
Love or the lack thereof, is one of the
main themes in An Inspector Calls. Not
only does it play a drastic role in
bettering the audience’s understanding
of relationships between the characters,
but it also aids us in coming to terms with
social classes, gender stereotypes, and
life in Britain 1912.

Throughout the duration of the play, the inspection
takes a great toll on Sheila and Gerald’s relationship.
In the opening scenes, we can see them drinking to
each other; “I drink to you, Gerald.” however after
the Inspector’s exit, they are no longer certain if their
engagement withstands, “Everything’s alright now.
Sheila. What about this ring?” “No, not yet. It’s too
soon, I must think.” After the revelations, Sheila’s
aforementioned doubts are confirmed; “I was awfully
busy at the works all the time” “Yes, that’s what you
say”, and later when questioning Gerald about Daisy
Renton; “You not only knew her but you knew her
very well”.

At the start, Sheila showcases a naïve love for Gerald,
however as the play progresses we learn that the
relationship was built on false pretences, and
encouraged by the parents for their own financial and
business related benefits. This makes the audience
question the substance that their relationship was built
on. Moreover, Gerald provides us with evidence that
allows us to question his motives towards marrying
Sheila; even after his sinful act of cheating, he
showcases little to no respect towards her, attempting
to cover up the truth for as long as time will allow him to
do so. Even then, when it becomes inevitable for it to
be revealed, he is importunate on obstructing her
knowledge of the situation, insisting: ‘’It would be much
better if Sheila didn’t listen to this story at all.’’ And to
her,” ‘You’re obviously going to hate this, so why on
earth don’t you leave us to it?’’

This also links in to the gender dynamics of society at
that time which perceived woman to be of a
substandard and unable to cope with anything more
demanding than everyday acts. This is subtly portrayed
in parts of the play where Gerald seems overpowering
or demanding, particularly at the start of the play
where he has an air of being in control. Later however,
the roles are eventually reversed as the interrogations
advance sand Sheila gains confidence, actively
voicing her opinions. She says to Gerald “You’ll see,
you’ll see”, threatening him with an exploitation but also
warning that there is unfinished business regarding his
affair with Daisy Renton.
‘I didn’t feel about her as she felt about
me.’ (Pg38)
 ‘I was sorry for her.’ (Pg37)
 ‘I suppose it was inevitable. She was
young and pretty and warm-hearted –
and intensely grateful. I became at once
he most important person in her life.’
(Pg37)


There is no love involved in this relationship but rather
lust. Eric is with her for his own enjoyment and because
‘she was pretty and a good sport’. Eva is forced to turn
to prostitution as she has no other way to make money
for herself to survive. Eric may have offered to marry Eva
but not because he cared for her. Eric is still young and
foolish.

The inspector says ‘Just used her for the end of a stupid
drunken evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a
person.’ The Inspector’s anger towards Eric shows
Priestley's view on capitalism and the was that the rich
were allowed to mistreat the poor because of it. Once
again, Priestly is using the Inspector to voice his own
opinions.

Although married, there is very little love shared
between Mr & Mrs Birling. It is seen as a staged love, put
on just for show to seem like a respectable, high class
family as they are both conscious about their social
image.

Mrs Birling is described as ‘a rather cold woman and her
husbands social superior’. She feels able to look down
on him in this way and isn’t a very affectionate woman,
as shown later on in the play with Eva and the charity
committee, she shows no kindness.

Mr Birling is also able to look down on his wife because
she is a female during sexist times. He says ‘clothes
mean something quite different to a woman’ when
speaking about his wife. This makes her seem
intellectually incapable and very aloof.

Their strongest bond would be their shared view on
capitalism as well as their oblivion of what happens in
their children’s lives. It seems that they don’t share
information with each other. For example, Mrs Birling
would have found it strange that somebody at the
charity committee used the Birling name, however she
never told her husband about it.

Both Mr & Mrs Birling encourage Sheila to go into a
marriage with very little love involved. This reflects on
the values of marriage that they both posses. Their
daughter’s wedding was planned to benefit the Birling
business and also improve the image of the Birling
family, the fact that Gerald cheated doesn’t alter these
aims.

After Sheila hands Gerald the ring back, Mr Birling says
‘Now Sheila, I‘m not defending him. But you must
understand that a lot of young men-’. Mr Birling tries to
explain Gerald’s actions to his own daughter.

By pushing their own daughter into a relationship
without love, it shows how unimportant they both view
love to be in a marriage.

The Inspector wants everyone to come accept the
responsibility of their actions, unravelling all their lies one
by one.