After the doorbell rings, the maid opens the door and the Inspector Goole walks in very calmly and introduces himself and the crime of the story. He explains to the Birling family that a girl called Eva Smith committed suicide by swallowing disinfectant and he's there to investigate why she killed herself. He first questions Birling who is totally oblivious of doing anything wrong to this girl. After the inspector thoroughly questions Birling he discovers that Eva Smith worked for Birling, Eva asked for a small pay rise, as she could not afford to live properly on her salary. He did not increase her salary so she led a strike with other workers who wanted a pay rise. As a result Eva was fired for leading the strike but the other workers were allowed to keep their jobs. From this story, previous actions from a capitalist are shown to the audience, that are cold, selfish, and started a life of misery for a poor, young girl who only wanted a small pay rise. Despite discovering that Birling played a part in Eva's misery and horrific death he still doesn't feel guilty and denies the fact that he had done something wrong. He excuses his behaviour by saying on page 15 "It's my job to put labour costs down" and "She had a lot to say- far too much- she had to go". Priestley's aim of Birling's story is to demonstrate harsh behaviour carried out by a capitalist so if the audience thinks that act was wrong they would think that capitalism is wrong. Also, Priestley’s aim of the story is to show that the way a capitalist concentrates on profit is inhuman and shocking. Near to the end of the play Gerald discovers first that the Inspector is a hoax, and when Birling finds out too, he is extremely relieved and thinks it changes the situation completely. He says on page 69 "We're having a little celebration here and feeling rather pleased with ourselves". So finally, the inspector had no impact on Birling’s conscience and didn't alter Birling's capitalist views. After the Inspector finished interrogating Birling he questioned Sheila Birling.
Sheila Birling was a young girl who appeared to be rather happy and 'chirpy'. She didn't speak about being a capitalist but just listened to her father views. When Sheila discovered Eva's death she was horrified. She said "Oh how horrible!" The inspector told Sheila that after Eva was 'fired' she managed to find a job at an expensive department store called 'Milwards'. She stayed there two months but was 'fired' again after a complaint was made about her by a customer. Then Inspector showed her a photo of Eva, but made sure no one else saw the photo. She recognised her and was very shocked. She told the inspector she had been shopping at Milwards one day and she tried a dress on despite her mother and the shop assistant telling her it wouldn't look good. When she put the dress on, it clearly didn't look good, and then Eva put the dress up to herself, as if she was wearing it and Sheila said it suited her as she was very pretty. Then Sheila said she saw Eva smiling at another assistant as if to say "doesn't she look she looked awful". Sheila said to the Inspector "I was absolutely furious". So as a result, Sheila told the manager that if they don’t sack Eva she would tell her parents to close their account at Milwards. From this story, Sheila has shown that she can act selfishly, jealously, childishly and use her power selfishly. However once she had realised what she had done she felt extremely guilty, and regrets her mistake. She says on page 24 "I've never done anything like this before and I'll never, never do it again to anyone". So finally the inspector succeeded in changing Sheila's views and making her realise that not caring for others will result in terrible things happening. Priestley uses Sheila an example for the upper class audience to give them hope that anyone can learn from their mistakes and become a better person. When the inspector finished questioning he explained that after Eva had been 'fired' she changed her name to Daisy Renton. As soon as Gerald heard this name he was shocked and Sheila noticed the look on his face and realised he knew her and tried to make him confess to whatever he'd done. At the beginning of act two Inspector Goole starts to question Gerald Croft.
Gerald Croft was the son of an extremely important man that owned a very successful business. Through Birling's speech at the beginning of the play, Gerald showed he agreed with Birling's views- he says, "I believe you’re right sir". Also during the inspectors questioning of Birling, Gerald was agreeing with Birling, about running business, and keeping labour costs as low as possible. This might suggest that he was a capitalist. At the beginning of the play Sheila asked Gerald where he was all summer and he told her he was busy at work, but she was not convinced, and was still saw his absence as a mystery. When the Inspector questioned Gerald he discovered that one day in the summer, Gerald was at a saloon and a man was attacking Daisy Renton, so Gerald rescued her from the man. After, she told him he was she was starving and was going to be kicked out her home. He felt sorry for her and took her to a hotel, and bought her dinner and let her stay in a friend's house who had gone on holiday and left Gerald his keys. The inspector questioned him further and asked him if he slept with her. He said he didn’t at first, but then he said he couldn't resist. He said on page 37 "she was young and pretty and warm hearted- and intensely grateful. It was inevitable." Gerald said at the end of the summer he had to end it, and she had to move out of the house. The inspector asked if he was in love with her and he said on page 38 "It's hard to say. I didn't feel for her the way she felt about me". After, he said he didn't see her again after the summer. From Gerald’s encounter with Daisy Renton the message is given is it is good to be kind to someone indeed, but it is wrong to do something kind only because you want something in return, and it is wrong to take advantage of others. Gerald did feel guilty as he says on page 39 "She didn't blame me at all. I wish to God she had now. Perhaps I'd feel better about it." Also from Gerald’s story Priestley is trying to show that people with power must take responsibility for others. And as Gerald is the son of a rich man and will be powerful in the future, in Priestley’s eyes, it is important that he does not become like Birling, but remembers his responsibility. However when Gerald discovers that the inspector is a hoax he loses his guilt and questions the fact that they were responsible for Daisy’s death. So finally the inspector fails in changing Gerald and making him learn from his mistakes. The next person to be questioned was Mrs Sybil Birling.
Mrs Birling was socially higher than her husband, Birling, as she corrected him when complimented her on dinner which is an inappropriate thing to do if one was in a socially high position. She was very supportive with the engagement of Gerald and Sheila. Mrs Birlings attitude to anyone in the working classes was that she superior to them. When Sheila wanted to know why Eva/Daisy killed herself she said, " I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why that girl committed suicide. Girls of those class-" At this point Sheila interrupted her. This comment suggests that she thought she had no possible connection with anyone socially lower than her and that lower class people cannot have feelings. In Mrs. Birling’s spare time she was a member of Bromley womens charity organisation. When the Inspector questioned her she denied knowing her then when the Inspector showed the photograph of her she said she went to the charity and asked her for help. After further questioning she admitted that she turned her away because she used a false name as she called herself Mrs. Birling. Also because she said "she didn't like her manner" and admitted she was prejudiced against her. All she said was she should go and find the father. Mrs. Birling’s story demonstrates a cold and heartless act from a capitalist who doesn't care about anyone other than herself and the upper class. She was so single minded she didn't even consider why she had told the lie, or what desperation she was going through. She decided she didn't like her and that was all that mattered. Priestley uses such a cold character into the play to present what living according to capitalism can do to a person, and everyone around them. Such a hash story would definitely get through to Priestley's audience and hopefully make them think about changing. When Mrs. Birling discovers that the inspector is a hoax she is very pleased and she questions why Sheila thinks the whole thing should be a learning experience. She thinks the whole family is 'off the hook' and she thinks it changes everything. So finally the inspector did not change Mrs Birling's capitalist ways. Just before the inspector finishes questioning Mrs. Birling, she said that the father of the child is totally to blame and he should find him. But to Mrs. Birling’s horror the father was Eric Birling, her son. He was next person to be questioned.
Eric Birling was influenced by his fathers capitalist views at the start of the play when he was telling him them. When he discovered Eva committed suicide he was shocked, and all through the questioning he appeared to be on Eva's side. He says on page 16"Why shouldn't they try for higher wages, we try for the highest possible prices" and "You said yourself she was a good worker, I'd have let her stay." He was referring to when Birling sacked Eva. Here Eric shows he believes in equal rights. When the Inspector questioned Eric he confessed to forcing Eva to sleep with him. Then he met up with her again and slept with her also. Later he saw and she told him she was pregnant so he stole money from his father and gave it to her but when she discovered this she told him she didn't want to see him again. Eric was very distressed and felt extremely guilty. When he discovered that the inspector was a hoax it did not take any of guilt away and didn't change anything in his mind. He says "But it still doesn't alter the fact that we killed her" on page 65. So finally the Inspector succeeded in changing Eric Birling and making him care more for others.
Detective Inspector Goole was very cool and calm throughout the questioning of all the suspects, and showed clearly that he was always in control of the situation, e.g. whenever something irrelevant to the investigation was said he would interrupt and move on. Also he showed compassion for Eva/Daisy all through the case and argued for her. He also tried his best to make people care about each other. Priestley uses a character such as Inspector Goole to present the importance of socialism as all the qualities above demonstrate he was a morally correct person. One of the most significant things said in the play was on page 56. when the inspector gives his final view of socialism and capitalism. He says " We don't live alone, we are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." Also for his final attempt to argue his case he warns " And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men do not learn that lesson they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish. Good night." This comment is so powerful, and the reason why Priestley wrote this is to frighten the audience and suggest what will happen if they don't change their capitalist ways. He uses harsh words such as "fire, blood and anguish" to shock the audience as well as frighten them. After he says the line above he leaves the Birling’s house and the stage. This is a very effective exit for the socialist as he has just stated his point extremely clearly and there is nothing left to say, so instead of waiting for a response he leaves the Birling’s completely speechless and walks off in silence. And the reason for Priestley writing such a drastic exit is so the audience will never forget the inspector.
J. D Priestley wrote this play with interesting dialogue, deep, realistic characters, and an effective story line that specifically dealt with the problems of capitalism. Through the thorough questioning of each character he was able to present these problems interestingly, without having to list them down, and so kept the audience entertained while expressing the true theme behind this detective thriller. Also Priestley wrote this play to appear it is about the Birling’s mistakes but manages to direct the message at the audience and while watching this play, make them think of their own mistakes and I think that is what Priestleys main aim was. I think that Priestley wrote "An Inspector Calls" to demonstrate the true importance of socialism and the unimportance of capitalism and I think He definitely achieved his purpose.