Responsibility

• Priestley uses An Inspector Calls to highlight the unfair attitudes in society. 

  Generally, the upper-class people refused to acknowledge how their actions affected the lower classes.
• Mr Birling

  Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility. Instead, he sees Eva as a troublemaker for wanting a pay raise.
• Mr Birling dismisses the issue and he is happy to forget the whole thing at the end of the play.
• Who refuses to acknowledge how their actions affected the lower classes?

  The upper class
• Mrs Birling

  Mrs Birling refuses to accept any responsibility. 

  She feels that the father of Eva’s child should be the one responsible – until she realises it is her own son.
• Once Mrs Birling realises her son is the father, she then pushes the blame onto Eric. 

  She still refuses to accept that she did anything wrong even in her charitable role.
• Why does Mr Birling see Eva Smith as a troublemaker?

  For asking for a pay rise
• Gerald

  Gerald refuses to accept any responsibility. He feels that he did his part in helping Eva.
• Gerald does not feel guilt over making Eva his mistress and is very happy to forget the whole thing when he thinks the inspector is fake.
• Sheila

  Sheila is shocked when she learns what happened to Eva because of her actions.
• Sheila feels extreme guilt and accepts responsibility for her actions. 

  Although Sheila acted like a spoilt child at the start, she matures in the play and accepts the role she played in Eva’s suicide.
• Who does Mrs Birling blame for the mistreatment of Eva Smith?

  Eric
• Eric

  Eric acknowledges that his actions were wrong. He accepts responsibility for the role he played in damaging Eva’s life and for contributing towards her suicide. 

  He also tells his mother she should accept responsibility as well.
• Which characters do NOT accept responsibility for the part they played in Eva Smith's death?

  • Mr Birling
  • Mrs Birling
  • Gerald
• Role of Inspector Goole

  Inspector Goole's role is to help each character to understand the consequences of their individual selfishness.
• Inspector Goole's role is also to try to encourage them to accept some responsibility. He hopes this will change their attitudes and help them to become less selfish.
• Which characters accept responsibility for the part they played in Eva Smith's death?

  • Eric
  • Sheila
• What's the role of Inspector Goole?

  • To help each character to understand the consequences of their individual selfishness.
  • His role is also to try to encourage the characters to accept some responsibility. He hopes this will change their attitudes and help them to become less selfish.
• Blame and Responsibility: The Birlings

  • Priestley uses Mr and Mrs Birling to highlight the belief that lower-class people deserve their misfortune, and that upper-class people are entitled to (have the right to have) fortune, wealth and easy lifestyles.
• Blame & Responsibility: Sheila & Eric


  Generally, the upper-class people refused to acknowledge how their actions affected the lower classes. But Priestley also uses the younger Birlings to suggest that the younger generation give some hope for society