An Inspector Calls-A plot summary

In act one we are introduced to a spring evening in 1912. The Birlings are currently celebrating Sheilas Birlings engagement to Gerald Croft. However in the summer of the previous year, Sheila felt that something may have happened to make Gerald lose interest in her

Arthur also gives a speech to Eric and Gerald about business. He says that every man should look after himself and his family only. 

Inspector Goole also arrives and gives the sorry news to the Birlings that a young girl named Eva Smith committed suicide by drinking disinfectant. It is here that the questioning of the family members begins. 

Arthur Birling is revealed to have sacked Eva from his factory after she was suspected of being the ringleader in a strike over low wages.

It also emerges that due to Sheilas unfortunate short temper, she had Eva Smith sacked from a department store after she caught her smiling whilst she was in a foul mood. 

The inspector then reveals that Eva then changed her name to Daisy Renton. This name seems to trigger a reaction out of Gerald, who leaves the room, and out of Eric, who is shocked

Although he desperately tries to keep it a secret, for his own and his engagement to Sheilas sake, it eventually comes out that Gerald Croft had had an affair with Daisy Renton over the summer. The suspicions of Sheila earlier in the play had a basis after all. 

Gerald is extremely upset that he has been caught and Sheila chooses to hand back the ring, in a sign that the engagement may be over

The inspector then proceeds to force Mrs Birling to confess that she had denied money to Daisy Renton after she came to her womens charity to seek support. Daisy was pregnant at the time. Mrs Birling chooses to blame the death of Daisy on the father of her child for abandoning her. She is too deluded to believe that Eric may have been the father as she had persuaded herself that she has raised model children. 

Sheila comes to the realisation that the father of the child is Eric

Eric returns from his walk. He knows that the inspectors enquiries have led to the conclusion that he was the father of Evas unborn child. He describes how he met Eva at a bar whilst inebriated, how he impregnated her and how he stole his fathers money in order to support her. 

After it emerges that Eva/Daisy rejected the money after she discovered it had been stolen, she went to Mrs Birlings charity, where her request for funds was rejected. Eric says that Mrs Birling murdered her own grandchild by refusing charity. 

After this the inspector leaves, but not without providing a grave warning that if humanity does not learn to look after one another, a lesson will be taught in fire and blood. The inspector then leaves the Birling mansion.

After the inspector leaves, Gerald speaks to a policeman who doesnt recognise the name Goole. Arthur Birling confirms this with a phone call to the police department, who confirms that his name is not on the records.

Gerald then proceeds to call the hospital, who say that they had received no patients who had committed suicide that day. Birling, Mrs Birling and Gerald all relax believing the inspector to be a complete hoax.

However Sheila and Eric argue that they still did what they did and that everyone was guilty of treating someone in such a horrendous way.

The phone then rings. It is the police department saying that a young woman had just been found dead after drinking disinfectant. An inspector is on his way to ask some questions.