JB Priestly uses dramatic irony. For example, the audience knows that Mr Birling is mistaken when he makes sure prediction about there not being a war and is excited about The Titanic the titanic ship sank on its maiden voyage. There is a lot of worry as each member of the family is involved in the part of Eva’s death.Arthur Birling is presented as a selfish man this can bee seen in the lines “a man has to make his own way, has, to look after himself and his family too of course” priestly seems to be suggesting that Mr Birling seems to be very egotistic, because he doesn’t show social responsibility towards other people, and he only care about himself.
The reader becomes more aware of Arthur Birling’s detached attitude when he refuses to acknowledge his part in Eva Smiths death. We see this in the line” obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide”.
Initially Sheila emerges to be jealous and spiteful person. Her decision to get Eva smith fired from Milwards was her using her authority of an upper class girl to sack a working class girl. This can be shown is the lines “ I went to the manger at milwards and I told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl I d never go near that place again and I d persuade my mother to close the account’. We se that initially she is spiteful towards Eva smiths
Then again Sheila displays guilt towards her part to Eva smith’s death and she cannot stop, thinking about the girl’s death. The quote “don’t please I know, I know and I can’t think stop thinking about it”. This indicates that Sheila is introspective and she can not take Eva smiths death and as I said before she is full of guilt for her part in Eva smith’s death. She acknowledges the death of Eva smith as we see in the lines “if I could help her now I would”.
She is very curious about Gerald's part in the act. In fact It’s remarkable that she isn’t annoyed with him After she hears about the affair between Gerald and Eva smith. Since Gerald told the truth, Sheila respects his truthfulness. This is showing the audience that Sheila is becoming more mature. At the end of the play, Sheila is completely aware of her social responsibility by the end of the play.
Eric is presented as disconnected from the rest of the family. The audience be familiar with this in the lines “because your are not the type of father chap can turn to when he is in trouble- that’s why” this might make obvious that Eric as a father wouldn’t be able to take a fathers full responsibility. Also that his father isn’t a good father because he isn’t there for Eric when he needs him.
JB Priestly presents Mrs Birling as a cold hearted, uncaring character. She behaves in a resilient manner towards the inspector. The passage “if you think you can bring any pressure to bear on me, inspector, your are quite mistaken”. Exposes that Mrs Biriling has the least respect towards the inspector out of all the other current characters.
Mrs Birling sees this inspector as judgemental person and the threatens the Birling family’s reputation. She is unwilling to taker her responsibility towards her action in Eva smiths dreadful death, in deed the lines “I m sorry she should come to such horrible end. But I accept no blame for it all” this demonstrates that Mrs birling Cleary doesn’t want to accept her part of dependability in the direction of the young mothers death. However Mrs briling tires to deny things that she doesn’t want to accept as true, for example that Eric is a drinker, Gerald's had an affair with Eva, and the fact that a working class girl would reject money even if it was stolen. This can be shown in the lines "She was giving herself ridiculous airs.” Mrs birling always denies that the girls death has nothing to do with her.
In conclusion inspector Goole isn’t real but he is described in the plays as a man in his fifties, he is full of firmness and determination. . He deals with every member of the family very tightly and quite a lot of times. He has a way of making the suspect talk after saying them a piece of information.
I think that J B priestly is making a point that you should have social responsibility towards others and you’re self. The difference between younger and grown-up generation to Eva Smith’s death clearly underscore Edwardian society’s different attitude towards life. The younger generation were able to see the error of their ways and most importantly accept responsibility for their roles in Eva Smith’s death unlike the older generation who perhaps will never alter their ways.