character profiles~ An Inspector Calls

Inspector Goole is

moral- "we dont live alone. we are members of one body"

authoritive- "all in good time"

mysterious- "was it a hoax?"

an outsider- "the rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me-it was quite extraoprdinary"

writers techniques-  its a bit of joke that the Inspector is called 'goole' because it sounds like ghoul wich is another word for ghost.

His authority strengthens his strong moral tone. Whatever Goole is, his unsettling presence might just be down to confidence. he knows how to create an air of uncertainty and reel everyone in. (Writers technique- its worth thinking about hiow an actor might play the inspector- maybe with his voice getting louder and louder as the play goes on). 

He makes sure everyone in the household knows he is in charge. 

Birling is

ambitious- "theres a good chance of a knighthood"

business-minded- "a hard-headed, practical man of business"

selfish-" a man has to make his own way"

anxious- "there'll be a public scandal--unless were lucky"

writers techniques- priestley uses dramatic irony to make Birling's optimism seem foolish amd short-sighted. This undermines his authority. 

Birling likes to be respected- he wants to be in control.

Sybil is

traditional- "when your married you'll realise"

proud- "i was the only one of you who didnt give in to him"

predjuced- "as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money"

cruel- "i used my influence to have it refused"

Sybil Birling is from a family with a higher social staus than Arthur Birling's family. Even though Arthur's gead of the family, Sybil is his "socail superior". 

Mrs Birling doesnt change-she is self-centered. she hasnt noticed her own sons alcoholism and dissmisses her daughters worries that gerald lost interest last summer. she wont accept responisibilty for her actions, and clais she did the right thing. she doesnt learn from the inspectors message. she only regrets not having "asked him a few questions"- she wants to be in control. 

sheila is

strong-minded- "i dont believe i will. so you be careful"

sharp- "hes giving us the rope-so that we'll hang ourselves"

selfish- "you used the power you had... to punish the girl"

moral- "but these girls arent cheap labour- they're people"

writers technique-

priestley gives Sheila lots of witty lines to make her appear sharp. Sheila's wit lets her undermine the authority of the others as she makesjokes at their expense. 

Sheila is more mature than the audience first think. sheila behaves childishly at the beginning, but what she learns over the evening makes her feel she has to e herself and break away from her parents. she has wise instincts~ knows what the inspector is doing. she is not naive~ she knows men use prositutes and knows about dirty old men.

Eric is

irresponsible- "i didn't even remember-that's the hellish thing"

unloved- "you dont understand anything. you never did"

sensitive- "my god-i'm not likely to forget"

an alcoholic- "i was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty"

writers technique- priestley uses eric's odd behaviour to hint that his secrets will later disrupt and threaten the birling's whole way of life.

Eric's drunkness and bad behaviour represent the dark side of the family life.

Eric is a villain and a victim~

he feels isolated and unsupported-hes had to find comfort elsewhere.

hes the obvious villian of the play but he accepts responsibility for what he did. 

gerald is

respectable- "the easy well-bred young man-about-town

upper-class- "landed people and soforth:

a liar- "i wasnt telling you a complete lie"

traditional- "i should say so!" (Gerald agreeing with Birling)

Gerald is a complex character- hes neither good or bad. he is confident but also stubborn- he doesnt learn much about himself over the course of the play. the inspector points out Geralds hypocrisy.

Eva/Daisy is

attractive- "young and fresh and charming"

honourable- "she didn't want to take any more money from him"

working-class- "girls of that class"  "a girl of that sort"

a prostitute- "there were some woman who wanted her top go there"

the real identity of Eva/Daisy is never revealed therefore she could be the same person or she could be someone totally different who was treated the same by the Birling family. 

she never sought revenge~ so the inspector does it for her.

Eva Smith is sort of a everyman~ EVA-abit like Eve, the first woman (says the bible) and symbolic of all women. her second name, SMITH, is a very common surname and its from thr word for a tradesman. EVA SMITH represents all ordinary, working-class women.