March 09, 2026
Introduction
Let's do the summary of the act one of the drama book "An Inspector Calls by B. J. Priestley". This summary will be useful to the fans of literature, the teachers, the students and WAEC, NECO, UTME candidates.
Actually, the drama book shares resemblance with a certain movie titled "Nine Dead" which was released in 2009.
Act 1:
The celebration of Sheila Birling's engagement to Gerald Croft in Mr and Mrs Birling's living room. At the dinner table Mr Authur Birling, Mrs Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling and Gerald Croft ate the delicious meal prepared by Edna (the maid)_ they wined and dined; Gerald Croft presented Sheila a very gorgeous engagement ring and the whole table toast to the love birds' engagement.
After Sybil and Sheila left the room, Mr Authur Birling advised Eric and Gerald to be optimistic about the future rather than worry that war might soon break out. He also told them to mind their business and put themselves first in everything they do in life.
A knock on the door, Inspector Goole was welcome to the house by Edna. The police inspector was investigating the suicidal death of a young who died that day at the Infirmary after swallowing some disinfectant.
Inspector Goole showed Mr. Authur Birling a picture while preventing Eric and Gerald from seeing the picture he showed him. Mr Authur Birling recognized the lady as Eva Smith; a hard-working lady who was sacked at Birling and Company in 1910 (two years ago) after she was one of those who stirred a strike after Mr Authur Birling refused to give them a pay raise.
According to the drama book "An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley", Mr Authur Birling contributed to Eva Smith's death by:
"INSPECTOR: Yes, she was out of work for the next two months. Both her parents were dead, so that she'd no home to go back to. And she hadn't been able to save much out of what Birling and Company had paid her. So that after two months, with no work, no money coming in, and living in lodgings, with no relatives to help her, few friends, lonely, half-stanced, she was feeling desperate."
The inspector also noted that all others would be interrogated. When Sheila entered the living room, she inquired what was going on. Goole showed her a picture while preventing others to see who was in the picture, she was bittered because she knew who was in the picture.
Inspector told her how she contributed to the death of Eva Smith because she made the management of Milwards Shop sacked her as a shop attendant for laughing at her:
"INSPECTOR: And so you used the power you had, as a daughter of a good customer and also of a man well known in the town, to punish the girl just because she made you feel like that?"
Inspector Goole further revealed that after Eva Smith was sacked at Milwards Shop, she changed her name to Daisy Renton; Gerald was very shocked and his emotions changed because she recognized a certain lady he referred to as Lady "D".
Names that appeared in Act 1 are Authur Birling, Sybil Birling, Sheila Birling, Eric Birling, Gerald Croft, George Croft, Inspector Goole, Edna, Eva Smith, Daisy Renton, Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wellses, Colonel Roberts (chief constable).
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