An Inspector Calls Quiz

Eva Smith.

Sheila is initially shocked but gradually becomes more reflective and accepts her responsibility in Eva Smith’s death.

Mr Birling fired Eva Smith after she led a strike for better wages.

Gerald had an affair with Eva Smith, and he helped her for a short period, but eventually, he ended the relationship.

Eric got Eva pregnant and stole money from his father to support her, but she rejected his help and later died.

Mrs Birling is dismissive and judgmental, believing that Eva Smith was responsible for her own downfall and that she did not deserve any help.

The Inspector represents social conscience and the idea of collective responsibility. He challenges the characters to recognise their moral failures and the consequences of their actions on others.

The play is set in the Birling family’s dining room in Brumley, an industrial city in the North of England, in 1912.

The Inspector arrives just after the Birling family celebrates the engagement of Sheila and Gerald, which highlights the contrast between their self-congratulation and the harsh reality of their social irresponsibility.

Priestley uses social class as a key theme to show the disparity between the privileged Birling family and the working-class Eva Smith. The Birlings’ attitude towards Eva reflects the class divide, as they view themselves as superior and dismissive of the struggles of the lower classes. Priestley critiques the lack of social responsibility and empathy in the upper class, urging for a more egalitarian and socially conscious society.

At the start of the play, Sheila is a naive and privileged young woman, unaware of the impact her actions have on others. However, as she is confronted with the truth about her involvement in Eva Smith’s demise, she matures, takes responsibility for her actions, and becomes more self-aware. Her character development reflects the play’s message about personal growth and accountability.

Mr Birling is portrayed as self-assured, arrogant, and unwilling to accept any responsibility for the death of Eva Smith. He believes in individualism and self-interest, dismissing the idea of collective responsibility. In contrast, the Inspector embodies the idea that everyone’s actions affect others, and he forces the Birlings to confront their shared culpability in the tragedy, highlighting the moral importance of social responsibility.

The play ends with the revelation that the Inspector might not be a real police officer, leaving the audience uncertain about the nature of his visit. This ambiguous ending suggests that the moral lessons the Inspector imparts are more important than the factual truth. It forces the audience to reflect on their own responsibility towards others and consider whether the characters (and by extension, society) have truly learned from their actions. The possibility of the Inspector being a supernatural figure further emphasises the idea that morality and social conscience are paramount, regardless of authority.

Mrs Birling represents the upper-class, conservative views of the early 20th century. She is portrayed as self-righteous, unsympathetic, and blind to her own privilege. Her refusal to acknowledge any responsibility for Eva Smith’s death illustrates the prejudiced and hierarchical attitudes of the time, where the wealthy often looked down on the poor and blamed them for their own misfortune. Priestley uses her character to critique the lack of empathy and social awareness prevalent in the upper classes.

Priestley uses dramatic irony to engage the audience by revealing information to them that the characters are unaware of. For example, the audience knows about the sinking of the Titanic (which Mr Birling confidently dismisses as unsinkable) and that World War I is just around the corner, which makes Mr Birling’s optimistic predictions about the future seem ridiculous. This irony serves to highlight the characters’ ignorance and foreshadows the downfall of their privileged world. It also underscores the play’s social message by showing how the Birlings’ lack of awareness leads to their moral failure, creating a sense of urgency for change.