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AN INSPECTOR CALLS - CHARACTERS (Eva Smith/Daisy Renton eva (Purpose in…
AN INSPECTOR CALLS - CHARACTERS
Gerald
Drives theory that Inspector is fake
"It's a hoax of some kind."
"But how do you know it's the same girl?"
Characteristics
Kind
"I didn't ask for anything in return."
"she was desperately hard up & at that moment was actually hungry"
when helped her
Immoral - having affair with Eva while with Sheila
Mrs B "
disgusting affair"
Socially superior to Birlings
Higher status than Birling but status & class don't matter to him as much eg. relationship with Eva, maybe because secure in his position
Aristocrat
"easy, well-bred young man-about-town"
leads playboy lifestyle
Symbolises young upper-class gentleman - sophisticated & stylish
Genuine feeling for Eva - moved by her death
"I'd like to be alone for a while"
Sensitive - gives ring to Sheila
"hope I can make you as happy as you deserve to be."
Purpose in Play
At end - like older Birlings can't see what Inspector was teaching
When Sheila says killed Eva - "
Did we? Who says so?"
Towards end of play "
Everything's all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?
At start agrees with Birling on everything
"You couldn't have done anything else"
after Birling reveals fired Eva
Capitalist
Doesn't admit involvement at 1st - protecting reputation
Inspector Goole
Conflicts with Birling most of all
Interrupts Birling re Eric "
He must wait his turn."
Characteristics
Professional/emotionally detached
"Burnt her inside out"
Dominant & forceful - authoritative
a man of "
massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"
Not intimidated by Birlings - he says "
dryly" "I don't play golf."
"We hear a sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling stops to listen."
By Act III speaks with "
calm authority"
Methodical & systematic in his duty
"
One person and one line of enquiry at a time."
Priestley uses him to build the play as a chain of events.
High morals "
It's my duty to ask questions."
Changes atmosphere of play when arrives, becomes serious rather than lighthearted - bell rings & lighting changes
Purpose in play
Delivers Priestley's central message of social responsibility
"they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish"
- metaphor
reference to Old Testament
Drives central conflict of the play
Capitalism vs socialism
Selfishness vs social responsibility
Omniscience
Looking for acceptance, not answers.
Already knows story
"I think you remember Eva Smith now, don't you, Mr Birling?"
At end revealed not real person -
"He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector"
- not usual or extraordinary
Catalyst for revelations
Establishes link between every family member & Eva/Daisy
Mr Birling
Characteristics
Capitalist
"lower costs & higher prices"
"
a hard-headed practical man of business"
"a man has to mind his own business & look after himself & his own"
provincial accent - evidence of his upward social mobility
Selfish, pompous, narrow-minded & snob
"heavy-looking, rather pretentious man"
"I was an alderman for years - and Lord Mayor two years ago"
Talks to Inspector with "
a touch of impatience"
at start
"I've got to cover this up as soon as I can."
No empathy for working class
Dismissed leaders of strike
"I went down myself & told them to clear out."
Dominant & controlling
Tries to intimidate "
How do you get on with our Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts?"
"
I've half a mind to report you."
Purpose in Play
At start shows capitalist viewpoint & views of future prosperity (dramatic irony)
Titanic
"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"
"
I say there isn't a chance of war"
1912 just before 1stWW
Refuses responsibility for his part in Eva's death -
"I can't accept any responsibility"
for "
the wretched girl's suicide"
At end doesn't learn lesson
Conflict grows with Inspector
"I consider this uncalled-for and officious."
"I don't like your tone"
Eric
Secrets
Got Eva pregnant by forcing himself on her when drunk
Stole money from father's business to support Eva
Heavy drinker and has a
"familiarity with quick heavy drinking"
Characteristics
Irresponsible at start
"I didn't even remember - that's the hellish thing."
Alcoholic
"
I was in the state when a chap easily turns nasty."
Feels Unloved
"
You don't understand anything. You never did
."
Modern thinking
"
Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?'
Cares about Eva
"
So I gave her enough money to keep going"
Sensitive
"My God - I'm not likely to forget."
Purpose in Play
Start of play
Like others abused his power over Eva, Inspector says
"as if she were an animal, a thing, not a person"
Awkward young man, tension between him & Birling
Towards end of play accepts responsibility
"
The fact remains that I did what I did"
Says to parents "
I am ashamed of you."
"
It's what happened to the girl & what we all did to her that matters."
Sheila
Characteristics
Compassionate
"But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."
Perceptive
"he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang ourselves."
To Gerald
"you knew her very well. Otherwise, you wouldn't look so guilty about it."
Purpose in Play
At start frivolous & carefree
Her engagement ring "
I'll never let it go out of my sight for an instant."
"
she was very pretty & looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn't be sorry for her."
Eric leaves Sheila & Sybil "talking about clothes again."
Highlights Mr Birling's diminishing power when he tries to stop Inspector involving her
"
I'm not a child, don't forget. I've a right to know."
At end accepts social responsibility - changed
Angry with parents' lack of remorse
"You began to learn something. And now you've stopped."
"I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it."
Symbolises like Eric the younger generation whose views undeveloped
Mrs Sybil Birling
Social class
wants to keep class system as it is
charitable work motivated by controlling nature - Brumley Women's Charity Organisation
Sees Eva as liar & criminal as lower class
"
as if a girl of that sort would never refuse money"
Refuses Eva Money because of same name "a piece of gross impertinence"
Dislikes & mistrusts Inspector from start
"
so far you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar & offensive manner."
Characteristics
snob
"
a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior"
"You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he's still a magistrate -"
patronising
refers to Eric & Sheila as "
children
" & "
he's only a boy"
Purpose in Play
At end - doesn't learn lesson- refuses to accept responsibility
At start - traditionalist
Like husband symbolises older generation - fixed & rigid
Eva Smith/Daisy Renton
Born in country so more naive than city girl but capable of doing well
Mr Birling says "
a lively good-looking girl - country bred"
and a
"good worker too"
Leader who spoke up for others
Mr Birling says
"She'd had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go."
Eva could stand for Eve, 1st woman in Bible
Sheila judged her by appearance & assumed she could find other work
"she was very pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself"
Purpose in play
represents "everyman"
represents lowest in society being woman & poor
Smith = most common surname so could be author's way of saying could happen to anyone
Without work her prospects declined
Had to turn to "
something else"
- prostitution
Inspector "
Now she had to try something else"
