Characters
Characters
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Sybil Birling : Lyuba
Sybil Birling : Lyuba
Eric Birling : Jackie
Eric Birling : Jackie
Arthur Birling : Stefano
Arthur Birling : Stefano
Gerald
Gerald Croft
Croft :
: Nadia
Nadia
Sheila Birling : Carlotta
Sheila Birling : Carlotta
Inspector Goole: Andre
Inspector Goole: Andre
Edna and narrator: Lu
Edna and narrator: Lu
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Arthur Birling Arthur BirlingHe’s a prosperous factory owner (businessman), his first He’s a prosperous factory owner (businessman), his first priority is to make money & get
priority is to make money & get power! He stronglypower! He strongly believes that “a man has to make his
believes that “a man has to make his own way”. He’sown way”. He’s looking forward to receiving a knighthood.
looking forward to receiving a knighthood. He refuses to accept any
He refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva’s death.responsibility for Eva’s death. Sybil Birling
Sybil Birling
Wants to stick to the rules, concerned about manners (tells Wants to stick to the rules, concerned about manners (tells what the others shall do or not). She is only interested in what the others shall do or not). She is only interested in the family-reputation.
the family-reputation.
She’s very conservative, old-fashioned, selfish, She’s very conservative, old-fashioned, selfish, cold-hearted, snobbish& egoistic.
hearted, snobbish& egoistic. Sheila
Sheila
at the begin she’s snobbish, egoistic& self-confident, but in at the begin she’s snobbish, egoistic& self-confident, but in the end she
the end she thinks more clearly, critical, accepts criticism,thinks more clearly, critical, accepts criticism, nice, honest& responsible: she likes to change herself and nice, honest& responsible: she likes to change herself and feels sorry for what she had done. Her
feels sorry for what she had done. Her readiness to learnreadiness to learn from experience is in a great contrast to her
from experience is in a great contrast to her parents.parents. Eric
Eric
Start: makes jokes, behaves silly, lives an
Start: makes jokes, behaves silly, lives an easy-going live,easy-going live, and doesn’t care about anything. He behaves half shy and and doesn’t care about anything. He behaves half shy and
half assertive (anmassend). half assertive (anmassend).
End: starts thinking, accepts his guilt, might stop drinking End: starts thinking, accepts his guilt, might stop drinking that much.
that much. Gerald Croft Gerald Croft
Is good-looking, rich& clever: man about town! He’s Is good-looking, rich& clever: man about town! He’s engaged to Sheila and also son
engaged to Sheila and also son of an industrial.of an industrial.
He doesn’t change lot during the story; stays a capitalist He doesn’t change lot during the story; stays a capitalist (just interested in money& profit). He seems to agree (just interested in money& profit). He seems to agree completely with Mr. Birling, quite the
completely with Mr. Birling, quite the same attitude of live.same attitude of live. Inspector Goole
Inspector Goole
(Goole= Geist; spirit in death) isn’t a real inspector; more (Goole= Geist; spirit in death) isn’t a real inspector; more something like god because he makes them all fell
something like god because he makes them all fell guilty.guilty. His manners are quite
His manners are quite extraordinaryextraordinary, rude& assertive. One, rude& assertive. One of the main reasons to visit the
of the main reasons to visit the Birling family is to makeBirling family is to make them realise, what responsibilities they have& that their them realise, what responsibilities they have& that their behaviour has an influence on others (opposite to
behaviour has an influence on others (opposite to Mr.Mr. Birling’s moral).
Birling’s moral). Eva Smith
Eva Smith
sprechender Name als Hinweis auf die Vertreterin der sprechender Name als Hinweis auf die Vertreterin der Mitmenschen schlechthin..
Mitmenschen schlechthin..
Short summary
Short summary
This story takes place in 1912, right before the 1st World This story takes place in 1912, right before the 1st World War in Brumley, an industrial city in
War in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlandsthe North Midlands (fictive town-> associations to other real industrial towns, (fictive town-> associations to other real industrial towns, like e.g. Bradford, Birmingham or Burnley). The B. family like e.g. Bradford, Birmingham or Burnley). The B. family is celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft, when is celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft, when inspector Goole arrives and tells about a girl’s (Eva Smith) inspector Goole arrives and tells about a girl’s (Eva Smith) suicide. After lots of questions, it turns out
suicide. After lots of questions, it turns out that they arethat they are all, more or less responsible for this
all, more or less responsible for this tragically death.tragically death. After the inspector left they find out
After the inspector left they find out that he wasn’t a realthat he wasn’t a real inspector and that no girl died
inspector and that no girl died on the way to the on the way to the Infirmary,Infirmary, after swallowing some disinfectant!
after swallowing some disinfectant! 1st Act
The family and Gerald are celebrating Gerald and Sheila’s The family and Gerald are celebrating Gerald and Sheila’s engagement in the dining-room. Sheila and Eric are
engagement in the dining-room. Sheila and Eric are arguing in a not really
arguing in a not really serious way, while Gerald& Mr.serious way, while Gerald& Mr. Birling are talking about business, politic (titanic), Mr. Birling are talking about business, politic (titanic), Mr. Birling’s way into the next honour list by getting an Birling’s way into the next honour list by getting an knighthood and about Lady
knighthood and about Lady Croft’s (Gerald’s mother)Croft’s (Gerald’s mother) attitude of social classes (it looks like she isn’t too
attitude of social classes (it looks like she isn’t too happyhappy about the fact, that her son is engaged to a girl of a lower about the fact, that her son is engaged to a girl of a lower class). Just before the ring bells& the inspector arrives, Mr. class). Just before the ring bells& the inspector arrives, Mr. Birling shows his outlook on life, what he had learnt in the Birling shows his outlook on life, what he had learnt in the good hard school of experience to Gerald& Eric (important good hard school of experience to Gerald& Eric (important sentence for the rest of the
sentence for the rest of the story!): “...a man has to makestory!): “...a man has to make his own way, has to look
his own way, has to look after himself and his family..”.after himself and his family..”. The inspector enters and tells about the suicide. He
The inspector enters and tells about the suicide. He showsshows a photograph to Mr.B. and starts questioning him. It
a photograph to Mr.B. and starts questioning him. It turnsturns out that Eva Smith had been
out that Eva Smith had been one of Mr.B. employees andone of Mr.B. employees and later on was discharged because she asked for more
later on was discharged because she asked for more money, had been refused& went on a
money, had been refused& went on a strike (as one of thestrike (as one of the ringleaders).
ringleaders).
Sheila enters into the dining-room and
Sheila enters into the dining-room and gets the next to begets the next to be questioned. Her fault: she had been jealous of
questioned. Her fault: she had been jealous of Eva becauseEva because she looked better in a
she looked better in a specific dress. She went to thespecific dress. She went to the manager and told him that this girl
manager and told him that this girl had been veryhad been very impertinent (unverschämt)…s
impertinent (unverschämt)…so, indirectly she o, indirectly she made Evamade Eva lost her job.
lost her job.
The inspector goes on& tells that Eva Smith
The inspector goes on& tells that Eva Smith had changedhad changed her name into Daisy Renton. Now
her name into Daisy Renton. Now Gerald’s faults getGerald’s faults get cleared up. He has had an affair with
cleared up. He has had an affair with her the previousher the previous summer.
summer.
Important questions& points about this act Important questions& points about this act
Why is Mr.B happy about Sheila’s engagement to Gerald? Why is Mr.B happy about Sheila’s engagement to Gerald?
Because Gerald’s father had always been his
Because Gerald’s father had always been his rival.rival.
Birlings outlook of live -> the author thinks B. is wrong and Birlings outlook of live -> the author thinks B. is wrong and
will prove him wrong later in the play. will prove him wrong later in the play. Why might the
Why might the inspector investigate a suicide?Becauseinspector investigate a suicide?Because there seems to be a lot
the victim into suicide. He might think
the victim into suicide. He might think there’s a crimethere’s a crime behind and also because he wants to made
behind and also because he wants to made thethe
B.family realise that they’re responsible for others. A B.family realise that they’re responsible for others. A further aspect is the author intention to show,
further aspect is the author intention to show, that thethat the whole story isn’t real.
whole story isn’t real.
Eric’s attitude to the strike? He would have
Eric’s attitude to the strike? He would have given thegiven the
employees the money; to him strikes are something employees the money; to him strikes are something good.
good.
Relationship Sheila -
Relationship Sheila - Eric: typically brother-sisterEric: typically brother-sister
relationship, behave rude& unfriendly to each other relationship, behave rude& unfriendly to each other but in principle like each other
but in principle like each other very much.very much.
What have Sheila and the inspector in common?Both What have Sheila and the inspector in common?Both of of
them want to know the truth, both think in a social them want to know the truth, both think in a social way and also that
way and also that Eva’s death had been unnecessary.Eva’s death had been unnecessary. Relationship Sheila- Gerald: Sheila loves him; to her he’s a Relationship Sheila- Gerald: Sheila loves him; to her he’s a
‘good catch’. On the other hand Gerald; sees mostly ‘good catch’. On the other hand Gerald; sees mostly
the business aspect of the connection-> no deep the business aspect of the connection-> no deep feelings!
feelings!
Why did Eva Smith change her name into
Why did Eva Smith change her name into Daisy Renton?Daisy Renton? She might had to hide
She might had to hide something or might has wantedsomething or might has wanted to start a new, better live.
to start a new, better live. 2nd Act
2nd Act
Mrs Birling came along and was told
Mrs Birling came along and was told that Eric often drinks.that Eric often drinks. Gerald talks about his relationship towards Daisy Renton Gerald talks about his relationship towards Daisy Renton (alias Eva Smith). After that, he went out
(alias Eva Smith). After that, he went out for a walk…andfor a walk…and the inspector turns towards Mrs B., her crime: she failed the inspector turns towards Mrs B., her crime: she failed her “job” as a
her “job” as a member of the Brumley Women’s Charitymember of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation by not helping
Organisation by not helping deserving cases. She refuseddeserving cases. She refused Eva’s ask for help (she was pregnant and had no
Eva’s ask for help (she was pregnant and had no money),money), because she don’t like her.
because she don’t like her.
Important questions& points Important questions& points
The state of the engagement after Gerald confessed his The state of the engagement after Gerald confessed his
affair: Sheila solved the engagement, she broke up, affair: Sheila solved the engagement, she broke up, but actually she isn’t very angry anymore but she but actually she isn’t very angry anymore but she needs some time to think.
needs some time to think.
The inspector’s behaviour, Sheila stares at him The inspector’s behaviour, Sheila stares at him
‘wonderingly and dubiously: because he seems to ‘wonderingly and dubiously: because he seems to
know all answers in advance. know all answers in advance. 3rd Act
3rd Act
Eric comes back and became the next victim of Inspector Eric comes back and became the next victim of Inspector Goole: he is more or
Goole: he is more or less forced to confess his relationshipless forced to confess his relationship towards Eva. He met her first in
towards Eva. He met her first in the Palace bar (as Geraldthe Palace bar (as Gerald did) and stood her a
did) and stood her a few drinks, later on he was quitefew drinks, later on he was quite drunk and they went to her
drunk and they went to her lodgings. After a few morelodgings. After a few more dates, Eva was going to have a baby. She
dates, Eva was going to have a baby. She didn’t want Ericdidn’t want Eric to marry, so he gave her enough
to marry, so he gave her enough money to keep her going,money to keep her going, but finally she refuses even this (because she had found but finally she refuses even this (because she had found out that it has been
out that it has been stolen). The problem about the moneystolen). The problem about the money (about fifty pounds): Eric got it
(about fifty pounds): Eric got it from his father’s office,from his father’s office,
without asking in advance! The inspector left- the family is without asking in advance! The inspector left- the family is arguing (parents- children) and discussing until
arguing (parents- children) and discussing until GeraldGerald returns and exposes the inspector as not real. And after a returns and exposes the inspector as not real. And after a call to the local Infirmary (no girl has been brought in this call to the local Infirmary (no girl has been brought in this afternoon who had committed suicide by drinking
afternoon who had committed suicide by drinking
disinfectant) it’s seems clear that the whole thing had been disinfectant) it’s seems clear that the whole thing had been a bluff. The family is relieved… but right then the phone a bluff. The family is relieved… but right then the phone rings: it’s the police, a girl
rings: it’s the police, a girl had committed suicide& ahad committed suicide& a inspector is on the way to
inspector is on the way to ask some questions…ask some questions… Important questions and points
Important questions and points
Mood in the dining-room: feeling of guilt, wish to learn Mood in the dining-room: feeling of guilt, wish to learn
something. something.
The growing feeling effect of
The growing feeling effect of the evening’s events on thethe evening’s events on the Birling family as a whole: they
Birling family as a whole: they start to feel involved,start to feel involved, start arguing amongst themselves, and feel bitter. start arguing amongst themselves, and feel bitter. They make each other responsible for what has They make each other responsible for what has happened.
happened.
For Sheila it doesn’t matter whether the inspector is
For Sheila it doesn’t matter whether the inspector is real orreal or not because what’s important to her is that she
not because what’s important to her is that she nownow knows the truth. But to her
knows the truth. But to her parents it’s seems toparents it’s seems to
make a big difference because the confession to a real make a big difference because the confession to a real police man would have meant a public
police man would have meant a public scandal.scandal.
Sheila& Eric: they learnt form their mistakes, they become Sheila& Eric: they learnt form their mistakes, they become
more mature and ‘real
more mature and ‘real grown-ups’.grown-ups’. Mr.
accepting some responsibility not for very long, all in accepting some responsibility not for very long, all in one they haven’t learn anything! They want to forget one they haven’t learn anything! They want to forget everything, pretend nothing had happened. They
everything, pretend nothing had happened. They become self-confident again and that’s why the become self-confident again and that’s why the
second phone call takes place: the author wants to second phone call takes place: the author wants to prove them wrong!
prove them wrong!
The 2nd call: shows the audience clearly the moral
The 2nd call: shows the audience clearly the moral of theof the play, should make think about the play in
play, should make think about the play in general.general.
Autobiography
Autobiography
John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 in
John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 in Bradford, aBradford, a industrial city in the north of
industrial city in the north of England (refers toEngland (refers to Brumley) and died in 1984.
Brumley) and died in 1984.
He was an ‘all-round writer’ what means he wrote He was an ‘all-round writer’ what means he wrote allall
different sorts of literature. different sorts of literature. He’s childhood was all in one
He’s childhood was all in one a peaceful time in a moderatea peaceful time in a moderate socialistically atmosphere.
socialistically atmosphere. Mostly all of his stories were
Mostly all of his stories were influenced by the 1st Worldinfluenced by the 1st World War, where he had been a
War, where he had been a frond- soldier. He oftenfrond- soldier. He often describes the live of simple people by
describes the live of simple people by turning itturning it dramatically into an ethical and political position. dramatically into an ethical and political position. After this experience, he went to Cambridge studying After this experience, he went to Cambridge studying
history, politic and literature. history, politic and literature.
1929 he broke through because of his novel ‘the
1929 he broke through because of his novel ‘the GoodGood Companions’.
Companions’.
In ‘an inspector calls’ (written right after the 2nd
In ‘an inspector calls’ (written right after the 2nd WorldWorld War; 1945) he shows his attitude towards a human War; 1945) he shows his attitude towards a human socialism.
socialism.
Typically for his work is the
Typically for his work is the criticism towards all antisocialcriticism towards all antisocial attitudes, e.g. greed (Habgier) and inconsiderate
attitudes, e.g. greed (Habgier) and inconsiderate power struggle
power struggle (rücksichtslos(rücksichtsloses Machtstreben).es Machtstreben).
General Things
General Things
Who is the inspector? No
Who is the inspector? No real person of interest, morereal person of interest, more something like a personified bad conscience of guilt something like a personified bad conscience of guilt and internal voice.
and internal voice.
Moral of the play: refute (wiederlegen) mr.B’s confession Moral of the play: refute (wiederlegen) mr.B’s confession
of faith / philosophy of
of faith / philosophy of live: ‘…community and all thatlive: ‘…community and all that nonsense....’
&look after himself and his own....’ by his moral &look after himself and his own....’ by his moral demand for: ‘...One Eva Smith has gone - but
demand for: ‘...One Eva Smith has gone - but therethere are millions and millions of
are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and JohnEva Smiths and John Smith still left with us…We don’t live alone. We are Smith still left with us…We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each members of one body. We are responsible for each other.
