context Flashcards
who wrote an inspector calls
J.B. Priestley
context of the story
J.B.Priestley write an Inspector calls in 1945, during the Second World War, but he set the play in 1912. In 1912, society was equal – people with more money and from higher classes had more power. Priestly uses the unequal society of 1912 as a setting to get people to think about inequality in 1945
context on status and wealth
In 1912 the upper and middle classes lived pretty comfortably. Many middle-class men were wealthy and powerful because they had businesses or professional jobs E.G.doctors.
The working classes had a very different life. They had to work hard for a little money, often in factories owned by the middle classes
People are expected to provide for themselves so support for those in need was limited
This made it difficult for working-class people to help themselves if they fell on hard times
Name all the characters in the play
Arthur Birling, Sybil Birling, Eric Burling, Sheila Burling, Gerald croft, the inspector, Eva Smith/Daisy Renton, Edna
plot summary - act one
The B family are celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald – seems to be going well.
Arthur gives a speech to Eric and Gerald about business. He says that every man should look after themselves
Inspector goole arrives and said that a woman called Eva Smith has committed suicide by drinking disinfectant. He starts to question the family members one by one – it turns out Arthur Birling sacked Eva Smith in his factory for a protest and Sheila asked for Eva Smith to be sacked from a department store last year
plot summary - act two
Although he wants to keep it a secret, Gerald eventually describes how he spent last summer with Daisy Renton – she was his mistress
Gerald is upset. Sheila returned his ring and Gerald leaves.
the inspector gets sybil to confessed that she persuaded the women’s charity organisation to reject Eva/Daisy for help - she was pregnant at the time
Civil blames the father of Eva/Daisys child for her death Sheila guesses is the father is Eric
plot summary - act three
Eric returns.
He knows that the inspector has led everyone to the conclusion that he is the father of the child
He described how he met Eva Smith at a bar and drunkenly force her to have sex.
He got her pregnant then stole money from his father’s office to support her
Eva/Daisy rejected the stolen money and turned to Sybil’s charity for help.
Eric blames Sybil for the murder of her own grandchild by refusing to give her charity
the inspector reminds the Bs that we are all responsible for each other. He warned that unless everyone learns to look after each other, the lesson will have to be like later with greater suffering
plot summary - act three - the twist
Gerald returns, having spoken to a police officer who doesn’t recognise the inspector. Berlin calls the police station to confirm there is no inspector called goole in the area.
Gerald cause the hospital and find out that no one has committed suicide.
mr b, sybil and Gerald decide it’s all been a hoax and start to relax
Sheila and Eric argue that they are all still guilty of treating someone badly
The phone rings.
A young woman has just been found dead after drinking disinfectant, and the police are sending inspector to question the family.
