Socialist wanted a welfare state (NHS) in 1946, if people wanted help they had to go to charities like Mrs Birling's. The rich people like Mrs Birling had all the power and they were not interested in society. Priestly was a socialist and wanted a welfare state and shows in the play the problem of charities.
Mr Birling thinks that he is not responsible for Eva Smith's death.
"I can't accept responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everyone we had something to do with, it would be very awkward wouldn't it."P14
He refuses to accept responsibility for Eva's death. He has a moral responsibility as he sacked her for wanting a pay rise and started the chain of events to her death. He tries to keep the death quiet to his son. "Just keep quiet Eric, this girl left us nearly two yearsago."P13 He sees the death as a nuisance.
"Has to look after himself and his family too."P9
He thinks his family should be protected against others and he has got to protect them. Although he blames Eric later and contradicts himself to get his wife and himself out of trouble this shows that he is selfish.
"There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that’s all-"P57
Birling is rude to Eric and dislikes him.
"Eric… Could I have a drink first?
Birling… (Explosively) No.
Inspector… (Firmly) Yes."P51
Birling tries to control Eric but the Inspector undermines Birling. He is used to bossing his family and friends about as he has lots of social status but the inspector doesn't care about his social status. He is shocked at first when the inspector undermines his authority but later on he gets angry but he is not affected by being confronted by the inspector. He blames Eric, as he is young and irresponsible. He loves his wife and he thinks that women should be protected, he also likes Gerald, as he is a younger version of himself.
Gerald sucks up to Mr Birling as Mr Birling wants to join businesses with Gerald and he wants to marry his daughter. Gerald wants to be like Mr Birling and be a "hard-headed business man." Gerald treats women slyly as he kicked Eva out of his friend's flat. Gerald is very suspicious and has strange behaviour. He lied to Sheila about being busy at work, he is like Birling and thinks women should be protected he also has a high opinion of himself. He gets irritated when he doesn't know what is going on he likes to know other people views and tell them his. "Now listen darling." He thinks he can control Sheila. Gerald follows Mr Birling like a younger version of him as he feels he is not responsible for Eva's death.
Sheila has a modern personality; "You're squiffy." Sheila is a mummy girl "Yes go on mummy." She is also very naïve and emotional she has a caring, sensitive personality unlike her family.
"Oh-how horrible! Was it an accident?" P17
Sheila is not very clever as she asks stupid questions.
"Inspector: …You used the power you had as the daughter of a good customer."
She uses her social status to get what she wants. She feels guilty and responsible for Eva's death. "I turned her out of a job I started it." The inspector knows that she is only partially responsible. As the story progress she feels less guilty. Sheila will probably change as she is less headstrong and not very reckless "I'll never do it again." Sheila is unlike her parents who are headstrong and who are business people. Her dad, who likes to look after her, bosses Sheila about.
"Birling…That's enough Sheila." P50
Sheila later on in the story is angry that her parents don't accept responsibility.
"Birling… There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that’s all-
Sheila… That's all."P57
Sheila is ashamed of her parents and how they accept no responsibility and blame it all on Eric. She wants her parents to change like she will and be responsible and think of the consequences before you do something. As the play progresses Sheila is moved to tears of shock and guilt. The Inspector is successful at making her see the consequences of her actions, as this transformation progresses from naïve innocent to more mature understanding, Sheila is cleverly conveyed as a contrast to her parents.
Eric does not like his parents.
"Because you're not the kind of Father a chap could go to when he's in trouble-that's why."P54
"(Bitterly) You haven't made it any easier for me, have you, Mother?"P50
His parents try to control him and run his life, which is partly why he dislikes his parents.
Eric blames his parents for his mistakes; he is irresponsible and a bit immature. His parents think he is a fool.
"Birling…Why you hysterical young fool."P55
This also shows that Birling thinks of himself as in control of the family and that he should get respect from his children.
"That was the worst of all. She wouldn't take any more."P54
He tried to help her and feels a guilty and responsible as he couldn't solve the problem with money he didn't know what to do. Eric blames his parents for Eva's death and feels responsible. He will change, he will think a bit more before he does something.
Mrs Birling is headstrong and stubborn but less than Mr Birling is. She is also emotional.
"(With a cry) Oh - Eric - how could you?"P52
She passes on responsibility to Eric, as he is immature and irresponsible and she doesn't like his childish ways. Her husband bosses her about.
"Birling… (Very sharply) You heard what I said. (Gentler.) Go on, Sybil."P52
She respects her husband and lets him boss her about. She is judgmental and prejudice towards people.
"This was one of the things that prejudice me against her case.
Birling… And I should think so!"P43
Her husband backs he up and makes her feel not responsible. In her mind she feels that she is completely innocent. We can also see that she has a big Ego. She blames Eric and sticks with her husband and follows him like a sheep with his decisions. She is not going to change as she feels that it is not her fault so she doesn't need to change. Mrs Birling is cold and shows no realisation to what her actions have done. Only when she realises that her actions have led to the death of her grandchild does she breakdown and eventually shows signs of change.
Priestly is trying to say in Inspector Calls that we need to accept responsibility for our actions and consequences.
"You see, we have to share something. If there's nothing else we'll have to share our guilt."
The character of Inspector Goole is the catalyst for the evening's events. The Inspector went to the Birling household to change their views on life and to get them to think of their actions and take responsibility. The Inspector wanted the family to share responsibility. Sheila and Eric are the only ones the Inspector brings to a realisation of their guilt and responsibility. The Birlings would not accept responsibility and just passed the blame. The Inspector did not achieve his targets completely but helped to change the family.
"We don't live alone. We are members of one body - We are responsible for each other." P56
The Inspector in the play brings the family together to discuss the death. He is in the story to show the family the consequences of their actions and to make the family think back to why they made the decisions they did. He tells the family that there are millions of others like Eva Smith who are intertwined in their lives, and they need to stop being selfish and think of others. In the film the Inspector is called Poole and he disappears at the end from a locked room. This gives him a more ghostly image of some supernatural creature and makes the film more mysterious and interesting. In the play at the beginning the Inspector is more realistic and lifelike to make the story more normal and realistic.
Priestly uses the Inspector to put pressure on the family and interrogate them to find out their shameful secrets. Priestly cleverly gives the Inspector an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. The Inspector always speaks precise, carefully and demanding as he interrogates the family and is always in control. He always seemed to know everything and this increases his supernatural quality. After the Inspector left Gerald phones the Infirmary and discovered that no suicide has taken place, this further serves to heighten the mystery surrounding the Inspector.
At the last moment Priestly adds a twist to the story, a police Inspector is about to arrive to investigate a girl's suicide. This leaves the audience to predict what will happen.
