Sybil Birling

Sybil Birling embodies upper-class snobbery and a refusal to acknowledge social responsibility in An Inspector Calls.

Mrs. Birling's higher social status is evident from the start when she chides her husband:

Quote: "I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this."

This shows her concern with maintaining proper upper-class decorum.

Her snobbish attitude towards those of lower social classes is revealed in her comments about Eva Smith:

Quote: "And in any case I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class..."

This quote demonstrates Mrs. Birling's belief in rigid class distinctions and her inability to empathize with those she considers beneath her.

Like her husband, Mrs. Birling denies any personal responsibility for Eva's fate:

Quote: "I'm sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame for it at all."

Her arrogance is further displayed when she insists that the father of Eva's unborn child should be held responsible:

Quote: "He should be made an example of. If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him."

Ironically, this statement implicates her own son Eric, though she doesn't realize it at the time.

Mrs. Birling's poor relationship with her children is hinted at in her interaction with Sheila:

Quote: "You're not the type - you don't get drunk."

This shows her lack of understanding of her own children and her refusal to see their flaws.

Sheila Birling

Sheila Birling undergoes significant character development in An Inspector Calls, moving from a sheltered, materialistic girl to a more socially aware young woman.

At the beginning of the play, Sheila appears childish and focused on material possessions:

Quote: "$Taking out the ring$ Oh - it's wonderful! Look - Mummy - isn't it a beauty? Oh - darling - " $She kisses GERALD hastily$.

This reaction to her engagement ring shows her initial superficiality.

Sheila's cruel actions towards Eva Smith are revealed when she admits to having her fired from Milwards:

Quote: "I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn't get rid of that girl, I'd never go near the place again."

Unlike her parents, Sheila quickly acknowledges her wrongdoing and expresses genuine remorse:

Quote: "I know I'm to blame - and I'm desperately sorry."

Sheila shows some awareness of issues beyond her sheltered upbringing:

Quote: "Everybody knows about that horrible old Meggarty. A girl I know had to see him at the Town Hall one afternoon and she only escaped with a torn blouse."

This demonstrates her growing understanding of the challenges faced by working-class women.

By the end of the play, Sheila has learned to take responsibility for her actions and refuses to ignore the lessons taught by the Inspector:

Quote: "I remember what he said, how he looked, and what he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish. And it frightens me the way you talk, and I can't listen to any more of it."

This quote shows Sheila's transformation and her commitment to social responsibility, in contrast to her parents' continued denial.

Sybil Birling

Sybil Birling, Arthur's wife, represents the entrenched attitudes of the upper class. Her character highlights themes of social inequality and the failure of charity to address systemic issues.

Sybil's higher social status is evident from the start when she chides her husband, "I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this." This shows her concern with maintaining proper appearances and social niceties.

Her snobbish attitude toward those of lower classes is revealed in her dismissive comment about Eva Smith:

Quote: "And in any case I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class..."

This statement demonstrates Sybil's belief in rigid class distinctions and her inability to empathize with those she considers beneath her.

Like her husband, Sybil refuses to accept any blame for her role in Eva's death, stating, "I'm sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame for it at all." This denial of responsibility is a key theme the Inspector challenges throughout the play.

Sybil's arrogance reaches its peak when she declares, "He should be made an example of. If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him." Ironically, she is unknowingly condemning her own son, Eric, revealing her hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness.

As a mother, Sybil shows a poor understanding of her children, particularly Eric. When his drinking problem is revealed, she protests, "You're not the type - you don't get drunk." This illustrates the disconnect between Sybil's idealized view of her family and reality.

Example: Sybil's role as head of a charity committee juxtaposed with her treatment of Eva Smith when she came seeking help demonstrates the limitations of charity without genuine compassion or systemic change.

Inspector Goole

Inspector Goole is a central, authoritative figure in An Inspector Calls who promotes the theme of collective social responsibility.

The Inspector is described as creating "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness" upon his arrival. This establishes his commanding presence from the start.

Throughout his interrogation, Inspector Goole methodically reveals how each member of the Birling family contributed to Eva Smith's downfall and eventual suicide. He forces them to confront their actions and evokes feelings of guilt.

Quote: "If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt."

The Inspector takes control of the situation, shutting down protests from Mr. Birling:

Quote: "Don't stammer and yammer at me again, man. I'm losing patience with you people."

Most importantly, Inspector Goole articulates the play's central message about social responsibility:

Quote: "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."

This quote encapsulates the Inspector goole collective responsibility theme, emphasizing how individual actions impact society as a whole.

The Inspector ends with an ominous warning about the consequences of failing to learn this lesson of social responsibility:

Quote: "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."

This final message reinforces the urgency of the play's social critique.

Arthur Birling

Arthur Birling represents capitalist values and shortsighted self-interest in An Inspector Calls.

As a businessman, Birling is primarily concerned with profits and social status. This is evident in his attitude towards his daughter's engagement:

Quote: "Your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me. She'll make you happy, and I'm sure you'll make her happy. You're just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted."

Birling's capitalist mindset is further revealed in his business philosophy:

Quote: "Working together - for lower costs and higher prices."

This Mr Birling capitalist quote succinctly captures his focus on maximizing profits at the expense of workers and consumers.

Birling's lack of social awareness is demonstrated through his foolish predictions about the future:

Quote: "You'll be living in a world that'll have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitations and all these silly little war scares."

This quote, made shortly before World War I and major labor movements, highlights Birling's ignorance of broader social issues.

Birling shows a lack of empathy for workers, stating:

Quote: "If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth."

Even after learning of his role in Eva Smith's death, Birling refuses to accept personal responsibility:

Quote: "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all."

This denial of responsibility contrasts sharply with the Inspector's message of collective social duty.