JB Priestley creates good effects with the lighting, it influences on the mood of the setting, for instance, at the beginning of the play when the family are seated around the table having a happy, relaxed celebration, the lights are warm and calm giving a soft effect. When the inspector enters and starts challenging the characters, the lights are bold and vivid; this gives the impression of insecurity and pressure.
Each member of the family was involved in killing Eva Smith; -
Just as the inspector thought he’d made an impact on the family, they found out that he wasn’t a real inspector, Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald went back to being okay about what they had done, believing that it didn’t matter now because the terrible things they had done were not going to be publicised. However, Sheila and Eric were devastated at what they had done and where very ashamed of themselves. Mr. Birling’s business was not going to get a bad reputation, and that was the most important thing for him.
Throughout the play, Mr Birling made it clear that he didn’t care about how badly he treated his employees. For example, he had sacked Eva Smith and a group of other women for asking for a small pay rise. They asked for this because their income was so low that they couldn’t afford to live to a basic, reasonable standard. He called them “trouble makers.” When Mr Birling realised that the inspector was likely to make this well known to people, he said, “look inspector-I’d give thousands-yes, thousands-.” He was trying to bribe the inspector into keeping this event quiet. This resulted in the inspector replying “you’re offering money at the wrong time.” He meant that the right time would have been to have given Eva the money in the form of a pay rise in the first place. After the inspector had gone and he found that he wasn’t a real inspector, he was extremely overwhelmed because this meant that the case was not going to be publicised so his business wasn’t going to get a bad reputation.
Shelia abused her power because she had wealthy parents and when she got angry with a shop assistant (which happened to be Eva Smith), in the shop- ‘Milwards’, she threatened to withdraw her account at the shop if the manager did not sack this shop assistant. Because the family were such good customers to the shop, Eva Smith was sacked. Shelia ruined Eva Smith’s last form of decent income. Now Eva had nothing-she was stuck. Shelia recognised she had done something very wrong, evidenced by her feelings of shame. She had learnt from the experience, which was demonstrated by her ownership of her part in the death of Eva and her challenge to the Birling’s when she said “I behaved badly too….I’m ashamed of it. But now you’re beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much has happened-”
Gerald was the one that figured out that the man wasn’t a real inspector. Although he was a clever man, he did not seem to think that there was anything wrong with betraying and lying to Shelia. His assumption was that his and Sheila’s relationship would be unaffected now that they would not be involved with the police, failing to realise the impact his actions towards Eva had on his relationship with Sheila.
Eric was angry with his mother accusing her of being the cause of Eva’s death. His anger was fuelled by the realisation that because she was pregnant, his own child had also been killed. He was also angry with himself and, therefore, sorry for what he had done and consequently agreed to work for his father until all the money he had stolen was paid off. The money he stole was to help Eva, so at least he put it to good use and demonstrates some good will and he recognised how his drink problem made him “turn nasty” and that it contributed to her becoming pregnant.
It is possible that Mrs Birling would have come to reject Eric because of the shame he placed upon the family in getting Eva Smith pregnant. Had Eva not needed to go to Mrs Birling for help, the inspector would not be involving Mrs Birling. She doesn’t
see that she has done wrong and, therefore, failed to acknowledge her part in the death of Eva Smith. As soon as she found out that the man wasn’t a real inspector, she said, “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him.” It’s as if she is proud to be ignorant and it clearly shows that she doesn’t really care about others in the lower class, which demonstrates that her attitude is not appropriate to her job as a charity worker.
Shelia and her brother Eric were thoroughly ashamed and upset about what had happened and realised the importance of being aware of others. When they found out that the man wasn’t an inspector and that no girl had died, they still knew that they had been wrong and knew they had to change, where as the others seemed to think that it was all right now because they weren’t going to get into trouble with the police.
Mrs Birling found it hard to understand why Shelia and Gerald were ashamed for what they had done. Ironically, Shelia said to everyone, “so nothing really happened. So there’s nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn. We can all go on behaving just as we did.” Her mother replied, “well, why shouldn’t we?” she then went on to say that Shelia and Eric were tired and they would see the funny side of it in the morning. Mrs Birling obviously missed his point the inspector was trying to make. Mr Birling and Gerald didn’t seem to acknowledge any social responsibility or see any need to change how they act to others.
The meaning of the play today is to remind people that if you do not take responsibility for your actions you could make a big mistake and cause others or yourself to suffer. You should think twice about what you do and be careful to watch out for others. It’s about being responsible for oneself and responding to the needs of others.
Near the beginning of the play Mr Birling gives a speech saying how we should all just look after ourselves and our family and not be “all mixed up together like bees in a hive-community and all that nonsense” In other words, look after yourself and mind your own business. At this point the inspector arrives at the door to begin the questioning. Through J.B Priestley’s story, the inspector is trying to say that Mr Birling is completely wrong and that everyone should live in a community. Taking responsibility for your actions and looking out for others too. Eva Smith became a symbol of people needing help. He goes on to say, “ We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. 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.” He is referring to wars, saying that you should care for others and be empathic, otherwise people get violent when they are not heard. The inspector is teaching us that if we do not remember this in our day to day live that this will keep happening again and again. The play is cleverly planned so that immediately after Mr. Birling gives his speech, the inspector arrives, this is to make it very clear that Mr. Birling is wrong. The inspector contradicts him in the speech he gives just before he leaves the Birling household.
When the inspector leaves, a huge argument begins. All but Sheila and Eric start to blame each other. Eric and Shelia accept and admit that they did have their part in ruining a perfectly innocent young girl’s life and feel very ashamed. Mr and Mrs Birling are unsympathetic characters and are in denial. They won’t accept that they have done wrong and feel no guilt. They say they were not to know that she was in such a bad position and that she was not their responsibility.
Gerald didn’t really argue with the inspector or deny anything. He had hurt Eva emotionally but this was not seen as wrong in those days, after all she was only a ‘lower class woman.’ His actions were, therefore, not thought to be very serious. However, he should have considered his feelings about Shelia before starting a relationship with Eva, particularly as he was engaged to Sheila. His complacent attitude to these relationships showed his lack of respect for women and the importance of commitment in relationships.
The inspector came across quite harsh and direct at times when said things like “you have caused this young girls death.” Presumably this was because he knew that they were not getting the message that they were all in some way responsible for the outcome. He was really trying to help them see this in order that they learn love and respect all people no matter what their background. You could say that he was demonstrating that if they were loving and respectful towards others, they would feel better within themselves, gain respect from others and they would benefit society as a whole. It was a very bold and courageous thing to do and it showed how much he respected and loved mankind.
J.B. Priestley used the character of Inspector Goole, as a kind of inner conscience, to express his views on the responsibility we have to ourselves, our relationships within our family, community and the wider world.
Just after Mr. Birling made his speech about caring for yourself, the inspector came round and ended up telling them exactly the opposite of what Mr. Birling said.
