Mr. Birling thinks that there are not any problems as there is not any proof.
“No enquiry. No one girl that all this has happened to. No scandal-” After Mr. Birling finds out that Eva’s death had no proof behind it and that the inspector is not real he thinks that he has lost the responsibility to learn from this experience. Due to this Mr. Birling does not have the ability to learn from this experience.
The next person to be interrogated by Inspector Goole is Sheila; Mr and Mrs Birling’s daughter. Sheila is not as responsible as the others, but is none the less still responsible. Sheila gets Eva fired, this is her last job before she died. She is not as responsible as some of the other characters as she accepts what she has done.
In the clothes shop, Sheila tries on a dress; Eva Smith starts talking to another girl and giggles. Sheila thinks that they are laughing at her, she uses her status to get Eva fired. Sheila is vain and self-conscious. This is proved when she gets Eva fired and shows her disgust to her just because she thinks that Eva is inferior to her. Sheila also feels threatened by her; she would think how could someone so inferior and less wealthy than her, is prettier than her. Sheila’s jealousy leads to anger, her anger then leads to Eva getting fired.
Sheila does not think of the consequences when Eva gets fired; she is impulsive.
“You turned her out of a job, and I had her turned out of another.” Sheila took her out of a job because she did not see any of the consequences; all actions have consequences. Sheila did not know that her actions helped kill Eva Smith. This proves that Eva is impulsive.
She was shocked that her tantrum had a played a part in ending the life of Eva Smith.
“(Staring at him agitated)…” Sheila was shocked; the stage direction written show that she was shocked when she realised what was happening when the she had put all the pieces together herself with the help of the Inspector; she knew then at once that she had helped play a part in the suicide of Eva Smith.
However, Sheila accepts her contribution in helping Eva commit suicide.
“…I know I am to blame – and I’m desperately sorry-” She shows empathy. Sheila accepts that she is in the wrong as she accepts that she feels guilty; guilt leads to remorse, making Sheila feel empathy for Eva. Sheila also feels sorry for Eva after she finds out what her father and herself have done to Eva she is even more sorry when she finds out that her actions consequences led up to – Eva Smith’s death. She regrets doings what she has done. She learns to accept others are important too.
Sheila has the understanding and ability to learn from this experience.
“I have behaved badly too. I know I have.” She has learnt it is not right to punish others by inflicting pain on them. She has done this to such an extent that she has an effect on the audience; she makes them realise that the younger generation are the people who have learnt the most about this experience.
“The point is that you don’t seem to have learnt anything.” Sheila is talking here to her parents. The parents did not teach Sheila good manners and decent courtesy; this is shown by what her parents have done to Eva. This is bad parenting. Sheila unlike her parents had not made the same mistake by not learning from this event. When she has children she will teach them about these things and not make the same mistake that she did. She is now able to criticise her parents with a justified reason in the respect she is wiser than her parents.
The next person the Inspector enquires about is Gerald. Gerald is Sheila fiancé; and in Mr and Mrs. Birling’s, he is the ideal son-in-law, as he too comes from a rich family, who has a similar status to them in the social hierarchy. Gerald is not a responsible for making Eva commit suicide as the others this because he actually cared for he; gave her a place to stay and so0me money. He did like her, but tried not to let anything happen between him and Eva Smith, but eventually they sleep together. By letting this he does not fulfil his role as a fiancé and betrays Sheila by lying and having an affair. Gerald is not as responsible as the others, but none the less he still played a part in helping Eva commit suicide. He gave Eva Smith a lot of heartache and pain that she did not need.
Gerald acts like a younger version of Mr. Birling, though he is more caring and less selfish, but still he is like Mr. Birling. He thinks everything is about status. Another characteristic borrowed from Mr. Birling is his need to control. He like Mr. Birling is trying to also keep the wealth at the top of the social hierarchy, he agrees on most of his attitudes on society.
“Why should you? It’s bound to be unpleasant and disturbing.” Gerald is controlling and is trying to hide the fact that he betrayed his fiancé. Gerald maybe controlling, but he is using it to make sure that his reputation and his relationship with his fiancé is not ruined. He did not think about the consequences of his action. He admits that has done wrong by saying it is bound to be unpleasant and disturbing. Gerald like Mr. Birling represents the wealthy businessmen in a wealthy society. At that time in the 1900’s it was the time where ‘women were kept in the kitchen’, Gerald tries to protect Sheila from unpleasant and disturbing things. He tries to hide the truth from Sheila about his affair, this shows that he is controlling over Sheila. He cares for Sheila this is shown when he is trying to hide the truth from her, as he does not want her to get hurt.
Gerald reacts with an outbreak to control Sheila. He does not want his relationship and future marriage to fall apart. All actions have consequence he has to realise this. Once inspector Goole makes Gerald face the truth he admits that is what actually happened.
However once the truth is out that Inspector Goole is not real he thinks that all that has been brought out that night is fictitious and there is no sufficient truth to back up what has really happened.
Gerald is also concerned that the truth of his affair will affect his future life with Sheila.
“Where do you get the idea that I know her?” Gerald is yet again showing that he loves Sheila. He is concerned at the fact the Inspector is squeezing out the truth. Gerald reacts by throwing a negative comment at the Inspector, but it does not work. He is doing this so that he does not lose Sheila; if the truth is revealed he believes that he will.
By this time in the play Eva Smith is clearly trying to move on. She has changed her name to Daisy Renton. He reacts immediately when the Inspector says this name, which the Inspector notices. Gerald is shocked at the fact that Eva Smith is dead.
“Sorry – I – well, I’ve just suddenly realised – taken it in properly – that she’s dead–” Gerald is distressed at this pointed. He has just realised that she is dead and also that he has helped to lead Eva to commit suicide.
Gerald has learnt from his experience, but not to the extent that Sheila and Eric have. Once everyone finds out that Inspector Goole is not real, he helps Mr. Birling and Mrs. Birling realise that their reputation can be salvaged.
“But how do you know it’s the same girl?” Gerald is not moving on from what has happened: he does not accept what has happened; therefore he does not learn fully from this experience. He convinces Mr. and Mrs. Birling to question the stability of what had happened that night. Gerald, unlike Sheila and Eric, does not move on, accept the truth and learn from it. Gerald is still going to be part of the wealthy capitalist society and going to carry on and think that he is not part of the one community.
However, when the Inspector asks him about what happened with Eva Smith he admits straight away what the Inspector thought. Gerald did not have to learn as much; he unlike Mr. Birling, Mrs Birling, Sheila and Eric actually cared for Eva. Gerald knows what has happened and in the back of his mind always will do, he will never fully admit responsibility, but has learnt slightly from this experience. The more truthful Gerald is this will help with his and Sheila’s relationship.
Gerald may not be as responsible, but Eric his brother-in-law is very responsible. Eric has not matures yet the audience can see this through his actions and all actions lead to consequences. Eric is immature and is very responsible for Eva’s death. Eric slept with her due to lust, got her pregnant, and offered her money that was stolen from his fathers company. His immaturity is shown.
Eric had slept with Eva out of lust and also because he was drunk.
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was a pretty good sport.” Eric does not care about Eva; he jus likes her, as she is a pretty face. He sleeps with her more than once. Eric does as he pleases and this shows that he is impulsive. Eric does as he pleases yet again he steal fifty pounds from his father’s company and does not tell anyone, however it is not for him, he tries to give it to Eva, but she refuses it. Yet again Eric does not think about the consequences. All this shows Eric’s impulsiveness, this is due to how he was brought up, Mr. Birling is selfish and impulsive and so is Eric. Neither of them thinks about the consequences.
Eric can be unselfish at times, when he tries to give money to her is one example:
“She didn’t want me to marry her. Said I didn’t love her – and all that. In a way she treated me like a kid.” Even though Eric does not love her, he offered to get married and look after her and the baby. Although Eric is trying to be kind he is acting on his impulsiveness he does not think of what will happen if Eva says yes.
Eric is healthier than Mr. Birling or Mrs. Birling, he admits to the truth straight away. He also accepts the truth straight away and does not keep anything from the Inspector.
“Doesn’t alter the fact that we all tried to kill her.” Here Eric stands up to his parents and shows that he has moved on and accepted what had happened.
Eric also reacts by being unhappy. He and Sheila are the only ones who accept what has happened. No one supports him or is helping him through this ordeal, Eric is blamed by some of the other members of the family, Mr. Birling is an example he is too proud to comfort his own son.
Eric learns from this experience well. Even though Inspector Goole was not real he still accepts what he has done.
“Whoever that chap was, the fact remains that I did what I did.” Eric has accepted what he has done acceptance leads to learning from the experience, Eric will learn. It does not matter whether Eva is dead or not, what he did still happened. Eric accepts the guilt and is sorry, meaning that he will learn from this experience. Eric has had a role change he has changed into a member of society and will look after himself as well as others; he has morally grown.
The Inspector interrogates the woman who gave Eva Smith her one final push to committing suicide – Mr. Birling. She did not choose to support Eva on behalf of charity. She could have saved Eva and her grandchild, but chose not to, that was two lives that she ended. Mrs. Birling is very responsible for Eva’s death, she was Eva’s last hope and could have helped, but instead refused to help. She is not a good role model for her children either, she lacks empathy. This is shown by how the children react and how she reacts to Eva asking for help. As well as her role of being a parent she has a role of being a charity worker and does not achieve this either. She is very responsible for Eva’s death.
Mrs. Birling’s actions lead to consequences, the consequences are that Eva will kill herself and her baby. Mrs. Birling refuses to believe and help Eva, she lacks understanding towards Eva.
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.” Mr. Birling acts snobbish, in a typical way suited to the era the play was set in. She thinks Eva has no feelings and is not allowed to have any. Mrs. Birling thinks Eva has not right to principles. Eva has more principals than Mrs. Birling. Mrs. Birling thinks that she is superior to Eva.
“There couldn’t be any question of marrying him – it would be wrong for them both.” Just because Mrs. Birling has a good life she thinks her opinion is the only thing that counts. She does not know any of the circumstances that Eva was faced with. This is the only way she gives help! If Eva did marry Eric she might still be alive, but die to Mrs. Birling’s selfishness and pride she is dead.
Initially Mrs. Birling denies her involvement and fails to see the truth. Mrs. Birling yet again is too proud she takes a stand by being difficult with the Inspector by not answering all of his questions. Her proud attitude is due to her status, because of her status she feels more powerful than ‘normal people’.
As Mrs. Birling does not acknowledge her involvement, she does not feel guilt, as she does not feel guilt she cannot learn from this experience. The inspector is not real so Mrs. Birling dismisses what has happened. She mocks her children, as they are the one who are feeling guilty.
“In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.” Yet again she shows that she has not morally matured. She does not think of what she has done to Eva as any real importance and does not take any experience from it to learn from. She also thanks Gerald who made them think they were out of public humiliation.
“And I must say Gerald you have argued this very cleverly and I’m most grateful.” She has not learned at all. She denies everything like Mr. Birling. She has no conscience.
Eric and Sheila seem o have learnt the most from this experience. This would suggest that Priestly believes that the younger generation were the people that would lead the community and act as ‘one body’. Priestly is sending that message throughout the play. He is also trying to say that people like the Inspector, people who bring out what morally has been done will make an impression. He is also saying that the younger generation are more impressionable.
Priestley is saying that the younger generation are the future that they need to be moulded in decent caring people and taught basic principles so that they so not make mistakes that have been produced by the older generation. He is saying that socially the younger generation learn a lot more though their experiences, and by doing this will pave the way for a better society.