How Does Birling Create Tension In Act 1

An Inspector Calls Study Guide

Summary of Acts 1-3

Act 1

The Birling’s celebrate the engagement between Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft, who is the son of Lord and Lady Croft. Arthur Birling makes a number of speeches about the world and what state it is in and built-up relations, where he says that everyone should be responsible for themselves.

After Inspector Goole enters the house, he informs the Birling’s about the death of a lower class woman who had died due to swallowing a disinfectant. Afterwards, Arthur Birling admits he had sacked the girl after remembering what had happened two years ago due to her being one of the ring leaders in strike demanding higher wages.

The Inspector Continues on with the stories after Sheila enters the

room once again after leaving to talk with her mother.
It is later revealed that Sheila Birling had also been involved, having sacked her from her job at a shop called Millwards. She reacts as horrified and sincerely remorseful. She then points out that the Inspector knows the details of the family’s involvement, who later informs them her name had been changed to Daisy Renton to which Gerald suddenly reacts, as if he’d knew her, who later verifies this by telling the Inspector he knew her.
When Sheila is left with Gerald for a while he warns him to not hide anything from the inspector.

Act 2
Gerald admits to having been involved with Eva Smith, who he knew as Daisy Renton previously at the summer. Sheila Returns her engagement ring to him and he temporarily leaves the house.

After Mrs Birling arrives, Sheila warns her to which she tries to intimidate him, having been certain that she and Eva Smith were not related in any way.

When the Inspector reminds her of a pregnant girl request for help she turned away from a charity organisation she was the Chair of. She also argued that the girl was lying about the father of the child who had stolen money to try to support her which she refused. Mrs Birling then suggests that the father of the child should be made to pay. Meanwhile, Eric has been out and re-enters the house to see suspenseful faces, the reader at this point expect Eric to be the father.

Act 3

Eric realises that they all know of Eva and the following events that occurred. He also reveals that he had stolen money from his father’s business.

The Inspector leaves afterwards after making a speech about their responsibility towards the death of Eva Smith.

After Gerald re-enters, he reveals that there was no Inspector Goole and that this was a hoax, to which everyone except Sheila and Eric are delighted to hear of the news.

Sheila and Eric are convinced that this doesn’t change a thing. Just when Mr. Birling teases the family, he receives a telephone to find that there’s is a girl that has died in the infirmary and a police inspector is on his way to question

them.