The inspector enters and immediately Mr. Birling presumes that he needs a document signed and tells him to pass it over, the inspector then explains to them the suicide. Mr. Birling is confused and asks why the inspector is investigating a suicide, He shows a photograph to Mr. Birling and starts questioning him. It turns out that Eva Smith had been one of Mr. Birling’s employees and later on was discharged because she asked for more money, had been refused & went on a strike (as one of the ringleaders).
Sheila is the next to be questioned. She had been jealous of Eva because she looked better in a specific dress. She went to the manager and told him that this girl had been very rude to her, so Eva lost her job. Eric then leaves to his room.
The inspector goes on & tells that Eva Smith had changed her name to Daisy Renton. Now Gerald’s part is shown. He had an affair with her the previous summer.
Gerald talks about his relationship with Daisy Renton (Eva Smith). After that, he leaves the dining area for a walk. The inspector turns towards Mrs. Birling claiming that she failed her “job” as a member of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organization by not helping deserving cases. She refused Eva and her plea for help because she didn’t like her. (she was pregnant with Eric’s child and had no money) when Eva finally told Mrs. Birling who the father was, Mrs. Birling immediately thinks that she is trying to blackmail her for more money and refuses her.
Eric comes back and the inspector and Eric’s family question him, he is more or less forced to confess his relationship with Eva. He met her first in the Palace bar (as Gerald did) and bought her a few drinks, later on he was quite drunk and they went to her room. After a few more dates, Eva told Eric she was going to have a baby. She didn’t want Eric to marry, so he gave her enough money to keep her going, but finally she refuses even this (because she had found out that it has been stolen). Eric got it from his father’s office, without asking in advance!
This was the first part I have chosen, when the inspector has told them about Eva and has questioned them about their part in Eva’s life. This leaves all the characters feeling guilty and they all start to fall out, Sheila and Eric (who are still children in their mother’s eyes) start to become more up-front and disrespectful to her, Mr. Birling starts to feel guilty, as does Gerald. This is how all the characters have changed.
The second part I have chosen is when the characters start to have doubts to the identity of the inspector, Mr. Birling asks the inspector to wait in his study(a room with only one door, which they are standing outside of) while the family discuss matters. Gerald returns and exposes the inspector as a fake. Mr. Birling then calls the local Infirmary (no girl has been brought in who had committed suicide by drinking disinfectant) it’s seems clear that the whole thing had been a bluff. At this point the family start to go back to their old ways but right then the phone rings and is answered by Mr. Birling, a girl has just been brought in who committed suicide & a inspector is on the way to ask some questions.
The family is shocked but they all start to wonder who the inspector is, they decide they will ring the police but as Mr. Birling goes to check on the inspector he is shocked to see his study is empty. This is the point where the characters are judged yet again, I believe that the “inspector” was a kind of warning, showing what would happen if they continued to act how they were. As they start to go back to their old ways, they lose their chance to change and are punished by Eva being brought in to the morgue.
Was the inspector a fake, a sign from God or their conscience? The play is meant to leave you with your own opinion; this is why it’s a classic.