An Inspector Calls

Responsibility & Guilt — Inspector Goole tells the Birlings, "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." Do you believe that every member of the Birling family shares equal responsibility for what happened to Eva Smith? Why or why not?

Class & Power — How does Priestley use the Birling family's social status to critique the class system in Edwardian England? Which character do you think best represents the risks associated with unchecked privilege?

Generational Divide — Sheila and Eric react to the Inspector's revelations in a way that's very different from their parents. What does this difference suggest about Priestley's hopes for social change?

The Inspector's Identity — By the end of the play, it remains unclear whether Inspector Goole is an actual police officer. Does his true identity matter? What could he symbolize, and how does this uncertainty shape the play's moral message?

Time & Structure — The play is set in 1912 but was written in 1945. How might an audience in 1945 have viewed the Birlings' disregard for social responsibility differently than a contemporary audience today?

Gender & Agency — Eva Smith never appears on stage and is known only through the accounts of others. What are the implications of her not having a direct voice? How does her lack of presence reflect the status of working-class women in Edwardian society?

Responsibility & Society: Inspector Goole states, "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." Do you agree with this idea of collective responsibility? In what ways do the members of the Birling family show — or fail to show — this responsibility?

Class & Power: How does Priestley use the Birling family's social status to comment on the class system of Edwardian England? Which character do you think bears the most responsibility for Eva Smith's suffering, and why?

Generational Divide: Sheila and Eric react very differently to the Inspector's revelations compared to their parents. What does this contrast indicate about Priestley's hopes for social change? Do you think younger generations today are more aware of social issues than older ones?

The Inspector's Identity: By the end of the play, the Inspector's true identity remains unclear. Does it matter if he is a "real" police inspector? What might he symbolize, and how does this influence the play's moral message?

Guilt & Redemption: Mr. and Mrs. Birling quickly revert to their old attitudes once they believe the Inspector was a fraud. What does this say about their characters? Is true moral change achievable, or are people generally resistant to accepting blame?

Dramatic Structure: Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in 1945 but set it in 1912, just before World War I. Why might this time gap be important? How does dramatic irony influence the audience's reaction to Mr. Birling's confident predictions about the future?