An Inspector Calls- Characters
- Created by: alexdakota
- Created on: 17-03-15 20:52
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- Characters
- A morality play that promotes the need for social responsibility in the audience
- set 1912- pre-war
- first performed 1946- post WW2
- Priestley wants audience to not go back to how society used to be
- Mr Birling
- presented as arrogant, opinionated, pompous, narrow-minded and a snob
- provincial accent- evidence of his upward social mobility (not critiqued)
- has no empathy for the struggle of working class
- unsympathetic, audience are not meant to like him
- capitalist viewpoint- shown to be selfish
- views of future prosperity shown to be naive and unfounded- political& ideology opinions are flawed
- dramatic irony
- end- doesn't learn his lesson and refuses to accept responsibility for part in Eva Smith's death
- views of future prosperity shown to be naive and unfounded- political& ideology opinions are flawed
- dominant and controlling
- Mrs Birling
- entirely compatible with Mr Birling
- socially superior to husband
- cold and lacks emotions; a product of Victorian stoicism
- most resistant to inspector
- snob and patronising towards everyone
- aware of differences between social classes- seeks to maintain status quo
- charitable work, motivated by her controlling nature
- end- doesn't learn lesson- refuses to accept responsibility
- entirely compatible with Mr Birling
- Sheila
- initially presented as frivolous and carefree
- compassiona-te before involvement with Eva Smith is revealed
- evident remorse- feels responsible
- perceptive- notices Eric and Gerald's involvement first
- end- accepts notion of social responsibility- changed as a character
- anger with parents- frustration with their lack of remorse
- Eric
- awkward young man, uneasy at start
- tension between him and his father
- heavy drinker- perhaps because of tension
- shares Sheila's empathy for the rights of the workers
- responsibility- discovering Eva's pregnancy
- guilty and remorseful about involvement
- aware of his social responsibility & is ashamed of his parents at the end
- guilty and remorseful about involvement
- Gerald
- aristocrat and leads a ******* lifestyle
- does not admit involvement at first- protest interests
- drives theory that the inspector is fake
- rather than changing, concerned about protecting reputation
- end-hasn't changed
- suggestion of genuine feeling for Eva Smith- moved upon her death
- Eva Smith
- represents the working class
- does not appear on stage- working class do not have a voice in society
- Smith is a common surname- represents a large cross- section of society
- level of ambiguity- not a specific person, working class in general
- honest and hard working
- actions contradict the Birling's pre-conceived judgement of the working class
- Inspector
- dominant and forceful- clashes with the Birlings
- drives central conflict of the play
- methodical and systematic in his duty- tension and mystery
- authoritative figure- not intimidated by the Birlings
- delivers Priestley's central message of social responsibility
- end- revealed he is not a real person- emphasis mystique of character
- A morality play that promotes the need for social responsibility in the audience
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