After, Eva being sacked from Birling & Co. she went to Milards (she got a job there in the late December 1910). She was happy with her work and did not have any hesitation at all. Until, another Birling family got her sacked from Milards, just because she looked more pretty and beautiful in a hat than Sheila did. This shows Sheila was jealous of Eva; Priestley uses her to show the readers that jealousy can make other people suffer. She is the daughter of Mr Birling. J.B Priestley uses Sheila as a tool of changing from a horrible person to a nice person. What this means is, she got Eva sacked from Milards and never felt bad a the time that she has ruined a poor person’s life but when she hears about Eva’s death, she regrets what she had done and from then on she tries to learn from her experience and acts mature about the situation that is taking place. When the inspector questioned Sheila, she looked nervous and scared of what she had done. She is the type of daughter who is in the next generation, open-minded and suffers from jealousy (Sheila readiness to learn from her experience is in a great contrast to her parents).
Gerald Croft is used as a tool that is characterised as wealthy, womaniser, and emotionless. He was involved in a role of Eva committing suicide. Inspector Goole questions Gerald; Gerald is shocked to what the inspector knows. Gerald had an affair with Eva Smith in March 1911. During the time when he was having an affair with Eva, he told Sheila that he was busy with business. This shows that Gerald lies and manipulates Sheila in such a disgraceful way. Gerald having an affair with Eva is not right because it can hurt her feelings, as he has no real commitment towards her passion. Gerald is intelligent, I know this because he does not love Sheila but wants to marry her due to all the money her family has and furthermore, he has no love for Eva as she has no money to give him in future relations. J.B Priestly uses Gerald to show that in the 20th century men use to abuse women and were attract to women for one reason only. Furthermore, this shows that men were selfish and did not care about hurting anyone’s feelings in anyway. J.B Priestley wants the modern life to be the contrast in which the society was based in before.
The next to be questioned was Eric, the son of Mr and Mrs Birling. Eric is a character that can be described as silly, easy going and someone that does not care about anything that happens in life. He drinks so much that he can be known as an alcoholic person. When the inspector questioned Eric, he made silly, unnecessary jokes about the situation of Eva committing suicide. Eric met Eva at a place where she and he used to socialise at night. Eric got Eva pregnant and left her to sort the consequences. However, Eric did give her some money to sort herself out. Again, this shows men use to abuse women with power. In addition, J.B Priestley uses Eric to shows the reader of how careless men were in the 20th century and that modern men should always be there for both the mother and the expectant child and most of all men should not abuse their powers to women in any way.
Mrs Birling was the last to be questioned by inspector Goole. Mrs Birling is a person who likes to stick to rules made in the society and is concerned about manners (tells what the others shall do or not). She is partly involved in Eva’s death because when Eva wanted help from her she refused to help her. The reason why Eva wanted her by Mrs Birling was because she was pregnant with Eric’s baby. Mrs Birling thought Eva was lying about the situation she was in and that is why she refused to help her. J.B preistley uses Mrs Birling to show the audience that the society in which is was based in was careless and immature in treating other. In my opinion, I have realised women use to judge other people by their looks and did not have any evidence in order to help them or not. The writer wants the audience to be dissimilarity to the 20th century, so that life is fair and help will be provided by professional advisors when needed.
In conclusion, J.B Priestley is trying to say to the modern readers that treat the nature to the opposite of how life was in the 20th century. Mostly he is trying to express comfort everyone the same, whether they are a different racist, age or poor or rich. Furthermore, Priestley wants the audience to know how loved ones were treated in the society in which is was based in and that in life you should love one person and not cheat and lie to them in such a way that could hurt the feelings. Finally, J.B Priestley wants the world to full of people that do not abuse anyone else and has respect to the environment and people they see.