An Inspector Calls

Act One

As the play unfolds, the Birling family are settled in the dining room following a celebratory dinner. They are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila, to Gerald Croft. Seizing the moment to make a particularly pompous, arrogant speech, Mr. Birling announces to the family how happy he is that Sheila is marrying Gerald, largely because Gerald’s parents are wealthy business owners with a knighthood in the family. Mr. Birling is quick to remind the family, and Gerald, that he feels sure that he is next in the pipeline for a knighthood also. He goes on to discuss the social and political concerns of 1912, stating that war simply will never happen and observing that the Titanic is unsinkable. He is heckled by his younger son, Eric Birling, who is fidgety and a little drunk. Meanwhile, Sheila is full of happiness over her forthcoming marriage and takes the opportunity to tease Gerald about his brief, mysterious disappearance the previous summer. Resuming his speech,