An Inspector Calls

Eric admits that he was “a bit squiffy” when he met Eva (203), though he avoids mentioning her name. Under pressure from Goole, Eric says that he followed the young woman home from a bar and insisted that she allow him in, even though she didn’t want to. They met several times, and she revealed that she was pregnant. She asked for money, so Eric stole £50 from his father’s company. Arthur interrupts angrily, and Eric realizes the scale of what he has done is now being revealed. When Eric finds out that his mother refused to help Eva, he accuses her of murder.

Inspector Goole addresses each of the anguished family in turn, explaining how they all helped to kill Eva. Arthur fired her; Sheila orchestrated her second firing; Gerald had an affair with her; Eric raped her and then tried to pay her off with stolen money; and Sybil refused to help the poor young woman in desperate circumstances. Goole prepares to leave, dismissing Arthur’s vague attempts to offer him a bribe. As a parting message, he repudiates Arthur’s earlier statement, telling the family that all people are connected and that they must help each other if society is to avoid a violent collapse.