Act One - Summary

Question 1

Briefly summarise the key events of Act One.

Answer 1

The Birlings are celebrating Gerald and Sheila’s engagement. The Inspector arrives and starts asking questions about a girl who’s killed herself. It is revealed that Arthur sacked the girl and Sheila got her fired from her next job.

Question 2

Who is the only character who doesn’t meet the Inspector in Act One?

Answer 2

Sybil — she doesn’t meet the Inspector until early in Act Two.

Question 3

Which word best describes how Eric feels around his family in Act One?
A. uncomfortable
B. casual
C. disgusted
D. content

Answer 3

A. Eric is “not quite at ease” around his family — he feels like his parents don’t understand him, he is hiding his drinking habit from them and he argues with Sheila.

Question 4

What is the cliff-hanger at the end of Act One?
Why do you think Priestley ends the act on a cliff-hanger?

Answer 4

The audience has left wondering about the details of Gerald’s relationship with Eva / Daisy and whether he will tell the Inspector what he knows. This increases the tension as the audience tries to unravel the mystery of why Eva / Daisy died and how the other characters are involved.

Question 5

Explain how Priestley shows that the Inspector is in control of what is happening in Act One.

Answer 5

• The Inspector frequently
  interrupts and contradicts
  the other characters,
  allowing him to direct the
  conversation and forcing
  them to answer his
  questions.
• The Inspector appears in
  control of all the key
  information and when it
  is revealed. This is shown
  by Sheila’s worry about
  “how much he knows
  that we don’t know yet”.