An Inspector Calls, Characters

"But the way some of these cranks talk...-Community and all that nonesense"- Capitalist views. Belittling Socialist veiws.

"I'm talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business... there isn't a chance of war"- High opinion of himself. Dramatic Irony.

"There is a fair chance that I might find my way into the next honours list."- He's bragging to Gerald so he can tell his parents. It seems like his parents don't like him marrying someone below his social status.

"Look Inspector I'd give thousands- yes thousands..."- Repitition. He only cares about his reputation. He trys to cover it up.

"Rubbish! If you don't come down sharply on these people, they'd soon be asking for the Earth."- He dismisses his son's opinions before he hears them. Euphemism for lower class (these people).

Sheila is...

Naive, Immature, Materialistic and Emotional. But after the Inspector arrives she turns into a Precocious, Socialist, Intelligent and Empathetic woman.

Sheila is a complex character in the play who is deeply affected by the Inspector. She shows remorse for her actions and she changes throughout the play. She's a stereotypical women at the start of the play but by the end, she starts to stand up against her parents and Gerald. She starts showing her intelligence at the end of the play as she is the first to question whether the Inspector is a real Inspector or not.

She feels remorse for what she did to Eva and she takes responsibility for her actions. Priestly uses her to show how the younger generation are open to change.

The Inspector is...

Mysterious, Omnipotent, Wise and Socialist.

Throughout the play, the Inspector is the voice of Priestly who expresses Socialist ideas. He is not afraid to stand up to the higher classes (Mr and Mrs Birling) and he is not afraid to link all the characters to the "chain of events"that culminates Eva Smith's suicide.

We don't know much about the Inspector's background or his social status but we do know he feels strongly about Socialism and community spirit.

"Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things-"- Criticises her husband for complimenting the lower class cook.

"When you're married you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all of their time and energy on their business."- Implying that a women has to have a husband to "realise".

"It wasn't I who turned her out of employment- which probably began it all."- Blaming her husband and daughter rather than taking responsibility.

"I'm very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame"- Unresponsible for her actions.

"You're not the type - you don't get drunk"- Naive and oblivious to her son's behaviour.

Mr Birling is..

Smug, Pompous, Arrogant, Wealthy, Capitalist and Boastful.

He was previously Lord Mayor and he owns a factory. He expects a Knighthood and he uses it to try and impress his future son-in-law and his parents because he hopes to join buissness with them after they are married. Priestly makes him look like a fool to the audience by making predictions that the audience know are wrong (such as the Titanic being unsinkable and that WW1 with never happen). He trys to intimidate the inspector and he feels no remorse for what he did to Eva. He learns nothing from the Inspector.

He contradicts Priestley's views (expressed by the Inspector)and he represents the upper and middle class Capitalists. He sees himself as a good buissness man and he will do  anything to protect his buissness.

"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."- Everyone is equal. Priestly's views.

"And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night."- Biblical refrence. 

"But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone, but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths out there..."- Repitition to show how large the lower class is in comparison to the upper class.

"It's better to ask for the earth than to take it"- To Mr Birling. Saying that Mr Birling takes what he wants whereas Eva only asked for a pay rise.

"Burnt her inside out..she was in great agony"- Not protecting them from reality.

Mrs Birling is...

Snobbish, Obstinant, Arrogant, Stereotypical woman of 1912, Naive about her children, Judgemental, Capitalist and Cold.

Mrs Birling is a very rude and judgemental women who is happy with womens position in society. She doesn't want equal rights for women. She talks down to her children and she is a very distant parent. She's her husbands social ssuperior and she criticises her husband when he thanks the cook.

Mrs Birling only has 3 positive lines in the play and they are all to Gerald who he is trying to imppress. She opposes the Inspector's views and accepts no responsibility for Eva's death.

"[Pleased with life and rather excited]"- Shows she is happy with her life and place in society and she has a secure and untroubled life, unlike Eva Smith.

"You be careful- or I'll start weeping."-Over dramatic. Weak.

"Oh Gerald! Is it the one you wanted me to have?"- She hasn't got the one she liked, he's picked it for her. Materialistic.

"I've been so happy tonight. Oh i wish you hadn't told me."- Selfish. Only cares about her own feelings rather than Eva's.

"It doesn't matter much now of course - but was he really a police inspector?"- Intelligence. Expressing her views, which is rare for a 1912 woman.

"I suppose we're all nice people now"- Sarcasm. Socialist. Empathetic to Eva and takes responsibility for her actions.

[not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive]-From the start of the play we know that ther is something not quite right with Eric and that he is uncomfortable in some way.

"I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty."-Shows that he used force to get Eva pregnant.

"Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble."-He hasn't got his Father's affection or approval and his parents care more about covering up a scandal than they do about him.

"a good sport"-his relationship with Eva was just casual fun for him.

‘The fact remains that I did what I did.’- makes him more likeable for the audience.

Gerald is...

wealthy, aristocrat, engaged to Sheila, upper class and polite.

Gerald is the son of Lord Croft who is Mr Birlings rival in buisness. His parents do not like the fact that he is marrying Sheila as she is of a lower class. He is marrying Sheila out of class not status.

He is Capitalist and agrees with Mr Birling's speech at the beginning of the play. He is very sexist towards Sheila and expects her to still marry him after they discover there was no Eva Smith. He doesn't change his attitudes, conveying how ingrained these attitudes were in the upper class, and how difficult it was to change them.

‘I don’t come into this suicide business.’At the start of the play, he cannot see how he could be involved in Eva Smith’s (Daisy Renton’s) suicide.

When he starts to talk about her death, he appears genuinely upset and goes out for a walk: ‘I’m rather more – upset – by this business than I probably appear to be – ‘. The audience assume that he has learned his lesson and that perhaps he will change for the better.

He returns to the way he was before; the fact that he still did what he did does not make him change like Sheila and Eric. When offering Sheila the ring back, she can’t take it. ‘Everything’s all right now Sheila. (Holds up the ring.) What about this ring?’

He is very sexist when he talks to Sheila and he thinks women are weak and can't take the truth. "Shouldn't Miss Birling be excused from any more of this questioning?"

Eric is...

Spoilt, embarrassed, awkward, immature, socialist, alcoholic and empathetic.

Eric is a young man who works for his father's buissness and is not trusted with great responsibility. He is treated as an irresponsible child by his parents and he doesn't discuss his life with his parents.

He admits to what he did to Eva and he feels emphathetic, responsible and guilty fo what he has done. He shows socialist views towards the poor and he opposes his parents. By the end of the play he has changed as he speaks up for what he beleives in to his parents.