Priestley uses dramatic irony when, in another long speech, Mr Birling talks to his family about the future, saying that in years to come there will be only peace and prosperity and rapid progress. Mr Birling is a rich businessman who thinks very highly of himself, even though he is often wrong (he is respected by his family). He mentions war, and declares it will never happen, saying the ‘“world’s developing so fast that it’ll make war impossible”. The audience knows this is completely untrue, and that there are two World Wars to come. Birling also mentions the Titanic, which is then set to sail the next week. Little does he know that the Titanic in fact tragically sinks on its maiden voyage. Priestley uses other characters, particularly Mr Birling, to show the audience how cynical some people can be.
Birling believes that every man should put himself first. This apparent when he says “A man should look out for himself”. He also proves himself to be narrow-minded when he says “the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else”.
Numerous times in the play Birling mentions his high position (“I was an alderman for years-and Lord Mayor two years ago-and I’m still on the bench…”), showing he obviously thinks he is very important, and is to be looked up to by others.
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When the Inspector arrives a tense and heavy atmosphere falls over the house, and this tension gradually builds as the play progresses and the Birlings discover more and more about each other. The ‘Inspector’ (claims to be a police officer) claims to be investigating the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith, who ‘“drank some disinfectant and died, after several hours of agony, tonight in the infirmary.”’ He insists on questioning each family member in turn, and his intrusive, cool and slightly rude tone irritates Mr and Mrs Birling in particular (‘“I don’t like that tone”’). He seems to behave in a …………………. manner, unlike a normal police officer. With his intrusive and probing questioning and shocking facts the Inspector extracts the truth out of every family member, though he already appears to know most of what happened and the events in Eva Smith’s life.
Initially many of the family members do not recognise either the name of the girl or the photograph, but upon seeing her or hearing her name they realise their involvement with the girl. Each person appears to have been involved in events in the girl’s life, which potentially/partially led to her tragic suicide.
The Inspector claims to have found the diary of the girl (apparently describing certain events involving the family members) and a photograph, which he shows to several of the Birlings in turn. At first the Inspector refuses to reveal the picture to Eric or Gerald, showing it only to Mr Birling. He then goes on to show it to Eric, Sheila and Mrs Birling, one after another. Each member either recognises the picture of the girl or her name.
The first to be questioned is Mr Birling, who on hearing the name Eva Smith does not recognise her, but after seeing the photograph he reveals that she worked for his company, but he sacked her after she led a strike demanding higher wages (“had a lot to say-far too much-so she had to go”). Mr Birling justifies his actions, saying that if he hadn’t refused the girls, then their labour costs would have risen by 12 percent, and that they were paying the usual rates anyway. He backs up his actions by saying “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.” The Inspector contradicts his view, saying “after all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.” Eric and Sheila agree with the Inspector, supporting the workers’ cause (“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?” “These girls aren’t cheap labour-they’re people”).
The next person to be (interrogated?) questioned is Sheila; “a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.” Initially she seems to still act slightly childish, naïve and slightly immature, emphasized by her parents’ patronizing attitude towards her, although she is an adult just engaged (“She’s overexcited”). Throughout the play the parents often refer to both Sheila and Eric as ‘the children’.
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During this ordeal the family seem to be split in two- Sheila and Eric, and Mr and Mrs Birling. Gerald, though, is a bit undecided; not wanting to betray his class.
