They had sat down to dinner to celebrate their daughter, Sheila and Gerald’s engagement. Arthur is the father and hard headed business man, Sybil the mother, Eric their son, Sheila their daughter and Gerald, who’s dad is a friendly rival in business with Arthur are the characters.

After the meal they get an unexpected visit from a police inspector who calls himself inspector Goole. He comes in and informs them of a girl called Eva Smith, who drank acid and killed herself. He asks the family questions to do with the girl and find out they all have a part to play in this girl’s death and when he leaves feel guilty for what they did to this girl. They then realize that the inspector might be a fake or as Arthur says “probably a socialist or some kind of crank”.

J.B Priestly wrote the play in 1945 although it is set in 1912.

In a play I think you would need quite a tall, big man who’s confident but doesn’t shout to play the inspector. He would need to remain mysterious and powerful and have an effect on the audience.

As the play was written in 1945 but set in 1912 Priestly uses events after that date in the play, as when Arthur says “The titanic…she sails next week… and unsinkable!” and that war is inevitable and no one wants war. All this does happen which makes Arthur look like he doesn’t know what he’s on about. However the Inspector is the other way round and his views seem prophetic and that he can see to the future. At the end of the play before the Inspector leaves the house his final speech is very important and significant. He say “men should look after each other an help each other, and if men will not learn that lesson than they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish, goodnight.” This shows how Priestly feels and soon after the war broke out so men didn’t learn the lesson and many were killed.

He uses the Inspector well as the inspector

Some topics in this essay:
Eric Inspector, JB Priestly, Eric Sheila, Sheila Gerald’s, Eva Smith, Brumley Yorkshire, feel guilty, , Inspector Calls’, play inspector, 1945 set 1912, inspector fake, 1945 set, informs girl, guilty girl, realize inspector, girl killed, learn lesson, feel guilty girl, set 1912,