An Inspector Calls Summary

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Chapter 1

The Birling family is celebrating the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, the son of Lord and 

Lady Croft, who comes from 'an old country family — landed people'. Arthur Birling is in a good 

mood and makes a number of speeches giving his views about the state of the world, 

technology and industrial relations. One of his main themes is about everyone being 

responsible for themselves; he doesn't believe that anyone has a responsibility to others apart 

from his family. 

When Inspector Goole is announced, Birling and Gerald make a joke about Eric who shows his 

guilty conscience by reacting strongly to this.

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Chapter 2

Although Gerald tries to get Sheila to leave the room, she insists on staying; Gerald admits to 

having had an affair with Eva Smith, the girl he knew as Daisy Renton, the previous summer. 

Sheila is hurt and disappointed in Gerald who had told her he was busy at the works at that 

time. After Gerald broke off the affair, Eva/Daisy had left Brumley for a few months. After 

Sheila has returned her engagement ring to him, Gerald goes out, seemingly genuinely 

affected by the news of the girl's death. 

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Chapter 3

Eric immediately realises that they all know and tells them of how he met Eva and of her subsequent pregnancy. Questioned closely by the inspector, he also reveals that he had tried to support the girl by giving her money but he had stolen it from his father's business.

The Birlings seem more horrified by this than his responsibility for the girl's condition. 

Having done his job, the inspector makes a speech about social responsibility and leaves the 

Birlings to examine their behaviour. 

When Gerald re-enters he has news that there is no Inspector Goole is employed by the local 

police. Birling and Gerald now set about disproving the inspector's case although Sheila and 

Eric feel that that is not the point. When Gerald confirms that no girl has died of drinking 

disinfectant by telephoning the infirmary, The Birlings and Gerald are delighted and their mood 

of jollity and good-humour of the beginning of Act 1 returns. 

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Chapter 1 continued

The inspector informs Birling about the death of a young woman who has committed suicide by 

drinking disinfectant. It emerges that Birling had sacked the girl, Eva Smith, two years earlier 

after she had been one of the ring-leaders in a strike and demanding higher wages. 

Sheila Birling is also connected to the girl, having had her sacked from her new job at Milwards.  She is horrified by what she did and is genuinely remorseful. 

The inspector seems to know details of the family's involvement before they speak and when 

he tells them that the girl changed her name to Daisy Renton, Gerald's reaction tells us that he, 

too, knew the girl. When they are temporarily left alone, Sheila warns Gerald not to try to hide 

anything from the inspector. 

By the end of the first act, the audience is expecting the inspector to reveal further connections 

with members of the Birling family. 

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Chapter 2 continued

Despite Sheila's warnings Mrs Birling tries to intimidate the inspector, believing that she could 

have no possible connection to the girl. When the inspector reminds her of the pregnant girl 

she turned away from the charity organisation she chaired, Mrs Birling concedes but felt herself 

to be justified because the girl had lied to her about her name [calling herself Mrs Birling]. She 

also disbelieved the girl's claim that she had refused the offer of help from the father of her 

baby because she believed that he had stolen the money. Mrs Birling digs herself deeper into 

a hole by insisting that the father of the baby should be made to pay. 

Eric has been out during this exchange but re-enters right at the end of the scene to expectant 

faces; we are expecting Eric to be the father of the baby.

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Chapter 3 continued

Sheila and Eric do not feel the same way, continuing to feel guilt for what they have done and 

are appalled at the behaviour of Gerald and their parents. When Birling suggests that Sheila 

take back her engagement ring from Gerald, Sheila remarks that it is too soon. 

Just at the point where Birling is teasing them for their lack of a sense of humour, the telephone 

rings and Birling is obviously stunned by what he hears: a girl has died in the infirmary and a 

police inspector is on his way to ask them some questions. 

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