An Inspector calls - Sheila and Mr. Birling.
An Inspector calls Sheila and Mr. Birling have very different characteristics. Sheila, being a much younger person is quite impressionable, whereas Mr. Birling is not he believes in the solid way of what he thinks is right must go ideas. Sheila attitude and views change as the as the inspector goes on, while Mr Birling refuses to change what he thinks altogether. Their differences in characteristics are shown in their reactions to Eva death, told by the inspector as he goes through all the suspects the Birling family and the Gerald and to each other.Mr. Birling is the father of Sheila Birling and considers himself of having a very high status in society. He is a self made man, being prosperous factory owner, a local magistrate and ex-Lord Mayor of Brumley. He regards himself as being reasonable and what he sees fit as being fair. His first priority is to make money it my duty to keep labour costs down and he pays his employees no more than the going rate. However, as the story continues, we are shown how Sheila sees her father being a stubborn businessman and thoughtless. Sheila on the other hand is shown as being young, attractive, sensitive and straightforward character. She is one of the very few characters in the play that is impressionable, and acutely affected by what the Inspector reveals about her family through the story.Mr Birling and Sheila’s characters are hardly the same. This is shown by the language both father and daughter use. Sheila uses slang, whereas Mr Birling being a very important and respectable character doesn’t use slang, binging from different generations. Sheila uses phrase like your squiffy to tell her brother, Eric that he is drunk. Her use of slang shows her youth whereas Mr Birling words and language show his self-important. When he interrupted by Eric he says things like just let me finish Eric, with out considering that Eric may have something important to say. This shows that he doesn’t really care for what other people have to say and what he says must go. At the beginning of the story, Sheila shows similar characteristics of her
father own. She seems very selfish and full of self-importance. An example of this behaviour, is shown when she gets Eva fired from her job, which was because she had laughed at her. She felt that she had felt a very high status in society, which gave her the power to be able to do this. This is where she shows the same attitude as her father, which changes later I the play.Mr Birling shown that he is a heartless business man, which again introduces the ideas of Mr Birlings first priority which is to make money shown by this ...
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father own. She seems very selfish and full of self-importance. An example of this behaviour, is shown when she gets Eva fired from her job, which was because she had laughed at her. She felt that she had felt a very high status in society, which gave her the power to be able to do this. This is where she shows the same attitude as her father, which changes later I the play.Mr Birling shown that he is a heartless business man, which again introduces the ideas of Mr Birlings first priority which is to make money shown by this quote If you don’t come down sharp on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth. He feels his business is so much more important than even just the opinions of his employees, who he clearly feels, do not have his knowledge of the business world.Mr Birling feels that he always knows what is best and the whole world must be stopped just for him when he has his opinion for example when Sheila receives her engagement ring from Gerald, she is very excited and all the attention goes to her, but he soon starts to draw attention to himself, by telling everyone about the Titanic, and how technology has advanced that he can be so sure to dismiss the possibility of it sinking. His interruptions oppose the care and responsibility he has for his family. A man has to look after himself and his own he also likes to boast very much about himself, and how important he is. Mr Birling just wants his family to be respected in society and so tries to encourage them to do things that will help them to achieve an even higher status. For example, he doesn’t really consider his daughters feelings towards her marriage to Gerald, he just encourages it as he hopes that it will unite his company with Crofts Ltd, so that they can work together for lower costs and higher prices. This is why it appears that he regards his daughter’s marriage as an advantage to his company, almost like a business arrangement.He also tries to hint that he is expecting to receive a knighthood in the next honours list, in the hope that this may make of an even higher stature in society. Sheila, on the other hand wants to wants to marry Gerald because she loves and trusts him not just so it will be a business asset to her fathers company. This is why she is doest much care about the break-up in the engagement. Whereas her father tries to put off the break up for obvious reasons. The questions that show there their involvement in the death of Eva shows a great distinction between their attitude to life and others not so high in society. The reaction Mr Birling displays changes within a few moments. At first he and Gerald joke about the reasons for the Inspectors visit, as Mr Birling probably feels that he has nothing to fear because of his high status and contacts. However, after the Inspector reveals how Eva Smith died, and how this was in some way related to Mr Birling, he refuses to accept his responsibility and thinks that he has an honest approach to life. He tries to justify his actions by telling the Inspector about his refusal to listen to Eva’s request for a wage rise. And his refusal and her dismissal course and seems genuinely surprised when the Inspector questions his actions, did you say why? Mr Birling seems offended by the Inspectors questioning, and also a little bemused at the Inspectors tone of voice. Here he shows how he thinks very few people are at his business level and so very few can understand his actions. He points out yet again, that he knows the Chief Constable. Mr Birling mentions that he is a friend with the Inspectors Chief Constable, to almost threaten the Inspector, although the Inspector seems to ignore this fact.When the Inspector begins to question Mr Birling, his attitude quickly changes. He becomes impatient with the Inspectors subsequent questioning and so again he reminds the Inspector of his position in society.Sheila’s reaction however, is quite different to the one her father displays, as when Sheila enters the room to find out about the death of Eva, Mr Birling is annoyed with the Inspector for telling Sheila such a story. Sheila finds out about the death and shows a lot more sympathy than her father had displayed. When she finds out about the involvement of her father, she is quick to be critical of him, and not to protect him. This shows that although Mr Birling may think that they are a close family and protect each other’s interests, Sheila’s words contradict this, but these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people she is very quick to defend the girls rather than defend her own family. She does not try and protect her father, who said this comment instead she argues against it. She maintains this attitude throughout the play; she is very quick to protect Eva Smith and not any of the other members of her family. She is the only character who shows any genuine sympathy for Eva, I can’t help thinking about this girl _ destroying herself so horribly _ and I’ve been so happy tonight. She actually says this even before she learns of her involvement in her death, which basically summarises how sympathetic she is in contrast to her unsympathetic father.I think Priestly uses Sheila to keep reminding the reader of Eva’s horrible death; also as she is one of the very few open characters, she is able to do this well as she expresses her feelings. Like when she says I felt rotten at the time but now I feel even worse.Unlike her father, when Sheila hears of her involvement in Eva’s death she is ready to admit to her wrong doings and express her guilt freely. She actually says so I’m really responsible? And doesn’t try and excuse her actions to get herself out of trouble. This shows that her character is extremely sorry, unlike her father’s character that is very unrepentant, is not ready for one moment to admit even part blame, whereas on the other hand Sheila accepts full responsibility.I think, as the Inspector knew that Sheila, being a younger character, was most likely to admit her blame and accept the consequences of her actions. It was only right for her to know that she was only partly to blame, which is why he encourages her to stay and listen to what he has to say so that she doesn’t feel entirely responsible. Mr Birling is not encouraged to stay, since he is simply annoyed by the subsequent questioning put across to him and his family.Sheila, is very quick to realise the Inspectors motives, and tries to warn the other members of her family not to lie about their previous actions, as she knows that the Inspector is going to get to the bottom of the situation and make them all realise their involvement in Eva’s death. She knows that he is going to expose everything and even tries to make the situation better by attempting to hurry up the questioning - You see I feel you’re. She even tries to warn her mother about not immediately admitting her responsibilities.When Mrs Birling’s story is revealed, both Mr Birling and Sheila continue to display different reactions. Sheila continues to show her sympathy for Eva, whilst her father continues to defend him and his family’s position. This is shown when all he is worried about, is the possible scandal if the press take this up. Whereas Sheila says she thinks it was cruel and vile. This again emphasises how unrepentant Mr Birling is and how remorseful and sympathetic Sheila is. Mr Birling also says is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector? Trying to bring his high social classification, into the matter to threaten the Inspector. Sheila, on the other hand has dismissed her social class, as soon as she hears of how her pride got in the way of a woman’s job.Even after the leaves the Inspector, and when they all find out that the Inspector was a hoax, she is unable to accept her parent’s attitude and is both amazed and concerned that they haven’t learned anything from the whole incident. She is one of the few to realise that even though the Inspector is a hoax, the family have still behaved in an entirely unsuitable manner. All Mr Birling can say to the attitude of his daughter when he finds out that the Inspector is a hoax, is that the famous younger generation who know it all. He amuses himself by thinking back to the faces of his children when they were exposed to the causes Eva’s death, adding they can’t even take a joke. This shows how he continues to ignore the shameful things his family has done. He refuses to learn of his responsibilities to others less fortunate than himself and is still insensitive, unlike Sheila, who displays exactly the opposite attitude to her father. Her readiness to learn from the experience proves to be a great contrast to that of her father.
