An Inspector Calls - Act One

An Inspector Calls - Act One

1. The Birlings are having an engagement party

   • Everyone is content and saying the right things
   • The Birlings are Priestley's idea of a 'perfect' middle-class family
     • Father is a successful businessman
     • Mother works hard to keep up the Birlings' reputation in the community
     • Son works for the father in the family business
     • Daughter's engaged to the son of their competitor
       • Should improve the business because the two companies could merge in the future
     • There are hints of conflict under the surface
       • Gerald's family - the Crofts - are more established and socially superior
         • Makes Arthur Birling anxious
       • Gerald says he was busy with work last summer
         • Shelia isn't satisfied with this answer
           • "Yes, that's what you say"
       • There are big differences between what's expected of men and women
         • In this society, men are supposed to be busy with work and the world of public affairs
         • Women are supposed to be interested in family, clothes and social etiquette

2. Birling lectures young men about war and business

   • Arthur Birling is confident about the future for his family and business
     • Gives a speech with his predictions for the future
       • Audience of 1946 knows what's coming, and it's not what Birling thinks
         • Says conflict between workers and bosses will come to nothing
           • There were many strikes between 1912 and 1945, including General Strike of 1926 - saw the country grind to a halt for nine days
         • Says technological progress will continue, and gives the recently completed Titanic
           • Says it's "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"
         • Eric asks whether there'll be a war with Germany
           • Arthur says no way
             • Two years later, WW1 broke out - war with Germany
   • Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Birling look overconfident
     • Makes audience think that Birling might be wrong about lots of other things

3. Inspector arrives and says that a girl has died

   • Uses blunt/harsh language
     • "Burnt her inside out"
     • Contrasts violently with polite and playful atmosphere at the start
       • Inspector catches the Birlings off-guard - helps his investigation
   • Inspector shows a photograph to Birling
     • Doesn't show it to either Gerald or Eric
       • Important because Gerald later suspects that each person was shown a different photograph
         • Believing it to be the same one
   • Birlings' family life is held together by secrets and polite behaviour
     • Inspector disrupts everything and lets the secrets out