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An inspector calls characters

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The document provides character summaries for the main characters in J.B. Priestley's play An Inspector Calls: 1) Arthur Birling is a wealthy businessman who believes himself above the law as a former magistrate. He is unaware of how his actions affect others and has unrealistic views about social and economic issues. 2) Sybil Birling is a snobbish woman who looks down on those less wealthy. She is a hypocrite who judges others more harshly than her own family. 3) Sheila Birling realizes the tragedy of Eva Smith's story most quickly. She feels responsible for Eva's firing and tries to get the others to acknowledge their faults. 4) Eric Birling is portrayed

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 Arthur Birling 1• He is wealthy and middle-class with aims of becoming part of the upper class.• Hopes to be knighted “there’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List”. P.8• Former Lord-Mayor of Brumley and as such he is full of his own self- importance “I was an alderman for years – and Lord Mayor two years ago.” p.11 Arthur Birling 2• As a local magistrate he sees himself as being above the law. He thinks he can get away with things.• In Act One he says he know the Chief Constable – “we play golf together sometimes” p.16• Look at his reaction when he thinks they’ve rumbled the Inspector…• At the end of the play he is glad to have avoided a public scandal. Arthur Birling 3• He is totally unaware of the effects of his actions on other people.• He doesn’t care that there are low wages for workers. He celebrates ripping off his workers and cutomers “lower costs and higher prices” p.4 Arthur Birling 4• He is totally unrealistic about the future.• His speech about the Titanic calls it “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”. P.7• He wrongly doesn’t think there will be a war – “There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere.” p.7
MRS SYBIL BIRLING  Sybil Birling• She is a horrible snob and looks down on people with less money.• She refuses Eva Smith money for just having the cheek to use the same name as her, calling it “a piece of gross impertinence” p.43• She is also a hypocrite and judges lower classes more harshly than her own family.• She calls (in a moment of dramatic irony) her own son a ‘drunken young idler’.
SHEILA  Sheila is the character who works out the tragedy of Eva Smith most quickly.• When she admits that she was at fault for having Eva fired from Milwards. She asks the Inspector if “I’m really responsible?” p.23• She also works out that Gerald has been up to no good. “I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too.” p.23 Sheila is sometimes called ‘the conscience’ of the play, as she is one most troubled by Eva’s story.• She appeals for the others to help the inspector. P.30• At the end of the play she doesn’t seem ready to take Gerald back. “No. Not yet. It’s too soon. I must think.” p.72
ERIC  Eric is a party-boy, hard drinking (perhaps because he is miserable) and is portrayed as being the black sheep of the family.• He is also a rebel, and tries to take on Mr Birling’s selfish views. For example p.6 “What about the war?” Eric is one of the few characters who has managed to change because of the terrible experience of Eva Smith.• He says it was “tough luck” that she was sacked, and shows sympathy for her tragic life.• Later on he realises that the Inspector was showing them their own faults: “He was our police inspector all right” p.59
GERALD CROFT  Gerald is a real member of the upper classes, the son of Sir George Croft and Lady Croft.• He is also quite weak and willing to do the easy thing. Look at how he sucks up to Birling – “I believe you’re right Sir’ p.6, but also on page 15 and 17.• He is also a liar, he tells Sheila that he has been very busy at work when he has been having an affair. • In the end he is very much concerned with his reputation above everything else.• Look at his relief when he finds out the hospital has not got the body of a suicide victim.• He believes that the most important thing is if the Inspector is a fake as “that makes all the difference.” p.63
INSPECTOR GOOLE  He is a character who doesn’t, like others try to gloss over the truth. Sometimes he is described as blunt or direct.• He outwits the family by isolating them, “one line of inquiry at a time” p.11• He refuses to be intimidated by Birling. See the earlier golf scene, and also in Act Two when he refuses to apologise to Birling. “Apologize for what – doing my duty?” • Inspector Goole always tells it like it is and advances the political philosophy of the play.• Look at dialogue in Act Two when he puts forward the idea that the rich should care for the poor. “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” p.41 • The mystery of the Inspector is heightened by his name – ‘Goole’. • When he disappears we are left with the question of who he was. • Is he a vision from the past or future? • In he representative of all of our consciences?
EVA SMITH / DAISY RENTON  The Inspector, Sheila Gerald and Eric all say that she was "pretty." Gerald describes her as "very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes."  Her parents were dead.  She came from outside Brumley: Mr Birling speaks of her being "country-bred."  She was working class.  The Inspector says that she had kept a sort of diary, which helped him piece together the last two years of her life:  However, in Act 3 we begin to wonder whether Eva ever really existed. Gerald says, "We've no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl." Birling adds, "There wasn't the slightest proof that this Daisy Renton really was Eva Smith." Yet the final phone call, announcing that a police inspector is shortly to arrive at the Birlings' house to investigate the suicide of a young girl, makes us realise that maybe Eva Smith did exist after all. What do you think?  Think about Eva's name. Eva is similar to Eve, the first woman created by God in the Bible. Smith is the most common English surname. So, Eva Smith could represent every woman of her class.

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An inspector calls characters

  • 1.  Arthur Birling 1• He is wealthy and middle-class with aims of becoming part of the upper class.• Hopes to be knighted “there’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List”. P.8• Former Lord-Mayor of Brumley and as such he is full of his own self- importance “I was an alderman for years – and Lord Mayor two years ago.” p.11 Arthur Birling 2• As a local magistrate he sees himself as being above the law. He thinks he can get away with things.• In Act One he says he know the Chief Constable – “we play golf together sometimes” p.16• Look at his reaction when he thinks they’ve rumbled the Inspector…• At the end of the play he is glad to have avoided a public scandal. Arthur Birling 3• He is totally unaware of the effects of his actions on other people.• He doesn’t care that there are low wages for workers. He celebrates ripping off his workers and cutomers “lower costs and higher prices” p.4 Arthur Birling 4• He is totally unrealistic about the future.• His speech about the Titanic calls it “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”. P.7• He wrongly doesn’t think there will be a war – “There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere.” p.7
  • 2. MRS SYBIL BIRLING  Sybil Birling• She is a horrible snob and looks down on people with less money.• She refuses Eva Smith money for just having the cheek to use the same name as her, calling it “a piece of gross impertinence” p.43• She is also a hypocrite and judges lower classes more harshly than her own family.• She calls (in a moment of dramatic irony) her own son a ‘drunken young idler’.
  • 3. SHEILA  Sheila is the character who works out the tragedy of Eva Smith most quickly.• When she admits that she was at fault for having Eva fired from Milwards. She asks the Inspector if “I’m really responsible?” p.23• She also works out that Gerald has been up to no good. “I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too.” p.23 Sheila is sometimes called ‘the conscience’ of the play, as she is one most troubled by Eva’s story.• She appeals for the others to help the inspector. P.30• At the end of the play she doesn’t seem ready to take Gerald back. “No. Not yet. It’s too soon. I must think.” p.72
  • 4. ERIC  Eric is a party-boy, hard drinking (perhaps because he is miserable) and is portrayed as being the black sheep of the family.• He is also a rebel, and tries to take on Mr Birling’s selfish views. For example p.6 “What about the war?” Eric is one of the few characters who has managed to change because of the terrible experience of Eva Smith.• He says it was “tough luck” that she was sacked, and shows sympathy for her tragic life.• Later on he realises that the Inspector was showing them their own faults: “He was our police inspector all right” p.59
  • 5. GERALD CROFT  Gerald is a real member of the upper classes, the son of Sir George Croft and Lady Croft.• He is also quite weak and willing to do the easy thing. Look at how he sucks up to Birling – “I believe you’re right Sir’ p.6, but also on page 15 and 17.• He is also a liar, he tells Sheila that he has been very busy at work when he has been having an affair. • In the end he is very much concerned with his reputation above everything else.• Look at his relief when he finds out the hospital has not got the body of a suicide victim.• He believes that the most important thing is if the Inspector is a fake as “that makes all the difference.” p.63
  • 6. INSPECTOR GOOLE  He is a character who doesn’t, like others try to gloss over the truth. Sometimes he is described as blunt or direct.• He outwits the family by isolating them, “one line of inquiry at a time” p.11• He refuses to be intimidated by Birling. See the earlier golf scene, and also in Act Two when he refuses to apologise to Birling. “Apologize for what – doing my duty?” • Inspector Goole always tells it like it is and advances the political philosophy of the play.• Look at dialogue in Act Two when he puts forward the idea that the rich should care for the poor. “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” p.41 • The mystery of the Inspector is heightened by his name – ‘Goole’. • When he disappears we are left with the question of who he was. • Is he a vision from the past or future? • In he representative of all of our consciences?
  • 7. EVA SMITH / DAISY RENTON  The Inspector, Sheila Gerald and Eric all say that she was "pretty." Gerald describes her as "very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes."  Her parents were dead.  She came from outside Brumley: Mr Birling speaks of her being "country-bred."  She was working class.  The Inspector says that she had kept a sort of diary, which helped him piece together the last two years of her life:  However, in Act 3 we begin to wonder whether Eva ever really existed. Gerald says, "We've no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl." Birling adds, "There wasn't the slightest proof that this Daisy Renton really was Eva Smith." Yet the final phone call, announcing that a police inspector is shortly to arrive at the Birlings' house to investigate the suicide of a young girl, makes us realise that maybe Eva Smith did exist after all. What do you think?  Think about Eva's name. Eva is similar to Eve, the first woman created by God in the Bible. Smith is the most common English surname. So, Eva Smith could represent every woman of her class.