How are different attitudes and perceptions shown between generations in the play 'An Inspector Calls'

 Mrs Birling is described as ‘…about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior. She has the coldness and arrogance typical of women of her status and attitudes to match. Sybil believed that a woman’s role was based around the home and that women shouldn’t question their husband’s authority. She says to Sheila ‘When you are married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and effort on their business.’ (p.3). Her attitude towards the younger generation is somewhat dismissive as typified by the way she treats her daughter Sheila. ‘I think you ought to go to bed and forget about this absurd business.’ (p.30). In many ways she is shown to be naïve and ignorant about the ways of the world. She is shocked to find out about her son Eric’s drinking problem and the activities of the ‘notorious womaniser’ Alderman Meggarty. Mrs Birling was a firm believer in the class system and her attitude is summed up when she says of Eva Smith’s death ‘…I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-’ (p.30). It is also evident when the inspector interrogates her regarding her role in Eva Smith’s meeting with Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation. Mrs Birling admits that she used her influence as the most prominent member of the society to refuse Eva’s case because she ‘…didn’t like her manner.’ (p.44), and objected to her ‘impertinent’ use of the Birling family name.

 Sheila Birling starts the play as a happy, bubbly and rather spoilt individual, treated by her mother as if she was still a young girl. However she does appear to be quite rebellious, teasing her fiancé Gerald about his whereabouts the previous summer, and answering back to both of her parents. Her attitude begins to change as the play develops and she learns about the roles that the other characters have played in the story of Eva Smith. She becomes upset when the Inspector explained the circumstances of Eva’s death. When she learns that her father sacked the dead girl Sheila says ‘I think it was a mean thing to do.’ and ‘it’s a rotten shame.’ (p.19). When the Inspector talks about the cheap labour that Mr Birling uses in his factory she says ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.’ (p.19). She is also upset when she realises the role she has played in Eva Smith’s sacking from Milwards department store.

 Eric Birling is ‘…in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive.’ (p.2). In some ways he seems to be heavily influenced by his father. ‘And as you were saying Dad a man has to look after himself.’ (p.14). He later contradicts his father when he says ‘It isn’t (a free country) if you can’t go and work somewhere else.’ and ‘He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out.’ (p.15). When talking about Eva Smith’s sacking he says ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.’ (p.16). He also criticises his mother’s lack of understanding of his problems ‘You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried.’ (p.55). He is deeply affected both by the news of Eva’s death and by the inspector’s interrogation.

 Gerald Croft, from an aristocratic family ‘…is an attractive chap about thirty, rather to manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well bred man about town.’ (p.2). Although he is from the same generation as Eric and Sheila in many ways his attitudes mirror those of their parents. When Mr Birling makes his speech about his delight at the impending marriage of Sheila and Gerald and the ending of the Business rivalry between the Crofts and the Birlings, Gerald says ‘Hear, hear! And I think my father would agree to that.’ (p.4). When Mr Birling explains the circumstances of him sacking Eva Smith, Gerald sympathises, saying that ‘You couldn’t have done anything else.’ (p.15). When Gerald is interrogated about the death of Eva Smith (Daisy Renton), at first he pretends not to have ever known her but after further questioning admits to have been involved with her. He becomes very upset and asks to be excused for a while after the interrogation is finished.

 When the characters discover the inspector was a hoax, only Eric and Sheila remain remorseful. Mr and Mrs Birling are glad to be let off the hook, Sybil even being amused by the fraud. Gerald assumes everything is all right and that his engagement to Sheila is back on. These perspectives neatly sum up the different attitudes shown between the generations in the play. On the one hand Sybil, Arthur and Gerald representing lack of feeling for the working class and on the other Eric and Sheila showing much more sympathy for those left fortunate than themselves.

Angus Lowe, 10X1