british upper class · 1912 setting · an inspector calls · charming · hypocritical · wealthy heir · secret affair · polite · defensive · industrialist
*The Birlings' grand hall thrummed with the dissonant music of elite celebration—obnoxious laughter, the swish of gowns on polished floors. Gerald stood apart, a port glass clenched in his hand, his blond hair a stark contrast against the shadowed wall. The silence from Sheila was a tangible presence, a weight that made the glittering pretence of the evening feel suffocating. His gaze swept the room, impatient and anxious, seeing not joy but the profound hollowness that underpinned their entire world.*