characters

• Mr Birling


  A symbol of the callous and heartlessness of capitalism
• Mr Birling


  • Represents the older generation who were unwilling to change
  • Presented as a realistic character through use of colloquial language appropriate for the time
  • Described as 'panic stricken' indicating his defiance and bravado have been shattered
• Priestley uses Birling to criticize the complacency of capitalist prosperity
• Birling is never as really in control of events as he would like himself and others to think
• mrs birling


  Priestley uses Mrs Birling to epitomize all that is wrong with society. She represents the social snobbery and hypocrisy of the upper classes and shows no remorse in her cruel treatment of Eva Smith.
• mrs birling


  absurd character that ironically passes her own social guilt onto her own son – condemning him. As a result, Priestley deals with Mrs Birling with special severity, having her fall into a trap of her own making: she is confronted with the knowledge that Eric is a hard drinker and the father of the dead woman’s child. She has helped to kill her own grandchild. It is only when she realises this does she begin to show any signs of weakening
• sheila


  Priestley uses the character of Sheila to represent his own views of social responsibility.
• sheila


  She offers hope for the future and Priestley uses Shelia as an example of people’s changing attitudes towards those less fortunate than themselves. She is sympathetic towards Eva and other girls in her position, recognising that they were “not just cheap labour but people”. She accepts that her actions impacted on Eva’s life and that she cannot disconnect her actions from the effects these have on others. She recognises and understands the Inspector’s message that we are all collectively responsible for all that happens in the world.
• sheila


  she acts as almost an assistant to the Inspector.becoming his mouthpiece
• eric


  Through Eric’s treatment of Eva “I wasn’t in love with her or anything” an abhorrent picture of the upper-class emerges. They are shown to be callous and cold. However, Eric illustrates the capacity to change – despite your past errors and your family’s beliefs you can change. His transformation is more realistic – as at first he blames his mother for her death and then finally comes round to accepting responsibility
• gerald


  Gerald acts as a bridge between the two generations. Gerald provides a strong contrast to Eric, Mr Birling’s natural son and Priestley uses Gerald to show the tensions between Eric and his father.
• inspector


  The omniscient Inspector is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective / social responsibility. The Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption and the selfish attitudes of the twentieth century society.
• eva smith


  Eva represents ordinary people who can be destroyed by indifference when society fails to grant them the right of basic human dignity.working class