Firstly it must be remembered that the Birling family are guilty of no actual crime, although all have contributed to the downfall of Eva Smith due to their attitudes and beliefs.
I will start with Mr Birling, he plays in the chain of events leading to Eva Smith's death. Mr Birling was the first person we were led to believe started the chain of events. Any man in his position would have only done the same thing. She was making trouble as Mr. Birling said, "she had a lot to say - far too much, so she had to go". Although I don't think Mr. Birling was totally to blame regarding Eva smith, he does not come off well throughout the play as he shows himself up a number of times because of his personality. The major downfall in Mr Birling's personality is the way he seems to have no feelings, of guilt, or just simple emotion for Eva, who was a person after all. He seems to be a very hard man, and shows no regret for sacking Eva from his factory, despite knowing the facts that, if he didn't sack her, their may have been a chance, her still being alive. He stated, "If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they will soon on asking for the earth".
Mr Birling always seems to have his own way and when he does not get it, he turns to threatening behaviour. When Mr Birling feels like the Inspector is asking too many questions, he goes on to say about the chief constable "perhaps I ought to warn you that he is an old friend of mine". He does this in hope to try to scare the Inspector away from the questioning he is giving to Mr Birling.
In conclusion to Mr Birlings involvement with the death of Eva smith, It is true to say that he did play a large part in her downfall, although he should not be put to blame as he treated her like he would anyone else in his factory if they was to, act like she did.
Sheila Birling, Mr Birling's daughter was the second person the inspector questioned on Eva smith's death. She was jealous of Eva and turned on her. Sheila wrongfully used her position as an important customer to turn Eva out of a job. She even admits, "It was my own fault" and "I was in a furious temper". She was jealous of Eva describing her as a "very pretty girl too - with big dark eyes".
When Sheila saw the photograph of Eva smith she immediately runs out of the room, as if she already takes blame. This is the complete opposite to her fathers actions and the way he reacted. She later returns, guiltily and says, "you knew it was me all along didn't you?"
This shows her to be sympathetic. Sheila goes onto explain how she was entirely responsible for Eva Smith losing her job at Milwards. "I went to the manager at milwards and told him that if he did not get rid of that girl I'd never go near the place again, and I'd persuade mother to close our account with them’’. This shows that Sheila, like her father, abused her position as a middle class person of society.
Sheila shows a lot of guilt, which is more than her father, did. It is obvious that she does regret all that she did regarding Eva smiths death, Claiming that "if I could help her now, I would". Sheila comes a across in a very regretful manner and says "I felt rotten about it at the time and I feel a lot worse."
Sheila also is the first to notice the inspectors power over the family and says "you mustn't try to build up some kind of wall, the inspector will just break it down, and it will be all the worse when he does." Sheila's character accepts full responsibility and feels great guilt, over this whole situation, even though her actions may have been irrelevant to the leading up to Eva Smiths death.
Gerald was the third person that the Inspector Goole questioned. Gerald Croft is the only person who is not directly related to the Birling family, but is engaged to Sheila, and also plays a big part in the knowing of Eva Smith. He doesn't know her as Eva Smith but as Daisy Renton. Gerald recognises the name Daisy Renton as soon as the Inspector mentions it, and tried to make Sheila leave the room, for the simple reason he didn't want Sheila to find out about his affair, that way. He goes on to tell the story of how he new Eva. He comes across and also sees himself as being a saviour to Eva, and said that she "gave me a glance, that was nothing more than a cry for help", I do believe that he did care for Eva but not as much as she cared for him, and admits, "I didn't feel about her as she felt about me". He is clearly upset about what's happened to her, by saying "she new it could last, she didn't blame me at all, I wish to god she had now, perhaps id feel better about it’’. However, Gerald's character must be asked, "How genuine is he?" He makes out as he's simply been the Good Samaritan and tried to help Eva before a relationship started. Whether this is true is unknown, after his explanation he makes an excuse and leaves.
I don't believe that it is possible to know whether Eva meeting Gerald was a good thing as we will never know whether the happiness Gerald made Eva to feel was worth the pain and misery she must have felt when he left her, and whether this was the reason for pushing her to the edge. But its fair to say, he tried making her happy, but the outcome of this may have lead to a big part of her death.
Mrs Birling, the second from last to be questioned is very much similar to her husband, and denies responsibility, although Mrs Birling was the last to see Eva and was the final one to give Eva the shove, that might have been her last straw by refusing her any help from the charity she helped run. She refused her help as Eva used "Birling" the family name to claim charity from her organisation. This was done in sheer spite, as she wanted to keep her appearances up and didn't want people to think any less of her.
Mrs Birling treats the inspector in a patronising, threatening way "I realise you may have to conduct some kind of enquiry but I must say you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar and offensive manor, you know of course that my husband was lord mayor only two years ago" This shows how highly she thinks of herself and that she is ready to abuse her position like other members of her family. Until Mrs Birling finds out that Eric, her son, was the father of this baby, it is only then she starts to regret her actions. But she still does not seem to take any blame, and acts oblivious and obnoxious to what's happened. But in fact she should feel the most guilt and sorrow as she had helped kill her own grandchild.
Eric Birling returns to the play in Act three and after being questioned, confesses his drinking problem, his one night fling with Eva, stating, "I don't even remember the hellish thing" and the fact that he was taking money from his fathers business to support Eva with her pregnancy. Although Eric is rather young, immature at times, and quite naïve he still feels genuine remorse about what he has done. When he discovers his mother turned Eva away, his guilt then went on and turned to anger "Then you killed her, she came to you to protect me, my child, your grandchild, you killed them both. Damn you, damn you!"
It is also shown that Eric and his father have no relationship "your not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble"
It is true that Eric has played a big part in the death of Eva smith but it could be blamed on his immaturity and still only being a young boy, where as everyone else should have known better. Although Eric stole the money from his father, it was simply down to him trying to help Eva.
In conclusion to the death of Eva Smith, I don't believe you can blame any of the Birlings as such, as it was also related to social activities that took place in such a short time of Eva's life. If all the strife she went through didn't happen, then I don't believe that Eva smith would have killed herself. So in conclusion, Eva smith's death has to be blamed on a chain of events that unfortunately and unthinkingly happened at the wrong time of her life.