an inspector calls - characters

• portentous man (a man to impress)
• provincial in his speech (not 'with it' and narrow-minded)
• proud of acheivements and boasts 
• tries and fails to impress inspector
• aware of social superiors- showing off to Eric 
• likely to get knighted- moving up in social circles
• happiest parties of his life- merging with Crofts ltd.
• optimist- no war, hdramatic irony as there is- audience judge his judgement 
• selfish- socialist ideas are 'nonsense'
• no wrong with eva smith- looking after business interests
• ACT II - worried that press will get hold of story 

• cold woman
• husbands social superior 
• snob- aware of differences between social classes
• dismissive of Eva- 'Girls of that class'
• least repspect for inspector 
• sees Sheila and Eric as children and speaks patronisingly 
• deny things and lie about not knowing Eva in the photo
• admits being prejudice- but says it was here 'duty' to decline, as narrow sense of morality states fathers job to look after
• in the end comes to terms with Erics drinking but still denies she did anything wrong and doesnt accept responsibility  

• "pleased with life and rather excited"
• shown as naive but connotes contradiction: "last summer, when you never came near me"
• never before considered workers conditions but shows compassion- already changing 
• feels guilt
• perceptive- realises gerald knew daisy from reaction 
• first to question inspector- is he real? 
• warns others- "he's giving us the rope- so that we'll hang ourselves"
• curious- to hear about affair
• growing maturity- respects his honesty 
• angry (act III) at parents - "pretend that mothing much happened"

• at the end she is much wiser- judge parents and gerald from new perspective 
• awakened social conscience and aware of resporsibilites 
• taken everything on the chin and learnt 

• "...not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive"(strong, determined)
• start: emabarrassed and awkward- "eric suddenly guffaws" (nervous)
• tension in eric's realtionship with father?
• soon clear- eric is hardened drinker, gerald "i have gathered that he does drink pretty hard"
• like sheila supports worker's cause- "why shouldnt they try for higher wages?"
• guilt and frustration with relationship of girl
• innate sense of responsability- got girl pregnant but gave her money and
•  less worried about stealing over her future- most socailly aware out of family?
• appallled by parents not admitting responsibility- "I'm ashamed of you"
• Act III birling threatens but eric replies aggressively- now standing up to father
• end is fully aware of his social responsibility and ignorant of parents childish lies
• important thing is that she is dead 

• "...easy well-bred man-about-town."
• aristocrat 
• not as willing as sheila to admit- like Mr Birling wants to protect own interests
• genuine feeling for daisy renton and sorry about her death 

• act III contracdicts and tries to cover up- prove inspector is fake 
• confirms that local police force have no inspector by the name of Goole
• throw energies into 'protecting' himself not 'changing' (unlike Sheila)
• end of play not changed- not gained new sense of social responsibility
• makes Sheila unsure whether to take back engagement ring 

(only got information from Inspector and Birlings)

• parents were dead
• Gerald -"very pretty- soft brown hair and big dark eyes"
• Mr Birling- "country-bred"
• working class
• Inspector- kept a dieary to help him piece together

• Act III- wonder whether she is real- 
• Gerald "We've no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl"
• final phone call- maybe she did exist?
• Eva similar to Eve, frst woman created by god 
• Smith was most common english surname 
• Eva Smith could represent every woman of her class

• entrance: creating "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"
• disconcerting habit of looking hard at people(disturb composure)
• works systemstically- piece info one at a time
• Sheila: "he's giving us the rope- so that we'll hang ourselves"
• figure of authority - "massively taking charge as disputes erupt between them" 
• knows and understands extraordinary amount:
• history of Eva Smith
• knows things are going to happen, "i'm waiting... to do my duty"
• great hurry towards end, "i havent much time"- does he know real inspector is going to arrive?
• 
  
• final speech like politicians- leaves family with a message about society
• all mystery suggests inspector is not a 'real' person?