1) The Birling family is celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald at a dinner party where Mr. Birling, the dominant father, talks dismissively about his business and children. 2) An inspector arrives to question them about the recent suicide of a young woman, Eva Smith. He unsettles the family with his serious demeanor. 3) Through the inspector's questioning, it is revealed that each family member contributed in some way to Eva Smith's downward spiral, from Mr. Birling firing her to Sheila getting her fired from a shop, implicating them all in her death.

1. An Inspector Calls Year 9
Act One Summary – Group work
Arthur Birling, SybilBirling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling and Gerald Croft are havinga celebratory dinner
to toastthe engagementof Sheila andGerald. The family are drinkingPortandenjoying a decadent
dinner, implying their wealth. Even thoughit is his daughter’sengagement, hestill continuesto talk
abouthis business, showinghisdominance. The quote‘Your father andI have been friendly rivals in
businessfor some time now’. This tells us thatMr. Birling and Gerald could end upjoining boththeir
businessestogetherand he doesnot seem to care abouthisdaughter’slove for Gerald. Arthur Birling
throughoutthedinnertalks in a controlling tone, for example when Eric startsto speak, he says‘just
let me finish, Eric!’ He is very dismissiveof his children, and the youngergenerationgenerally.
The Inspectorcalls, and Ednaanswers the door. He showsa false personality, becauseas he greets
Mr. Birling with respect but gradually he becomes a more controllingand powerful character. He
showsdominanceby usinga controlling tone. He believes it is his ‘duty toask questions’ andcontrols
the situation, muchto the dismay of Mr. Birling as he is seen as the dominantpersonality beforehand.
He takeshis job seriously as he refuses to have a drink when offered and he is not shy to ask
questions. He changesthe atmosphereas he mentionsthatEva Smith hasdied by swallowing
disinfectant.
Mr Birling is first questionedby the Inspector, andis implicated because Eva used towork at one of
his factories. She requested‘twenty-fiveshillings a week insteadof twenty-twoandsix’. This led to
Birling sacking her because she was one of the ringleaders who lobbied all the workers to ask for a
higher wage. He showshis capitalist view because he doesnotwant to help or care abouther as he
calls her a ‘wretched girl.’ He showsthathe hasmore power, emphasisingthathe is aboutto be
honouredin the upcominghonourslist. Eric, Birling’s sondisagrees with Birling andsticks upfor Eva.
After Birling hasbeen accused by the Inspector, Sheila is later shownthe photographofEva Smith.
Sheila is shockedby the photographanditbrings tears to her eyes. She suddenly runsoutthe room in
distress. The Inspectorand the Birling family realise that Sheila hassomethingto dowith it. Sheila
later returnsto the roomand startsto confessher story. Shestartswith ‘youknewit was me all the
time, didn’tyou?’ Sheilawent intoMilward’s storeto try ona dress. The dress didn’tsuither and Eva
andthe assistantgave looksto each other, which madeSheila angry. Sheila alsosaw Evahold the
dress up, as if shewas wearing it andshe was jealous that shelooked better thanher. She toldthe
manager thatif Eva wasn’tfired, she would never come in again. After this, Sheila felt regret and
remorse for Eva and felt very guilty for her death.
As the Inspectorused the pseudonymDaisy Renton, Geraldstartedand pouredhimself a drink to get
his head aroundthefact he heard the name Daisy Renton. Later on, Gerald’s guilt was seen by Sheila
which built up the tension. Sheila nosily began toask several questionswhich Gerald then eventually
admittedhe knew this girl. Sheila beganto ask more questions, andGerald admitted thatit was 6
monthsagolast summer, buthe does not‘come into the suicide business’. Thisshowsthe split in the
relationship, andGerald pleads for Sheila to nottell the Inspectorin which shereplied ‘he already
knows, I hate to think now how muchhe knowsandhow muchhe knowsthat we don’tknowyet’.
This left Sheila almostin triumphandleft Gerald crushedwhich makes the reader want to read on.
Notonly that the Inspectorfinishes off with the word ‘well’ which creates more tension.