Inspector Goole - The mysterious Inspector who arrives unexpectedly at the Birling household to investigate the death of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. He is a powerful, imposing figure who interrogates each character about their involvement with Eva. The Inspector represents moral authority and social responsibility, forcing the characters to confront the consequences of their actions.

Arthur Birling - The patriarch of the Birling family, a prosperous industrialist and former Lord Mayor. He is arrogant, self-satisfied, and more concerned with his reputation and potential knighthood than the welfare of his workers. He fired Eva from his factory for demanding higher wages.

Sybil Birling - Arthur's wife, a prominent figure in local women's charity groups. She is cold, snobbish, and refuses to accept any responsibility for denying help to the pregnant and destitute Eva.

Sheila Birling - The Birlings' daughter, initially portrayed as naive but becomes remorseful after learning of her role in Eva's dismissal from a job. She is the most receptive to the Inspector's message about social responsibility.

Eric Birling - The Birlings' son, an alcoholic who had an affair with Eva and got her pregnant. He stole money from his father's business to support her but was rejected when Eva discovered the stolen money.

Gerald Croft - Sheila's fiancé and son of a wealthy industrialist. He had an affair with Eva (known to him as Daisy Renton) and provided her temporary shelter before ending the relationship.

Eva Smith/Daisy Renton - The unseen protagonist, a young working-class woman whose suicide due to the callous treatment by the Birlings and Gerald drives the plot. She represents the oppressed and underprivileged in society.

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Social Responsibility
One of the central themes is the idea of social responsibility and how the wealthy upper classes treated and exploited the working class. The Inspector serves as a voice for social conscience, interrogating the Birling family about their callous treatment of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton that ultimately led to her suicide. The play criticizes the lack of compassion and accountability among the privileged classes.

Capitalism vs. Socialism
The play contrasts the capitalist, profit-driven mindset of Mr. Birling with the socialist values of community and equality espoused by the Inspector. It suggests that unchecked capitalism and greed can lead to human suffering, while advocating for a more ethical, socially responsible system.

Class Divide
The vast class divide between the wealthy Birling family and the working-class Eva Smith is stark. The play highlights the power imbalance and how the upper classes could drastically impact the lives of the lower classes through their actions or inaction.

Gender Roles
Sheila's jealousy towards Eva's beauty, which led to her getting Eva fired, touches on the constraints and expectations placed on women at the time. The play also examines the differing attitudes towards women between the older and younger generations.

Generational Divide
There is a clear generational gap between the older, set-in-their-ways Birlings and the younger Sheila and Eric who are more open to the Inspector's message of social responsibility. This reflects the changing attitudes of post-war Britain.

In essence, "An Inspector Calls" uses the premise of a mysterious inspector's interrogation to deliver a scathing critique of the moral failings of capitalism and the upper classes, while advocating for a more ethical, socialist society.

Developed by Perplexity AI