History Theatre / AnInspectorCalls

''An Inspector Calls'' is a British play by Creator/JohnBoyntonPriestley that was first performed in 1945. It’s often called one of Priestley’s best works – if not, ''the'' best play he’s made – possibly because it comments on (as well as references) social issues that are still alive in Britain today. Maybe that’s why it’s a [[SchoolStudyMedia set text]] in many [[UsefulNotes/BritishEducationSystem schools in Britain]] – usually for the UsefulNotes/{{GCSEs}} in England and Wales - so expect a large dose of EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

''An Inspector Calls'' is a British play by J. B. Priestley that was first performed in 1945. It’s often called one of Priestley’s best works – if not, ''the'' best play he’s made – possibly because it comments on (as well as references) social issues that are still alive in Britain today. Maybe that’s why it’s a [[SchoolStudyMedia set text]] in many [[UsefulNotes/BritishEducationSystem schools in Britain]] – usually for the UsefulNotes/{{GCSEs}} in England and Wales - so expect a large dose of EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

* AmbitionIsEvil

* CaptainOblivious: Mrs Birling is blind to anything scandalous unless it's spelled out to her.

* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: Birling constantly argues that his actions toward the strikers are justified because they would have cost him profit if he'd listened to them. Averted when Birling states towards the end that he'd pay thousands to make up for what he's done, only for the inspector to tell him that the damage has been done.

* ExactWords: In an attempt to intimidate Inspector Goole, Mr. Birling says that he plays golf with the police constable, and asks whether Goole is that close to the man. Goole coolly replies that he does not play golf (which you may note doesn't actually answer the question). This is both a polite screw-you to Mr. Birling's attempt to bully him, and [[spoiler: a way to conceal that he does not in fact know the constable at ''all'', because he's not really an inspector, without straight-out lying.]]

Set in the year 1912, the play follows the story of a middle-class family called the Birlings, who are celebrating the engagement of daughter Sheila to a much-older upper-class Gerald Croft, secretly hoping that the marriage will make them even richer. The party is then interrupted by a man identifying himself Inspector Goole, a local police detective who is investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman named Eva Smith. Each of the guests at the dinner-table are questioned, despite some protests of annoyance, but the family soon find out that they all have had dealings with the woman, and learn that there’s more to their seemingly-perfect world than they previously believed.

Set in the year 1912, the play follows the story of a middle-class family called the Birlings, who are celebrating the engagement of daughter Sheila to a much-older upper-class Gerald Croft, secretly hoping that the marriage will make them even richer. The party is then interrupted by a local police inspector who is investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman named Eva Smith. Each of the guests at the dinner-table are questioned, despite some protests of annoyance, but the family soon find out that they all have had dealings with the woman, and learn that there’s more to their seemingly-perfect world than they previously believed.

* ThisIsGoingToBeHuge: Mr Birling's opinion on the maiden voyage of the ''Titanic''.

* ObliviouslyEvil: Sheila is the only one who knew at the time she was hurting Eva (and on some level doing it on purpose)--she was just too weak-willed in that moment to stop herself. The Birling parents and Gerard are various levels of EntitledBastard, so used to being socially privileged they didn't think to consider they weren't in the right or what harm an idle choice could do; in Eric's case, although his wealth also played a role in insulating him from consequences, his wrongs against Eva/Daisy stem from his immaturity and drinking problem. However, the play makes that the case that being this oblivious to one's capacity for harm is itself a type of sin.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Mr Birling seems more concerned with the loss of his money - a small amount to him compared to his total wealth - than with Eric impregnating Eva Smith or her death.

* CaptainOblivious: Mrs Birling.

* YourCheatingHeart: Gerald to Daisy Renton.

* ExactWords: In an attempt to intimidate Inspector Goole, Mr. Birling says that he plays golf with the police constable, and asks whether Goole is that close to the man. Goole coolly replies that he does not play golf (which you may note doesn't actually answer the question). This is both a polite screw-you to Mr. Birling's attempt to bully him, and [[spoiler: a way to conceal that he does not in fact know the constable at ''all'', because he's not really an inspector.]]

* OhCrap: Sheila's reaction to her mother's speech about [[spoiler: how the father of Eva's child should take responsibility for his actions]] could be considered this, as well as Mrs Birling once the Inspector delivers a WhamLine.
* OrWasItADream: How the play ends. Eva Smith/Daisy Renton was real, but [[spoiler:there is no Inspector Goole, and Eva Smith may not have committed suicide - at least, not until after "Inspector Goole" leaves and Mr Birling gets a phone call]]...

* NiceMeanAndInBetween: Sheila and Eric are shocked when they discover their involvement in Eva's death and end the play feeling disgusted with themselves (Sheila also had the least involvement, and Eric had actively tried to help Eva in some way). The Birling parents treated Eva with contempt because of her class, and [[spoiler: when they learn there is no Inspector Goole, they're happy to be off the hook and don't care about the harm they may have caused to a poor girl]]. Gerald is in between, where he feels remorse for his actions but is likewise happy at the prospect of not having to answer for them.
* NotLikeOtherGirls: Eric's attraction to Eva was that she was different to the shallow middle class girls he normally went with.

* SpotOfTea: In the Daldry production, which (since 1992) is the one generally staged, the Inspector is seen interacting silently with various characters outside of the family. This includes politely accepting a cup of tea off Edna. In the original play, although it's not clear whether he's [[TheTeetotaler a teetotaller]], he emphatically refuses Birling's offer of a drink.

Set in the year 1912, the play follows the story of a middle-class family called the Birlings, who are celebrating the engagement of daughter Sheila to a much-older upper-class Gerald Croft, secretly hoping that the marriage will make them even richer. The party is then interrupted by an inspector from the local police, who has been sent by the precinct to question them about the possible reasons behind the suicide of a working-class woman named Eva Smith. Each of the guests at the dinner-table are questioned, despite some protests of annoyance, but the family soon find out that they all have had dealings with the woman, and learn that there’s more to their seemingly-perfect world than they previously believed.

** She doesn’t realize that Eric was drunk at the party (probably even '''early''' into the party) and was possibly an alcoholic. When Sheila claims that he’s drunk (albeit jokingly), her mother scolds her.

* CharacterDevelopment: With the possible exception of Mr and Mrs Birling, each of the characters is a changed person by the end of the play.

* {{Cliffhanger}}: The play ends on one as Mr Birling gets a phone call that [[spoiler:a girl connected to the family has committed suicide, and a police inspector is on his way to the house to question them]].

* FatBastard: Mr Birling.
* FirstNameBasis: Edna, the maid.

* PosthumousCharacter: Eva Smith/Daisy Renton.

[[caption-width-right:250:Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.]]

->''One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and million of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.''
-->'''Inspector Goole'''

** She doesn’t seem to not be aware that her children are in their twenties (which is obvious when she chaperoned Sheila to a clothes shop, and she calls Eric a young man).

* {{Cliffhanger}}: The play ends on one.

* OrWasItADream: How the play ends.

* TheAlcoholic: Eric.

* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Mr Birling seems more concerned with the loss of his money- a small amount to him compared to his total wealth- than with Eric impregnating Eva Smith or her death.
* AuthorTract

** She doesn’t realize that Eric was drunk at the party (probably even '''early''' into the party) and was possibly an alcoholic. When Sheila claims that he’s drunk(albeit jokingly), her mother scolds her.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Sheila does this a bit, but it's mainly Eric (see the AdultsAreUseless entry above).

* {{Foreshadowing}}: The play is chock full of it. It's a rare example of a [[SchoolStudyMedia set text]] that actual stands up to being repeatedly re-read.

* [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Single Man Seeks Good Woman]]: Eric willingly dated Eva because he wasn't into the middle-class women at the fancy dinner parties he always attended, because they always talked about their wealth and other uninteresting topics.

* StrawmanPolitical: Mr. Birling is pretty much everything Priestley loathed about the British middle-class, and it shows.

* ThisIsGoingToBeHuge: Mr Birling's opinion on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

* YouALLShareMyStory

''An Inspector Calls'' is a British play by J. B. Priestley that was first performed in 1945. It’s often called one of Priestley’s best works – if not, ''the'' best play he’s made – possibly because it comments on (as well as references) social issues that are still alive in Britain today. Maybe that’s why it’s a [[SchoolStudyMedia set text]] in many [[UsefulNotes/BritishEducationSystem schools in Britain]] – usually for the [[UsefulNotes/{{GCSEs}} in England and Wales]], so expect a large dose of EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

''An Inspector Calls'' is a British play by J. B. Priestley that was first performed in 1945. It’s often called one of Priestley’s best works – if not, ''the'' best play he’s made – possibly because it comments on (as well as references) social issues that are still alive in Britain today. Maybe that’s why it’s a [[SchoolStudyMedia set text]] in many [[BritishEducationSystem schools in Britain]] – usually for the [[UsefulNotes/{{GCSEs}} in England and Wales]], so expect a large dose of EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory.

* AdultsAreUseless: Mr and Mrs Birling could be kindly described as idiots. Only the younger generation realize the significance of the Inspector's message and try to be nicer people because of it. Eric also says he didn't ask for his father's help after [[spoiler: he got "Daisy Renton" pregnant]] on the grounds that "You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble, that's why."

* ItWillNeverCatchOn: Most of Birling's speeches at the start of the play. Strikes? Labour troubles are over! [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarOne War with the Kaiser]]? The world's too advanced for silly things like that!