Ideas of truth and duty are inextricablewithin An Inspector Calls. At the heart of this text is a search for the truth: the truth of each character’s relationship to Eva Smith, the truth about why she decided to end her own life, the truth about Inspector Goole’s identity and intentions, and ultimately the truth of moral responsibility. The Inspector disrupts the Birlings’ celebration and does not leave until he uncovers each detail about their stories, and how they ultimately contributed to her tragic death. Often the characters hide behind their well-to-do façade, or behind the social conventions they believe will keep them safe: Mr Birling, when threatened, attempts to dissuade his questioning by making reference to his connection with the Chief of Police: “Perhaps I ought to warn you that he’s an old friend of mine,and that I see him fairly frequently.” Playing once again with power dynamics, Birling attempts to use his standing in society to hinder the investigation, or at least to coerce the Inspector into backing down. Each time the characters are questioned, they are made to confront the truth that they have failed in their moral duty to another member of society, simply because she was an inconvenience or challenged an individual’s sense of self.
