Characters Flashcards
Mr Birling:
A successful business man, a magistrate and someone who is active in local politics, Mr Birling has also had the honor of being Lord Mayor of Brumley. He hopes that all this will lead to him being given a knighthood and therefore becoming more socially acceptable to Sir George and Lady Croft, particularly considering his humble beginnings. His description is of a ‘heavy-looking and portentous man’. This description helps to give an impression of him being of a threatening appearance. He is pleased about the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, as he believes it will be good for his business. It is central to the play that his attitude to business and the fact that a man should ‘look after his own’ is discredited by the confessions that the inspector brings about.
Mrs Birling:
Owing to her coldness and lack of conscience, Mrs Birling is seen as being unsympathetic and out of touch with reality. It is this lack of understanding that leads to her making several snobbish comments and even to be unaware of her own son’s heavy drinking. She is described as a ‘rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior’. She is led by the Inspector to condemn her own son, when she tries to blame the young man who got her pregnant, for Eva’s death. This dramatic irony is very powerful in showing that gain she does not think of the consequences of her actions. She is too busy trying to protect herself from blame that she fails to see the trap into which she is led. However, she shows signs of weakening when she realises that her actions had resulted in the death of her own grandchild. Once the inspector leaves though, she quickly recovers her old self, emphasizing her harsh and uncaring nature
Sheila:
Sheila is the Birling’s daughter and engaged to be married to Gerald Croft. She is in her early twenties and is described as ‘pretty’. The attention surrounding her important engagement gives her great pleasure, showing her to be somewhat self-centred. She thus starts the play as someone whom the audience would regard as superficial however, this changes once she hears of the girl’s death and her potential part in it and becomes more caring and sensitive. She shows genuine remorse about the fact that it was her who caused the girl to lose her job at the shop. She learns of her responsibilities to others less fortunate than herself (the idea of the community) and is sensitive. Her readiness to learn from experience is in great contrast to her parents.
Eric:
Eric is an opposite of his sister and ‘not quite at ease’. His father does not approve of him and his mother cannot see his faults one of which is a drink problem. He has made the dead girl pregnant and he has also stolen money from his father to support her. Like his sister, however, he feels both a strong sense of guilt and real sympathy towards Eva Smith. He is very willing to take
responsibility for his actions, whilst also blaming his mother in particular for what she has done. Even when it seems as if they are all ‘off the hook’ he is not willing to forget what he has done and this makes him quite an admirable character: he does not take the easy way out.
Gerald:
Sheila’s fiancé and the son of her father’s industrial rival. He is respected by Mr Birling with whom he shares an opinion on the way to conduct business. Self confidence and at ease with anyone he comes into contact with are his main traits. He is courteous and tactful towards the Birlings. It comes to light that he has had an affair with the dead girl who had changed her name to Daisy Renton at the time. Of all the characters, he seems to be the only one who treated Eva/Daisy with some degree of kindness, offering protection and some temporary happiness, but he still leaves her in the end. He is also the character who first works out that the Inspector is not real, and like the older Birlings, seems to think this lets everyone off the hook.
Inspector:
The Inspector, named ‘Goole’, is described as creating ‘an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’. His role grows as the play unfolds and the story of each character is revealed. Whilst they are broken down he remains solid and despite attempts from the others to distract him from his purpose he stays this way throughout. He is the one who makes things happen in the play. Were it not for him none of the secrets that the others have would be revealed and it is he who demonstrates how people are responsible for the affect they have on the lives of others. His sombre appearance in the play is in direct contrast to the Birling family. There is an air of celebration in the room until he enters bringing with him the news of the dead girl. From then
on it is he who controls everything. He manipulates each character skillfully, to ensure they reveal the truth about
their involvement with Eva. With some he is encouraging, with others he is aggressive and demanding. This is determined by each character’s willingness to accept responsibility.
