1. Act 2
Analysis

2. Sheila and Gerald
The Inspector’s entrance allows him to question Gerald
At first Gerald wants Sheila to leave
‘unpleasant and disturbing’ – Sheila insists on staying.
Tension between Sheila and Gerald

3. Mrs Birling
Mrs Birling’s entrance facilitates a number of developments:
We gain an insight into her pompous character
We are shown her attitude towards class and social standing.
She reminds the Inspector of her husbands position within society

4. Mrs Birling
‘girls of that class’ – talks dismissively about this to influence others – distant herself from events.
We are shown the difference between her and Sheila’s attitudes towards the Inspector and responsibility.
Eric’s drinking is revealed at this time (remember by Priestley)

5. Mr Birling
He re-enters saying he has being trying to persuade Eric to go to bed.
Eric refuses
Priestley’s play is shown as organised when the Inspector states Eric will have to ‘ wait his turn’ to be questioned.
Sheila re-enters – excitable behaviour – unlike the others she can see the omniscience of the Inspector.

6. Gerald The Inspector questions him – Gerald reveals his story –
Inspector asks Gerald if he was in love with Daisy and Mr Birling protests – he is quickly put in his place by the Inspector ‘Why should you do any protesting? It was you who turned the girl out in the first place.’
Priestley uses Inspector as a choric device, reminding the audience of Mr Birling’s part in Eva’s life.

7. Gerald Croft’s character
Is confident
Is well mannered
Is a businessman
Is immoral (sinful)
Is calm
Is conservative

8. Gerald Gerald’s outlook on life is similar to Birling
They both have experience as business men
His vision of the future seems to be similar to Birling (conservative ideas)
As with Mr Birling – Gerald’s first response to knowing the girl is to conceal it.
He helped her – then had the affair – not premeditated

9. Gerald Traditionalist – traditional ideas
Like Mr Birling he tries to prevent Sheila hearing about the affair
Could be seen as honourable – not wanting to hurt Sheila / helping Daisy
Even Sheila says ‘wonderful fairy Prince’ !

10. Euphemism Is used when characters refer to taboo subjects -
Mr Birling talks of Eva becoming a prostitute – Gerald says ‘women of the town’
Later Eric refers to them as ‘fat old tarts’

11. Mr Birling
Mr Birling explains he ‘doesn’t want Sheila to be dragged into this.’
Priestley highlights changing attitudes to women through the Inspector.
Inspector points out to Mr Birling his daughter is ‘not living on the moon’, and Sheila insists on staying to hear what Gerald has to say.

12. Gerald Explains he broke things off with Daisy last summer.
Priestley uses the device of a diary to fill in events.
Daisy says in her diary she wanted to go away ‘just to make it last longer’.
Gerald is upset – askes to leave – Sheila returns her engagement ring.

13. Sheila She is angry with Gerald for his involvement
She also states she has respect for him once he has told the truth
However she stands by her decision – even though Mr Birling remonstrates – telling him not to interfere

14. Mrs Birling She believes the issue is resolved – is shown a photograph
She states she doesn’t recognise her – the Inspector states she is lying!
Mrs Birling shocked at the Inspector’s rudeness – he refuses to apologise for doing his duty
Mr Birling – gain attempts to highlight he is a public man

15. Priestley’s View
His view is shown through the Inspector when he states that public men have responsibilities as well as privileges
Mr Birling tries to intimidate the Inspector and control the situation.

16. Priestley’s ideals
Mr Birling tries to intimidate the Inspector – control the situation.
Sheila – feels no-one should hinder the Inspector’s enquiries (different views)
Birling exits
Just having the women allows Priestley’s character –the inspector – to question Mrs Birling – without any men – especially Eric!

17. Mrs Birling Forced to admit she had an involvement with the girl
Eva lied and called herself Mrs Birling
Mrs Birling listened to her story but felt she did nothing wrong
Priestley builds tension – tricks Mrs Birling into saying the father of the unborn child is ‘ entirely responsible’ and ought ‘to be compelled to confess in public his rsponsibility’

18. Dramatic Irony
Audience and Sheila aware that the finger points at Eric
When the Inspector says he is waiting to do his duty, as Mrs B advised him, Mrs B realises that her son is implicated
Crucial moment – Priestley gets a door to slam – front door – heightens suspense – characters and audience wait with anticipation for Eric.

19. Inspector
Linked to the supernatural power of the Inspector “Goole,” becomes “ghoul”: a haunting spirit closely associated with corpses and the dead.
Is the Inspector some kind of ghostly incarnation of Eva Smith, determined to return to her killers to make them realize the error of their ways?
At this point in the play, the Inspector’s role is hugely ambiguous, yet his power over the family is growing.
He manages to break the composure of Mrs Birling by allowing her to trap her own son.

20. Inspector
Some critics have argued that “Goole” is in fact a reference to a fishing village not far from Priestley’s native Bradford and that the Inspector is simply to be read as “fishing” for information and hooking in the Birlings. Whether a ghoul or simply Goole, the Inspector, by the end of the second act, has become a compellingly authoritative figure.

21. Reflection
Priestley’s socialist message—that everyone must look out for each other—is extended further in the Inspector’s damning comment that the public people “have responsibilities as well as privileges.” Though the three younger characters, Gerald, Eric and Sheila, all are partly to blame in Eva’s death, it is with the two elder Birlings that the main point of blame rests.

22. Ending of Act Same as the first – ends on a cliff hanger
Priestley creates suspense