Inspector Goole - The Voice of Social Change

Inspector Goole is Priestley's most powerful character, serving as the moral compass of the play. He's described as having an "impression of massiveness", suggesting an almost supernatural authority that intimidates the wealthy Birlings. This mysterious figure arrives knowing everything before he even questions the family - giving him an unsettling, omniscient quality.

His name "Goole" is a clever homophone for "ghoul", hinting that he might be more than human. Nobody knows who he really is or where he comes from, and we later discover there's "no Inspector Goole on the police force". This enigmatic nature makes him even more influential in exposing the family's guilt.

The Inspector delivers Priestley's socialist message through powerful speeches about social responsibility. His famous line "We are members of one body" emphasises how we're all connected and responsible for each other. He's brutally honest, describing Eva's death in graphic detail to make the family - and audience - feel disturbed and guilty about the consequences of their actions.

Key Point: The Inspector represents Priestley's belief that society needs to change from selfish capitalism to caring socialism.

Sheila Birling - Hope for the Future

Sheila Birling represents the younger generation's ability to learn and change. Unlike her parents, she quickly grasps the Inspector's message about social responsibility and genuinely feels remorse for her actions. Her transformation from a spoilt, materialistic girl to someone with genuine social awareness makes her the play's unlikely hero.

Initially, Sheila appears shallow and vindictive - she admits getting Eva fired from Milwards because "if she'd been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it". However, she's the first to understand the Inspector's power and warns her family: "You fool - he knows". Her intuitive nature helps her see through Gerald's lies about his affair.

By the end, Sheila has completely changed, telling Eric "You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here". She challenges her father's harsh business decisions, insisting "these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people!" This shows how the younger generation can embrace fairer political beliefs.

Key Point: Priestley uses Sheila to show that young people are more willing to accept change and social responsibility than older generations.

Gerald Croft - The Perfect Gentleman's Facade

Gerald Croft represents the upper-class gentleman who appears compassionate but ultimately lacks genuine remorse. As the son of Sir George Croft, he's even wealthier than the Birlings and embodies the capitalist values that Priestley criticises. Mr Birling adores him, calling him "just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted".

Gerald's relationship with Eva Smith reveals both his better and worse qualities. He genuinely helped her when she was desperate, giving her somewhere to live because "I felt sorry for her". However, he also demonstrates the power imbalance between men and women in Edwardian society - Eva becomes completely dependent on him, and he abandons her when it suits him.

Most tellingly, Gerald learns nothing from the experience. When the family discovers the Inspector might not be real, he immediately tells Sheila "everything's alright now" - completely missing the moral point. He represents those who might show temporary kindness but refuse to examine the deeper social problems that create such situations.

Key Point: Gerald shows how the upper classes can appear caring while maintaining the unfair social system that creates suffering.

Sybil Birling - The Worst of the Upper Class

Sybil Birling represents everything wrong with the privileged upper class in Edwardian society. She's prejudiced, judgemental, and completely lacks empathy for those beneath her social standing. Her treatment of Eva Smith when she desperately needed help shows the callous nature of the wealthy towards the poor.

Sybil's class prejudice is clear when she's offended that Eva used the name "Mrs Birling", calling it "gross impertinence". She dismisses Eva as just another "girl of that class" and believes "she only had herself to blame" for her situation. Even when told the tragic consequences, she remains unrepentant, declaring "I won't regret what I did".

Her ignorance about her own son Eric's problems shows how disconnected she is from reality. When told Eric drinks heavily, she can't believe it: "You don't get drunk". This blindness to her family's issues mirrors her blindness to society's problems. She represents the conservative values of older generations who resist any change to the system that benefits them.

Key Point: Mrs Birling embodies the worst features of upper-class privilege - prejudice, lack of empathy, and complete resistance to social change.

Eric Birling - The Tormented Son

Eric Birling is perhaps the most complex character, representing both the potential for change in young people and the damage caused by family dysfunction. Unlike his parents, he shows genuine remorse for his treatment of Eva Smith and supports workers' rights, asking "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?"

Eric's problems stem partly from feeling unsupported by his family. He tells his father "You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble", explaining why he turned to heavy drinking and why he couldn't seek help when Eva became pregnant. His secret drinking shows how family pressure can lead to destructive behaviour.

However, Eric takes responsibility for his actions more than any other family member. He admits he "took advantage" of Eva and feels genuine shame, declaring "you lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't". When his mother's role in Eva's death is revealed, he accusingly tells her "you killed them both" - showing he understands the moral implications.

Key Point: Eric demonstrates how young people can learn from their mistakes and develop social conscience, even when damaged by dysfunctional family relationships.

Arthur Birling - The Capitalist Fool

Arthur Birling is Priestley's main target for criticising capitalism and social attitudes. As a successful businessman obsessed with profit, he toasts to "lower costs and higher prices" and believes "a man has to make his own way" regardless of the cost to others. His firing of Eva Smith for asking for fair wages shows his ruthless business approach.

Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Birling appear foolish and unreliable. He confidently predicts the "Titanic" is "absolutely unsinkable" and claims war is impossible - statements the 1946 audience knew were spectacularly wrong. This undermines everything else he says about business and society.

Birling's main concerns are his reputation and social status. When the scandal threatens to become public, he worries "it isn't going to do us much good" rather than feeling guilty about Eva's death. He desperately wants to "cover this up" to protect his chances of getting a knighthood and maintaining his business connections.

Most damningly, Birling learns absolutely nothing from the Inspector's visit. He represents the older generation's resistance to change and shows how capitalism allows unfair privileges to continue. Even when offered the chance to reflect and improve, he chooses to maintain his selfish worldview.

Key Point: Mr Birling represents everything Priestley believes is wrong with capitalist society - selfishness, exploitation of workers, and complete resistance to social progress.

Key Quotes and Their Significance

These essential quotes capture each character's core beliefs and demonstrate Priestley's social message. The Inspector's "we are members of one body" encapsulates the play's central theme of social responsibility and collective care for society's most vulnerable members.

Character-revealing quotes show the stark differences between generations and classes. Sheila's recognition that "these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people" contrasts sharply with her mother's dismissive "girls of that class". These opposing views highlight the potential for change versus entrenched prejudice.

The quotes also reveal each character's level of personal growth. Eric's admission "I'm ashamed of you as well" shows his moral development, while Gerald's "everything's alright now Sheila" demonstrates his failure to learn anything meaningful. Arthur Birling's "a man has to make his own way" perfectly captures the individualistic capitalism that Priestley condemns.

Key Point: These quotes work together to create Priestley's argument that society must move from selfish individualism to collective social responsibility.