eva Smith)
It is noted that Gerald did treat Eva well in some ways, yet she is his Mistress and he met her in her role as a prostitute. He would not have taken the relationship further due to her social class. He also makes her homeless and leaves her in a desperate situation. The fact that Eva seemed to be happy as a result of her relationship with Gerald, makes we as an audience, feel less angry with Gerald – she ‘didn’t blame me at all’. Gerald – ‘a mixed bag’
Gerald is a gentleman, but he has had a relationship with a prostitute and will only protect a certain type of woman, like Sheila should be protected from ‘unpleasant and disturbing things’.<br>

Eric Birling Eric – the silent one
Eric is often ignored and overlooked by the other characters in Act 1. His Father his far more pleasant to Gerald, his future son in law. Criminal Behaviour
Think about when the Inspector notes that there is a fine line between civil and criminal behaviour. Eric is seemingly a gentleman, yet as he says himself, he got into a state where – ‘a chap easily turns nasty’.
He steals from his Father to give Eva money, forces himself upon Eva and gets her pregnant, and admits to a drinking problem.
However, he wants to take responsibility: ‘it’s about the girl and what we all did to her that matters’. An awkward character
Eric is socially awkward – he ‘guffaws’ at strange times, when he doesn’t even find things funny in Act 1. Nature Nurture
Eric treats Eva badly, but we can probably surmise that some of the reasons for this behaviour are likely the way in which he has been brought up by the Birlings’ to be insecure and unhappy himself. Scandal
Eric’s behaviour will cause scandal for the Birlings and they are keen to ensure damage limitation. Note that Gerald also did the same, but he didn’t get caught out!<br>

Eva Smith /Daisy Renton Ironically, Eva Smith is presented as one of the most moral characters in the play.
Notably in the fact that she refuses to marry Eric and take his money.
This ironic because on the surface, she is judged because of the actions that she takes due to her desperation i.e. prostitution. She is also judged on the basis of her social class; she is not considered by polite society to be someone who can have moral attributes. A woman who stands up for her rights
Eva was originally let go by Mr. Birling because she championed higher wages for herself and her co workers. She was also a ‘good worker’, by Mr. Birling’s own admission, so perhaps she deserved an increase. Eva – the ‘silent woman’
Interestingly, for a character that has so much bearing on the events of the play, it is very significant that Eva does not actually feature at all in person and her story is told to use by Inspector Goole. This highlights to us, that without support, Eva would have no voice – see Mr. Birling incident, and therefore, she relies on good people to ensure that she is fairly treated. This is likely to be a comment by Priestly as to how women were treated/represented at this time – the ‘silent gender’. Are Daisy and Eva the same person?
Perhaps the Inspector is playing mind games – the name ‘Daisy’ as a new alias is important, as it represents a new start. However, it also links to the phrase of ‘pushing up the daisies’, which is synonymous with death.<br>

Stage Directions
Note the stage directions regarding light and the ‘sharp ring’ of the doorbell –something that cannot be ignored
Note that his presence is described as ‘massive’. Inspector Goole Inspector ‘Ghoul’
This is a play on words (pun) and we can surmise that either/or:
this is a reference to him being an allusion
or a figure from the afterlife – linking to the allegorical nature of the play. Is the Inspector a Metaphor?
The Inspector manages to ensure that each and every character reveals their truth through out the play. Does he represent their conscience or guilt? (Metaphor) A ‘classless’ Inspector
The Inspector does not have a class – he wears a ‘plainish dark suit of the period’ and therefore, is not judged upon this neither does he observe this as important. He adopts an approach of equality for all. Characteristics
Strategist – The Inspector will only allow the characters access/to discuss one by one
Blunt – the Inspector discusses the death of Eva Smith in a straightforward manner - ‘burned her insides out’<br>

Key Themes in ‘An Inspector Calls’ Pre-War Britain
Family Life
Social Responsibility
Personal Responsibility
Gender Differences
Morality and Judgement
Social Class
Generational Differences
Capitalism<br>

Pre War Britain – it’s important to note the changes in society between the time set and the era in which the audience lived as this would affect how they would receive the message of the play. 1912 A world prior to the Great War
Society was clearly divided by class
Men had all the power – had property and could vote
Government support was not generous for the lower classes
The world was headed toward The Great War 1945 Leadership was questioned as a direct result of both wars and their huge losses
Social classes were more fluid and questioned by citizens
Industries were floored by employer rights and strikes
The Labour Party won the 1945 election, with a very different view of the class system.
The economy was in a mess – reference the 1929 Wall Street Crash and Great Depression<br>

Family Life Act 1 - a perfect family?
At the beginning of the play, it would seem that the family are close in their celebration of the engagement of Sheila and Gerald.
The men go out to work and control the money and the conversation, and the women have a life that revolves around marriage and domestic responsibilities.
The older Birlings seem to be in control of the younger Birlings. Act 2 – A change in power
With the Inspector’s arrival and his various revelations, the power shifts within the Birling family.
Sheila challenges her Mother and Father regularly, and Eric does not really feature in this Act until the very end. Act 3 – fractured family unit
Birling consistently tries to protect his wife and daughter from Eric’s revelations
Eric comments that his Father was ‘not a kind of Father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’<br>

Personal Responsibility On page 18, we can note a turning point in the text, as the first mention of responsibility is made by Sheila Birling.
Here’s how the characters view their own responsibility: Mrs. Birling: No change
‘I did nothing I am ashamed of’ Act 2 Mr. Birling: No change
‘I can’t accept any responsibility’ – Act 1 Sheila Birling
‘I behaved badly I am ashamed of it’ (Stage Directions: She looks as if she’s been crying) – Act 1 Eric Birling
‘You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can’t. Nor can Mother. We did her in (Eva) alright’
Act 3<br>

Gender Differences Some Context:
In the early 1900’s – society was dominated by men, and women were seen as fragile and the property of their husbands.
Priestley uses the text to convey male and female stereotypes.
Men – Men worked and didn’t have to follow the same rules are women
Women - females are impressed by the superficial – see Sheila’s reference to the engagement ring
However, at this point, women started to want more for themselves.
Priestley observes these changes in the characters of Eva and Sheila
Eva – Eva stands up for her rights and she does not take money from Eric
Sheila – Develops a more mature attitude and accepts responsibility<br>

Morality and Judgement Religious morality plays traditionally focused on the 7 deadly sins – pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, anger and sloth. This type of play focuses on the confession of sin and repentance of sins for forgiveness.
Note how we could link these to the characters in ‘Inspector Calls’
Birling – Greed / Anger
Gerald – Lust
Eric – Lust
Sheila – Envy
Mrs. Birling – Pride/Sloth (spiritual)
However, God is not judging the characters in this play, it is the Inspector. Therefore, this is a moral and not a religious play – and is therefore allegorical.<br>

Social Responsibility ‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body – we are responsible for each other’
These lines are delivered by the Inspector at the end of the play, and they reflect the socialist message of Priestley’s play – that we should all care for one another otherwise there will be consequences, as referenced in this play, as the death of Eva Smith.

‘The time will come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.’
The final words of the Inspector are a warning to all to change their ways and reflect the social message and are an articulation of Priestley’s own concerns. Context! There is an argument that this play focuses on the responsibility that many had to the causation of the two world wars and that Priestley was warning that this would happen again if people did not take responsibility.<br>

Social Class – Characters are used to present this theme through behaviour and their perceptions Lower Class: Eva Smith
Smith is one of the most common names, if not the most common name in the UK, therefore Eva is supposed to symbolize that many similar people would share her experiences in the UK at this time – as a working class person, and as a woman. Middle Class: The Birlings
The Birlings are business owners who are wealthy and live well. Upper Class: Gerald ( and Mrs. Birling before she married)
Gerald is from a family who inherited money and own land, therefore, is considered to be of the highest class. The relationships between these classes were fractured but by far those that suffered the most were the lower classes. Their issues were either not known about, ignored or simply people did not care about them.
These classes had very little social mobility (ability to develop) and were rarely supported and often abused by their middle and upper class superiors. What does Priestley want us to think?
Priestley is commenting on society and that no one takes responsibility for each other. This is clearly geared toward appearing unjust – and the working classes suffer the most in the class system. The Inspector is a classless person, who judges people on merit and not by class – that’s perhaps how Priestley wishes that society really should treat and judge people.<br>

Generational Differences Noting the similarities between Mr and Mrs Birling – this demonstrates that they represent a genuine social force – where one character displays certain behaviours, we do not always take them seriously, where two behave this way, we see them as a more credible force and here a larger barrier.
The Younger Birlings vs. The Older Birlings
Note how often Mr. Birling refers to Sheila as a ‘child’ and Sheila and Eric are child like at the start.
‘The younger ones are more impressionable’ – the Inspector notes that the younger characters can change
Even at the point where everyone thinks that there was no Inspector or dead girl, Eric and Sheila are still sorry and feel that they should learn from the experience.

Differences in attitude to responsibility .
Note that the older Birlings define responsibility as financial and to their themselves and their family, where the younger Birlings see responsibility as social and to the community.
See the Responsibility Slide for the Quotations
The older generation actually believe that once they are off the hook, they don’t need to change. Priestley is highlighting the role of the younger generation, and how they can improve things for the future by being open to change and taking responsibility to avoid making future mistakes.<br>

Capitalism - is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit A Romantic Business
Mr Birling to Gerald –‘Crofts Ltd are both older and bigger than Birling and company – perhaps we may look forward to a time when Croft and Birling are no longer competing but working together – for lower costs and higher prices’. A ‘girl of that sort’ should not want more money.
Eva wants more money and this upsets the Capitalist Birling, who does not want to pay out more, rather make more!
Therefore, he sacks her even though she was a good worker.
‘She had a lot to say, far too much, so she had to go’. Ultimately, Capitalism benefited the middle and upper classes as they could make money from it, where the lower class could never improve their standard of living or ask for more in terms of wages and benefits as this would decrease what the middle/upper class employer made in profits. It was an elitist system!<br>

Plot Line and Analysis<br>

Act 1 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 1:
The Birlings are ‘very pleased with themselves’ - the audience join the Birlings part way through celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft.
So many secrets – there are hints that not all is right with the Birlings. Where was Gerald last Summer? Why do Sheila and Mrs. Birling have to leave the room?
Mr. Birling, the expert on everything – Mr. Birling likes to tell everyone else about how much he knows about EVERYTHING. Priestley uses dramatic irony to reveal the extent of Birling’s stupidity and ignorance and also lead us to question about whether he is right about other things that happen in the play. Observe the notes on Mr. Birling for more detail.<br>

Act 1 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 1:
Introducing Inspector Goole - As the title suggests, ‘an inspector calls’, and he reveals the death of a young woman, Eva Smith. His news and manner, change the tone of the play, contrasting the light hearted and superficial tone of the play’s introduction.
Admitting Responsibility – The Inspector reveals the role of each character in Eva Smith’s death, one be one, by showing them a photograph of the woman and letting them tell their version. Here we hear of Sheila and Mr. Birling’s responsibility in this.
In this Act, we discover that:
Birling sacked Eva after she led a request for higher wages, causing her to have no money
Sheila had Eva sacked from her next position, as she looked prettier in a dress than she did, and she thought that Eva had been laughing at her.<br>

Analysing Act 1 Act 1:
The theme of ‘Generational Differences’ is apparent in this scene, as Sheila and Eric are sympathetic toward Eva Smith, where as their parents are not.
Both ‘Generational Differences’ and ‘Gender Differences’ are apparent in the treatment of Sheila in Act 1. She is repeatedly asked to leave for fear that she cannot cope. However, she stays out of a sense of duty, which shows her strength.
The significance of Daisy Renton – the audience learns that Eva’s circumstances were so severe that she had to change her name to make a fresh start. Consider how Priestley uses the name ‘Daisy’ (natural imagery) to reflect new beginnings)
Sheila and Gerald – Gerald confesses to Sheila and this highlights the things that women were expected to face men’s indiscretions as part of their relationships (Gender Differences)<br>

Act 2 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 2:
The Spotlight is on Gerald
Gerald continued his affair with Daisy Renton, and it creates a real dilemma for the audience. This is because Gerald is a character that has sought to protect women, but here this is passive aggressive mistreatment.
The Spotlight is on Mrs. Birling
Mrs. Birling appears the quintessential house wife in Act 1, yet here she is revealed to have a wholly different side that is perhaps the biggest shock of the entire play. Notably, she is of the highest social standing, yet is the most cruel and uncultured in her treatment of others.
When a pregnant Eva visits Mrs. Birling to ask for help, Mrs. Birling refuses her and persuades the committee to do the same. She describes the father of the child, but she will not reveal his identity. She is refused support by Mrs. Birling, and when pressed by the inspector, Mrs. Birling blames the Father of the child.
Who is Sheila?
Sheila knows that Eric is responsible and here we see a development in her character as her astute and reflective nature is increasingly revealed to us at this point. She also becomes more assertive in demanding that her Mother and fiancé, are equally reflective and responsive to the Inspector’s questions. And then Eric walks in.<br>

Analysing Act 2 Act 2:
Gender differences are explored in Act 2; particularly, the way that women of different classes in society. It is indicated that where Gerald met Eva when she was working as a prostitute, at The Palace Stalls. Men are allowed to choose how women can meet their needs, where women do not have these choices.
Generational Differences are apparent, where the younger generation have to force the older to meet their responsibility.
Social class plays a part in how much people believe others: Mrs. Birling does not believe Eva – ‘a girl of that sort’, and as a result, believes her story to be ‘ridiculous’.
Sheila presents the idea of reflection/ learning about life indicating that she cannot marry Gerald as the lessons that have been learned have changed her.
All the major characters bar Gerald appear in this Act- indicating that all the family stand trial and inviting the idea that these behaviors have been bred in the children.<br>

Act 3 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 3:
The break down of the Birlings
All Eyes on Eric – the ‘confession’
Eric reveals himself to be the Father and his childish and insensitivity are revealed. There are questions here about who is responsible for the way that he has ended up.
Birling’s reaction
Reputation is key in this text and Birling asks the women to leave. He is concerned that Eric’s dealings with a prostitute and admission of rape, will call the family into disrepute.
Sybil and Eric
Mrs. Birling reveals to Eric that she is the one that turned Eva away and played a part in the death of Eva and their child.<br>

Act 3 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 3:
The Inspector has his say
The Inspector highlights the fault of each of the family members, one by one. He then goes on to detail the fallout and lessons learned.
The Family breaks down
After the departure of the Inspector, there is a continued focus on who is to blame and attempts to minimize damage.
Who has learned from this experience?
Everyone is ashamed about the events, but some are more concerned by reputation than they are by what they have done wrong.
Is the Inspector real?
After Sheila’s wonderings, and Gerald’s news that there is not an Inspector Goole in the force, Birlings via phone call that Eva . There are different views on whether or not the above question is important? This also exposes the generational gap.<br>

Act 3 Plot Line and ‘the important parts’ Act 3:
The role of Gerald
Gerald splits the family further and he is as quick to try and forget about the events of the evening as the senior Birlings are. He asks Sheila to marry him for a second time, almost as if he feels that he can continue as he left off before the Inspector arrived. She on the other hand, has grown, she doesn’t agree to marry him again at this time.

The phone rings – a call from the outside world
‘A girl has died and an inspector will call’ – and so the plot line continues and the game begins all over again with the second ‘sharp ring’ in this play.<br>

Analysing Act 3 Act 3:
Reputation comes before real family attachment – Mrs. Birling presents the perfect family, yet she does not have a close relationship with them. Reputation has come at a price.
Each character is vulnerable at this point, and most likely to listen to the Inspector’s impending speech.
We see different types of learning – the reflection that we see in Sheila is not present in Mr. Birling, who has simply learnt a lot of things that he does not want to hear, when he says he’s ‘learnt plenty’.
Gerald ‘the inspector’ – Gerald summarises what has happened for the other characters, but he is keen to paste over the cracks and present the idea that there has been no crime and it is all a hoax. Perhaps Priestley is using Gerald to demonstrate how people in a position of authority can use their power to play down and ignore the truth.<br>

How Language and Structure is Used<br>

Use of Language and Techniques Engagement Language – the language of the Birlings in the early stages of Act 1, is playful and genial. It also reflects their class – ‘jingo’ and ‘chaps’.
Language of Inspector Goole – Goole is straightforward and abrupt, (according to the older Birlings – ‘rude’ and ‘impertinent’). He describes the death of Eva using graphic imagery and stage directions reflect his manner – ‘cutting in massively’. His short and controlled language contrasts his final speech before he leaves the Birlings, which is detailed and passionate. We sense here that his time here is at an end.
The language of Maturity – In particular Sheila, who calls her Father ‘Daddy’, at the beginning of the play, becomes more confident and mature in her use of more straightforward and sometimes confrontational language.
Techniques are used in connection with particular characters:
1. Dramatic Irony – used in relation to Birling and his ignorance
2. Use of Euphemism - the Birlings hide the truth by not saying exactly what they mean - i.e. ‘a girl of that sort’ (Eva Smith)<br>

Use of Structure A detective story – ‘ a who-dunnit’ style plot line
Use of Dramatic Irony
Flash back/ Flash forward
Location and Setting – see previous notes
Use of entrances and exits of characters for effect – represent escape
A slow build up of expected and surprise events
Cliff Hangers – note Act 1 leading to Act 2 – ‘Who’ – the Inspector
Use of sentences – to repress information/ shows that characters have something to hide
Long periods of speech – dramatic monologue
Confessional style interview – Q and A<br>