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Inspector calls characters - Coggle Diagram
Inspector calls characters
Mr Biriling
Proud
"hard-headed, practical man of business" -- Mr Birling talking about himself
"But rather provincial speech"
Stage direction
Up bringing wasn't as grand as the life style he now has
This is reinforced with:
"Good dinner too, Sybil. Tell cook for me"
Considered by Mrs Biriling to be in bad taste
"Lady Croft .. feels you might have done better for your self socially" -- talking to Gerald
When he tells Gerald not to blame her it is showing the audience that he thinks that shes right.
Believes his duty is to keep labour costs down and so he uses this as a reason to why he sees that he has no fault in Eva Smiths death.
Tries to intermediate the inspector by telling him his old positions as Magistrate and Alderman. When the Inspector doesn't back down he talks of his old friendship with the police inspector and how they play golf together.
Only wants to avoid scandal.
Motivated by material things and he isn't affected by the death of Eva Smith.
His views are discredited early on with his views on how they will be no war and the titanic wont sink. This discredits all his views like the views on socialism.
Doesn't change throughout the play and finishes as selfish as he was at the start.
Mrs Birling
Aware of her position in society, believes that he working class are different in every way to the rich upper-middle and upper classes.
She believes she is above question and reproach and so is shocked by the Inspectors actions and a form of "Impertinence".
Act 1 stage directions describe her as "a rather cold women and her husbands social superior"
She has married down the class ladder.
Shown when Mr Biriling says "Good dinner too, Sybil. Tell cook for me" and she tells him that it isn't appropriate.
How she draws attention to this shows the audience she is a woman who has little awareness of what is important.
View on the role of Women
Shown when she tells Sheila "When your married you will relies that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business you'll have to get used to that, just as I had"
When Gerald talks of the "women of the town" (prostitues) she remarks "It would be best if Sheila didn't listen to this story at all"
She sees Eva Smith as a lesser women with sentences like:
"A girl of that sort"
He behavior can be expected to be different to Sheila's
Lack of understanding on the nature of people
her preconceived views on the difference in morality between classes makes her feel justified in refusing to help.
"Claiming elaborate fine feelings" talking about when Eva came to her charity. She doesn't believe that Eva can have these feelings and there fore rejects the application.
"Girls of that class"
Doesn't change, when challenged by Sheila on whether the family can continue on she says "Well, why shouldn't we"
Sheila Biriling
She is described as "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.
This excitement is also shown by her reaction to Gerald's ring "Oh- it's wonderful! Look mummy- isn't it a beauty"
She is shown to be questioning Gerald's fidelity "Yes – except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you." this is said to be "half serious, half playful" in the stage directions.
Suggest she thinks Gerald has something to hide.
Generation gap
This is shown in many ways:
When Mrs Biriling tells her she will have to get use to men working lots she says "I don't believe I will" , this shows she doesn't plan on taking the same stance her mother did.
Sheila wants to learn from the Inspector saying: "I'm not a child don't forget. I have a right to know"
She recognizes the power of the inspector, she relieves he plans to reveal more secrets saying "I'd hate to think how much he knows that we don't yet know" no point to try and hide from the Inspector.
The Inspector revels Sheila as a bad tempered, vain and vindictive person -- played a part in Eva deaths, having her sacked from Milwards for no reason except she imagined that Eva was being rude about her appearance.
By the end she is determined to change, realizes that she helped kill Eva, accepts the Inspectors teaching. She is appalled by how her parents don't plan on changing she says "It frightens me the way you talk, and I can't listen to any more of it"
Eric Biriling
He is described as "in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive"
He seems out of place at the gathering from the start, he laughs and exuces this says "suddenly I just felt I had to laugh"
Sheila explains this by suggesting that Eric is squiffy.
During his conversation with Mr Birilng and Gerald he comments on women love for clothes but breaks off implying he is hiding a secret.
Although he exhibts strange behavoiur he is still seen as compassionate
Showing great shock when hearing the description of Eva Smiths death
He is quick to condemn his sisters and fathers actions towards Eva
He says "Why shouldn't they try for better wages"
He also says "I'd have let her stay"
He upsets Sheila when he says "My God, it's a bit thick when you come to think of it" after he learns that Sheila was responsible for getting Eva Smith sacked from milwards
His actions are despicable.
He takes advantage of Eva Smith saying "In that state when a chap easily turns nasty"
However he does try and help Eva and their baby by stealing money from his fathers company.
Eric has a bad relationship with his father, Mr Biriling is critical of Eric at many points throughout the play.
He believes Eric has learned little from his education
He is irritated by Eric's attitude to Eva Smith's sacking
He can not believe that Eric has stolen money from him and accuse him of being spoilt.
When Mr Biriling asks why he didn't come to him for help Eric reply "Nor not the sort of father a chap can go to when he's in trouble"
Can't rely on his father for help
When he learns of Mrs Biriling's responsibility in Eva's death he says "Yes, and you killed her - and the child she was to have too - my child - your own grandchild - you killed them both"
He is distraught, he says to Mrs Birling "You don't understand anything. You never did. You never even tried"
Learns as reforms telling the inspector "I'm not likely to forget"