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Bethany Burrows
03/04/2023
English Literature
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls character analysis: Key figures and their roles in highlighting social issues
03/04/2023
132
Mrs Birling is a pivotal character in "An Inspector Calls," representing the entrenched attitudes of the upper class and their resistance to social change. Her role in the play serves to highlight the disconnect between the privileged and the working class, as well as the consequences of maintaining such rigid social hierarchies.
Highlight: Mrs Birling remains heartless and snobbish throughout the play, symbolizing the unwillingness of the upper class to change or accept responsibility for their actions.
Key characteristics of Mrs Birling include:
Quote: "Girls of that class"
This quote exemplifies Mrs Birling's prejudiced attitude towards working-class individuals, demonstrating her belief in rigid class distinctions.
Vocabulary: Callous - insensitive and cruel.
Mrs Birling character analysis reveals her as a thoroughly dislikable character who remains unaffected by the Inspector's revelations. Her refusal to accept any blame for her role in Eva Smith's demise underscores the play's critique of upper-class attitudes.
Quote: "I accept no blame for it."
This statement highlights Mrs Birling's inability to acknowledge her own faults or take responsibility for her actions, a trait that Priestley uses to criticize the upper class's moral failings.
Example: Mrs Birling's dismissal of Eva Smith's plea for help from the charity committee demonstrates her lack of empathy and her prejudiced views towards those she considers beneath her social standing.
Mrs Birling quotes and analysis provide insight into her character's rigid worldview and her role in perpetuating social inequality. Her unwavering stance throughout the play serves as a foil to the younger characters' capacity for change and growth.
Gerald Croft, the fiancé of Sheila Birling, represents a complex figure in "An Inspector Calls." His character embodies the moral ambiguity of the Edwardian aristocracy and serves as a tool for Priestley to critique patriarchal views of women in early 20th century society.
Highlight: Gerald represents the callous moral indifference of the Edwardian aristocracy and the patriarchal views of women prevalent in that era.
Key traits of Gerald Croft include:
Quote: "You seem to be a nice well-behaved family."
This quote demonstrates Gerald's initial sycophantic attitude towards the Birlings, as well as his superficial assessment of people based on social appearances.
Vocabulary: Patriarchal - relating to or characteristic of a system of society or government controlled by men.
Gerald Croft character analysis reveals a character who, despite some moments of honesty, ultimately fails to fully grasp the moral implications of his actions. His treatment of Eva Smith (under the alias Daisy Renton) exemplifies the exploitative attitudes of upper-class men towards working-class women.
Quote: "You couldn't have done anything else."
This statement, directed at Mrs Birling, showcases Gerald's attempt to absolve the upper class of responsibility for their actions, highlighting his alignment with the established social order.
Example: Gerald's affair with Daisy Renton, which he initially tries to conceal, demonstrates his willingness to exploit vulnerable women while maintaining a respectable public image.
Gerald Croft quotes and analysis provide insight into his character's complexity. While he shows moments of honesty and remorse, he ultimately retreats to the safety of his privileged position, unwilling to fully confront the consequences of his actions.
Quote: "Well, there's nothing to settle as far as I'm concerned. I've never known an Eva Smith."
This final denial exemplifies Gerald's ultimate failure to accept responsibility and change, contrasting sharply with the growth demonstrated by the younger Birling siblings.
Sheila Birling is a pivotal character in "An Inspector Calls," representing the potential for change and growth within the younger generation. Her transformation throughout the play serves as a beacon of hope for a more socially conscious future.
Highlight: Sheila represents the younger generation who, for Priestley, have the power to change society. She evolves from a spoilt and selfish character to a reformed and socially aware individual.
Key characteristics of Sheila Birling include:
Quote: "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."
This quote demonstrates Sheila's growing awareness of social inequality and her ability to empathize with those less fortunate than herself.
Vocabulary: Enlightened - having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.
How is Sheila presented in An Inspector Calls essay? Priestley portrays Sheila as a character who undergoes significant development. She starts as a typical upper-class young woman but quickly shows the capacity for change and moral growth as the Inspector's investigation unfolds.
Example: Sheila's reaction to her role in Eva Smith's dismissal from Milwards shows her ability to feel genuine remorse and take responsibility for her actions, unlike her parents.
Sheila Birling quotes and analysis reveal her character's transformation and her growing understanding of social responsibility.
Quote: "You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl."
This statement highlights Sheila's rejection of the class barriers that her parents try to maintain, showing her progress towards a more egalitarian worldview.
Words to describe Sheila Birling as she develops throughout the play include:
Quote: "So I'm really responsible?"
This question marks a turning point in Sheila's character development, as she begins to understand the concept of social responsibility that the Inspector is trying to impart.
What does Sheila Birling represent? She symbolizes hope for the future, demonstrating that the younger generation has the potential to learn from the mistakes of the past and create a more just society.
How does Sheila change in An Inspector Calls? Her transformation is one of the most significant in the play. She moves from a position of naive privilege to one of social awareness and responsibility, rejecting her parents' outdated views and embracing a more empathetic worldview.
Eric Birling, the youngest member of the Birling family, represents both the flaws of privileged upbringing and the potential for change in the younger generation. His character arc in "An Inspector Calls" serves to address J.B. Priestley's concerns about immoral behavior while also offering hope for a more socially responsible future.
Highlight: Priestley uses Eric, along with Sheila, to suggest that the young people of post-war Britain would be the answer to a hopeful future. Through Eric, he also addresses concerns about the dangers of immoral behavior.
Key characteristics of Eric Birling include:
Quote: "We all helped kill her."
This statement demonstrates Eric's ability to accept responsibility for his actions, contrasting sharply with his parents' attitudes.
Vocabulary: Exploitative - making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in order to gain an advantage or benefit.
Eric's character analysis reveals a complex individual who, despite his flaws, shows the capacity for growth and moral development. His relationship with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton exposes both his privilege and his potential for empathy.
Example: Eric's theft from his father's business to support Eva Smith shows both his reckless behavior and his attempt to take responsibility for his actions, albeit in a misguided way.
Eric Birling quotes and analysis provide insight into his character's development and his growing awareness of social issues:
Quote: "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices."
This statement shows Eric's ability to question the capitalist system his father represents, demonstrating his potential for more progressive thinking.
Quote: "Not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble."
This reveals the strained relationship between Eric and his father, highlighting the generational divide that Priestley explores in the play.
Eric's transformation throughout the play is less dramatic than Sheila's but equally significant. He moves from a position of irresponsibility and privilege to one of awareness and remorse, representing the potential for change in the younger generation.
Highlight: Eric, like Sheila, learns from the Inspector's message and takes responsibility for his actions, ending the play as a reformed character with a more socially conscious outlook.
Inspector Goole is a pivotal and mysterious figure in J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls." He serves as the catalyst for the play's events and acts as a mouthpiece for Priestley's own socialist views.
Highlight: J.B. Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a mouthpiece for his own socialist views. Through the Inspector, Priestley advocates the need for social responsibility, warning the audience not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Key characteristics of Inspector Goole include:
Quote: "We don't live alone. We are members of one body."
This quote encapsulates the Inspector's (and by extension, Priestley's) message of social responsibility and interconnectedness.
Vocabulary: Proletariat - the working-class people regarded collectively.
Inspector Goole character analysis reveals him as more than just a police inspector. His supernatural knowledge and his ability to make each character confront their guilt suggest he may be a symbolic or metaphysical figure rather than a real person.
Example: The Inspector's methodical questioning of each family member, revealing their connections to Eva Smith, demonstrates his role as both investigator and moral arbiter.
Inspector Goole quotes and analysis provide insight into the play's central themes:
Quote: "Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that."
This statement emphasizes the collective responsibility that the Inspector (and Priestley) believes society should embrace.
Quote: "I'm not going until I know all that happened."
This demonstrates the Inspector's relentless pursuit of truth and justice, driving the play's narrative forward.
The Inspector's role in the play is multifaceted:
Highlight: Inspector Goole's character embodies Priestley's critique of capitalist society and his vision for a more equitable future based on mutual responsibility and care for others.
Eva Smith, although never physically present in the play, is a central figure in "An Inspector Calls." Her story drives the plot and serves as a powerful symbol of the working class and their struggles in early 20th century Britain.
Highlight: Although the audience never sees her, Eva Smith is an integral character in the play as she represents the working class and their struggle for equality and dignity.
Key aspects of Eva Smith's character include:
Quote: "She wasn't pretty when I saw her." - Inspector Goole
This quote emphasizes Eva's suffering and the toll that societal mistreatment has taken on her.
Vocabulary: Exploitation - the action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.
Eva Smith's character analysis reveals her as a composite figure, representing various facets of working-class struggle. Her experiences with each of the Birling family members and Gerald Croft highlight different aspects of social injustice.
Example: Eva's dismissal from Mr. Birling's factory for requesting better wages exemplifies the exploitation of workers by capitalist employers.
Eva Smith's story, as revealed through the Inspector's questioning, provides a critique of various social issues:
Highlight: Eva Smith's tragic story serves as a powerful indictment of the social inequalities and injustices prevalent in Edwardian society.
Although Eva never appears on stage, her presence is felt throughout the play. She serves as a moral touchstone, forcing the other characters (and by extension, the audience) to confront their own roles in perpetuating social injustice.
Quote: "She was a lively, good-looking girl." - Gerald Croft
This description, contrasting with the Inspector's, highlights how Eva's identity shifts depending on who is describing her, emphasizing her role as a symbol rather than a fully-realized individual.
Eva Smith's character ultimately represents the human cost of social inequality and the urgent need for collective responsibility. Her story is the driving force behind the play's central message about the interconnectedness of society and the moral imperative to care for all its members.
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An Inspector Calls character analysis: Key figures and their roles in highlighting social issues
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Mrs Birling is a pivotal character in "An Inspector Calls," representing the entrenched attitudes of the upper class and their resistance to social change. Her role in the play serves to highlight the disconnect between the privileged and the working class, as well as the consequences of maintaining such rigid social hierarchies.
Highlight: Mrs Birling remains heartless and snobbish throughout the play, symbolizing the unwillingness of the upper class to change or accept responsibility for their actions.
Key characteristics of Mrs Birling include:
Quote: "Girls of that class"
This quote exemplifies Mrs Birling's prejudiced attitude towards working-class individuals, demonstrating her belief in rigid class distinctions.
Vocabulary: Callous - insensitive and cruel.
Mrs Birling character analysis reveals her as a thoroughly dislikable character who remains unaffected by the Inspector's revelations. Her refusal to accept any blame for her role in Eva Smith's demise underscores the play's critique of upper-class attitudes.
Quote: "I accept no blame for it."
This statement highlights Mrs Birling's inability to acknowledge her own faults or take responsibility for her actions, a trait that Priestley uses to criticize the upper class's moral failings.
Example: Mrs Birling's dismissal of Eva Smith's plea for help from the charity committee demonstrates her lack of empathy and her prejudiced views towards those she considers beneath her social standing.
Mrs Birling quotes and analysis provide insight into her character's rigid worldview and her role in perpetuating social inequality. Her unwavering stance throughout the play serves as a foil to the younger characters' capacity for change and growth.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Gerald Croft, the fiancé of Sheila Birling, represents a complex figure in "An Inspector Calls." His character embodies the moral ambiguity of the Edwardian aristocracy and serves as a tool for Priestley to critique patriarchal views of women in early 20th century society.
Highlight: Gerald represents the callous moral indifference of the Edwardian aristocracy and the patriarchal views of women prevalent in that era.
Key traits of Gerald Croft include:
Quote: "You seem to be a nice well-behaved family."
This quote demonstrates Gerald's initial sycophantic attitude towards the Birlings, as well as his superficial assessment of people based on social appearances.
Vocabulary: Patriarchal - relating to or characteristic of a system of society or government controlled by men.
Gerald Croft character analysis reveals a character who, despite some moments of honesty, ultimately fails to fully grasp the moral implications of his actions. His treatment of Eva Smith (under the alias Daisy Renton) exemplifies the exploitative attitudes of upper-class men towards working-class women.
Quote: "You couldn't have done anything else."
This statement, directed at Mrs Birling, showcases Gerald's attempt to absolve the upper class of responsibility for their actions, highlighting his alignment with the established social order.
Example: Gerald's affair with Daisy Renton, which he initially tries to conceal, demonstrates his willingness to exploit vulnerable women while maintaining a respectable public image.
Gerald Croft quotes and analysis provide insight into his character's complexity. While he shows moments of honesty and remorse, he ultimately retreats to the safety of his privileged position, unwilling to fully confront the consequences of his actions.
Quote: "Well, there's nothing to settle as far as I'm concerned. I've never known an Eva Smith."
This final denial exemplifies Gerald's ultimate failure to accept responsibility and change, contrasting sharply with the growth demonstrated by the younger Birling siblings.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sheila Birling is a pivotal character in "An Inspector Calls," representing the potential for change and growth within the younger generation. Her transformation throughout the play serves as a beacon of hope for a more socially conscious future.
Highlight: Sheila represents the younger generation who, for Priestley, have the power to change society. She evolves from a spoilt and selfish character to a reformed and socially aware individual.
Key characteristics of Sheila Birling include:
Quote: "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people."
This quote demonstrates Sheila's growing awareness of social inequality and her ability to empathize with those less fortunate than herself.
Vocabulary: Enlightened - having or showing a rational, modern, and well-informed outlook.
How is Sheila presented in An Inspector Calls essay? Priestley portrays Sheila as a character who undergoes significant development. She starts as a typical upper-class young woman but quickly shows the capacity for change and moral growth as the Inspector's investigation unfolds.
Example: Sheila's reaction to her role in Eva Smith's dismissal from Milwards shows her ability to feel genuine remorse and take responsibility for her actions, unlike her parents.
Sheila Birling quotes and analysis reveal her character's transformation and her growing understanding of social responsibility.
Quote: "You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl."
This statement highlights Sheila's rejection of the class barriers that her parents try to maintain, showing her progress towards a more egalitarian worldview.
Words to describe Sheila Birling as she develops throughout the play include:
Quote: "So I'm really responsible?"
This question marks a turning point in Sheila's character development, as she begins to understand the concept of social responsibility that the Inspector is trying to impart.
What does Sheila Birling represent? She symbolizes hope for the future, demonstrating that the younger generation has the potential to learn from the mistakes of the past and create a more just society.
How does Sheila change in An Inspector Calls? Her transformation is one of the most significant in the play. She moves from a position of naive privilege to one of social awareness and responsibility, rejecting her parents' outdated views and embracing a more empathetic worldview.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Eric Birling, the youngest member of the Birling family, represents both the flaws of privileged upbringing and the potential for change in the younger generation. His character arc in "An Inspector Calls" serves to address J.B. Priestley's concerns about immoral behavior while also offering hope for a more socially responsible future.
Highlight: Priestley uses Eric, along with Sheila, to suggest that the young people of post-war Britain would be the answer to a hopeful future. Through Eric, he also addresses concerns about the dangers of immoral behavior.
Key characteristics of Eric Birling include:
Quote: "We all helped kill her."
This statement demonstrates Eric's ability to accept responsibility for his actions, contrasting sharply with his parents' attitudes.
Vocabulary: Exploitative - making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in order to gain an advantage or benefit.
Eric's character analysis reveals a complex individual who, despite his flaws, shows the capacity for growth and moral development. His relationship with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton exposes both his privilege and his potential for empathy.
Example: Eric's theft from his father's business to support Eva Smith shows both his reckless behavior and his attempt to take responsibility for his actions, albeit in a misguided way.
Eric Birling quotes and analysis provide insight into his character's development and his growing awareness of social issues:
Quote: "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices."
This statement shows Eric's ability to question the capitalist system his father represents, demonstrating his potential for more progressive thinking.
Quote: "Not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble."
This reveals the strained relationship between Eric and his father, highlighting the generational divide that Priestley explores in the play.
Eric's transformation throughout the play is less dramatic than Sheila's but equally significant. He moves from a position of irresponsibility and privilege to one of awareness and remorse, representing the potential for change in the younger generation.
Highlight: Eric, like Sheila, learns from the Inspector's message and takes responsibility for his actions, ending the play as a reformed character with a more socially conscious outlook.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Inspector Goole is a pivotal and mysterious figure in J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls." He serves as the catalyst for the play's events and acts as a mouthpiece for Priestley's own socialist views.
Highlight: J.B. Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a mouthpiece for his own socialist views. Through the Inspector, Priestley advocates the need for social responsibility, warning the audience not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
Key characteristics of Inspector Goole include:
Quote: "We don't live alone. We are members of one body."
This quote encapsulates the Inspector's (and by extension, Priestley's) message of social responsibility and interconnectedness.
Vocabulary: Proletariat - the working-class people regarded collectively.
Inspector Goole character analysis reveals him as more than just a police inspector. His supernatural knowledge and his ability to make each character confront their guilt suggest he may be a symbolic or metaphysical figure rather than a real person.
Example: The Inspector's methodical questioning of each family member, revealing their connections to Eva Smith, demonstrates his role as both investigator and moral arbiter.
Inspector Goole quotes and analysis provide insight into the play's central themes:
Quote: "Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that."
This statement emphasizes the collective responsibility that the Inspector (and Priestley) believes society should embrace.
Quote: "I'm not going until I know all that happened."
This demonstrates the Inspector's relentless pursuit of truth and justice, driving the play's narrative forward.
The Inspector's role in the play is multifaceted:
Highlight: Inspector Goole's character embodies Priestley's critique of capitalist society and his vision for a more equitable future based on mutual responsibility and care for others.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Eva Smith, although never physically present in the play, is a central figure in "An Inspector Calls." Her story drives the plot and serves as a powerful symbol of the working class and their struggles in early 20th century Britain.
Highlight: Although the audience never sees her, Eva Smith is an integral character in the play as she represents the working class and their struggle for equality and dignity.
Key aspects of Eva Smith's character include:
Quote: "She wasn't pretty when I saw her." - Inspector Goole
This quote emphasizes Eva's suffering and the toll that societal mistreatment has taken on her.
Vocabulary: Exploitation - the action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.
Eva Smith's character analysis reveals her as a composite figure, representing various facets of working-class struggle. Her experiences with each of the Birling family members and Gerald Croft highlight different aspects of social injustice.
Example: Eva's dismissal from Mr. Birling's factory for requesting better wages exemplifies the exploitation of workers by capitalist employers.
Eva Smith's story, as revealed through the Inspector's questioning, provides a critique of various social issues:
Highlight: Eva Smith's tragic story serves as a powerful indictment of the social inequalities and injustices prevalent in Edwardian society.
Although Eva never appears on stage, her presence is felt throughout the play. She serves as a moral touchstone, forcing the other characters (and by extension, the audience) to confront their own roles in perpetuating social injustice.
Quote: "She was a lively, good-looking girl." - Gerald Croft
This description, contrasting with the Inspector's, highlights how Eva's identity shifts depending on who is describing her, emphasizing her role as a symbol rather than a fully-realized individual.
Eva Smith's character ultimately represents the human cost of social inequality and the urgent need for collective responsibility. Her story is the driving force behind the play's central message about the interconnectedness of society and the moral imperative to care for all its members.
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Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Mr Birling is a central figure in J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," serving as a representation of capitalist ideals and the older generation's resistance to social change. As the patriarch of the Birling family, his character is crucial to understanding the play's themes and social commentary.
Highlight: Mr Birling symbolizes the archetypal capitalist businessman whose narrow perspective blinds him to the realities of the world around him.
Mr Birling's key character traits include:
Quote: "A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself and his family too."
This quote encapsulates Mr Birling's individualistic worldview, which aligns with capitalist ideals of self-reliance and personal responsibility.
Vocabulary: Bourgeois - belonging to or characteristic of the middle class, typically with reference to its perceived materialistic values.
How is Mr Birling presented in An Inspector Calls? Priestley portrays him as an unlikeable character, encouraging the audience to reject his capitalist views and consider the benefits of socialism. Mr Birling's inability to learn from his mistakes or show genuine remorse for his actions towards Eva Smith highlights the flaws in his worldview.
Example: Mr Birling's dismissal of the possibility of war and his confidence in the "unsinkable" Titanic demonstrate his ignorance and overconfidence, traits that Priestley associates with the capitalist class.
Mr Birling quotes and analysis reveal his character's depth and significance in the play. His statements often showcase his narrow-mindedness and prioritization of profit over people's well-being.
Quote: "Well, it's my duty to keep labour costs down."
This quote exemplifies Mr Birling's character analysis in An Inspector Calls essay, as it demonstrates his prioritization of business interests over workers' welfare.
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