“The Germans don’t want war¨ and “The Titanic is absolutely unsinkable¨ are such examples.
When the inspector begins to question him, Birling denies any knowledge of the girl, although when presented with a photograph, remembers,
“She was one of my employees and then I discharged her”.
Reasons for which later become apparent,
“She had a lot to say, too much, she had to go¨
Apparently Eva Smith had particular involvement in a strike at his factory. The strike was caused due to poor pay and long hours, although he refuses to accept any responsibility for her death,
”If we were all responsible for everything that had happened to everybody it would be very awkward”.
Arthur Birling actually has a fair point here and it could be argued that he was just acting as a businessman, as many others would do. However, it is true to say that he was acting only in his own interests and was not particularly keen on aiding others.
After accusations from the inspector, Birling attempts to intimidate the inspector, although his threats prove weak,
“Now look here inspector, I consider this uncalled for and officious. I’ve half a mind to report you”.
The inspector proves unconcerned as Birling continues to abuse his position as ex-lord mayor and associate of the Chief of Police.
In conclusion to Arthur Birling’s involvement with the death of Eva Smith, it is true to say that he did play a part in her downfall, although how little or how much is debatable as he can be seen as treating her as he would anyone else. What is relevant however, is how little concerned he appears to be, in fact denying that his actions had any consequence. This shows a distinct trait of his character and emphasises what a single, narrow-minded individual he is.
Sheila Birling, Arthur’s daughter, has a very different set of characteristics. Upon recognising the photograph she immediately runs out the room, as if in disgust of her previous actions, a complete contradiction to her fathers views. She later returns guiltily,
“You knew it was me all along didn’t you? ¨.
Immediately her character is shown to be sympathetic because of this guilt. Sheila goes on to explain how she was entirely responsible for Eva Smith loosing her job at Milwards,
“I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl I’d never go near the place again and I’d persuade mother to close our account with them”.
This shows that Sheila, like her father, abused her position as a wealthy member of the community, who could influence others due to her relations.
Sheila does however, feel great guilt for the actions that she committed, she agrees with the Inspector when he says,
“You used the power you had to punish the girl”.
Unlike her father, Sheila is full of sorrow and remorse for what she did, the inspector supports her when stating,
“And she feels responsible”.
Sheila does in fact say that
“I know I’m to blame and I’m desperately sorry”.
Sheila is also the first to realise that the inspector has a strange type of power, when Mrs Birling is arguing with him, Sheila warns her,
“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall the inspector will just break it down. And it’ll be all the worse when he does”.
This later becomes even more apparent as the plot evolves.
Sheila’s character is totally unlike that of her fathers, where she accepts responsibility, Arthur Birling completely refuses to accept liability. It is obvious from what Sheila says that she believes she is entirely to blame and feels great guilt, for which she will be forever affected. It is also clear that her character and views have been altered by the event and the impact of the inspector.
Gerald Croft, the only person who is not a direct relation to from the Birling family, but is engaged to Sheila, also has significant involvement with the death of Eva Smith. Gerald recognises the name Daisy Renton as soon as he hears the inspector say it. After at first trying to make Sheila leave the room, for reasons that become more apparent later, he tells the story of how he met Eva Smith, or as he knew her Daisy Renton. He describes her as a
“Very pretty soft brown hair and big dark eyes”
Gerald claims to have rescued her from horrible old Meggarty in the County Hotel and set her up in a friend’s set of rooms, where she later, inevitably, became his mistress. He is clearly upset by what has happened to her, she knew it couldn’t last.
“She didn’t blame me at all. I wish to god she had now. Perhaps I’d feel better about it”.
A question that must be asked however, is just how genuine is he? Gerald makes out as if he was merely trying to help Eva Smith and only later started a relationship with her, whether or not this is true is not known. After the explanation, he makes an excuse and leaves.
Gerald’s involvement with Eva Smith is perhaps the least significant, for Eva Smith anyway, perhaps more for Sheila and Gerald. What is a fact is that Gerald did attempt to help Eva Smith, unlike all the others, who were simply punishing her out of spite. Or maybe Gerald was simply using her as his mistress for when he desired and he was as guilty as the others in terms of responsibility. Even if Gerald had not been responsible for the death of Eva Smith, his actions certainly have a consequence as he is engaged to Sheila, who now knows that Gerald was actively having another relationship while they were together. This puts their relationship into doubt, something that Mr Birling would no doubt be displeased about.
Mrs Birling shows characteristics in some ways, to be very similar to her husband, and denies any responsibility herself, instead choosing to blame others, which later becomes a very bad decision. Mrs Birling treats the inspector in a patronising, threatening way,
“I realise you may have to conduct some kind of enquiry but I mist say you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar and offensive manner. You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago¨.
This shows how highly she thinks of herself and that she is ready to abuse her position, like other members of the family.
As a member of the Bromley Women’s Charity Organization Mrs Birling is the last member of the family to have had contact with Eva Smith, having rejected Eva because she had used the family name to claim to the organisation, Mrs Birling ironically tells Eva Smith,
“to look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility”.
Mrs Birling refuses to acknowledge any guilt over Eva’s death, even though the girl had been trying to protect the father of the child because she had been giving her stolen money and that he was a youngster silly and wild and drinking too much. She does not realise of course, that she is describing her own son Eric, Mrs Birling even suggests he ought to be dealt with very severely¨
Mrs Birling only later realises the truth at the end of Act Two, where she becomes shocked and upset. As Mrs Birling is the last to have been in contact with Eva Smith and had the opportunity to offer help, her case is not good and shows what a selfish character she is. It seems that like her husband, Mrs Birling has only her own prospects in thought and is distinctly uninterested by the needs of others, no regret is felt and it seems that she is totally unmoved by the whole incident, only caring when she discovers that her own son is involved.
Eric Birling returns to the play in Act Three and under questioning from the inspector reveals the extent of his drinking, his relationship with Eva Smith and the fact that he was embezzling money from his fathers business in order to support her because she was pregnant. Although Eric is young, immature and naive, he feels genuine guilt and remorse about what he has done. When he discovers that his mother had turned Eva away, his guilt and remorse turn to anger,
“then you killed her. She came to you to protect me my child your grandchild you killed them both damn you, damn you”.
It is also shown that Eric and his father have no relationship,
”You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble¨.
It is true that Eric has played, like the others, a part in the death of Eva Smith, although this can be put down to his naivety and youth, whereas the others should have known better. Eric did try to help Eva Smith after she became pregnant, albeit with money stolen from his father.
By the time that the inspector has left, it is quite clear that each member of the Birling family has contributed to Eva Smiths death; one by one the inspector confronts them and deals a final blow,
“Mrs Birling you turned her away when she most needed help. You refused her even the pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her and Eric You just used her for the end of a stupid, drunken evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person¨.
With each confrontation, the intent was to inflict guilt. The inspector then leaves and the family are left feeling great guilt.
Using Gerald Croft as the dramatic device, J B Priestley then shows that Inspector Goole does not exist. The reactions of the family then change to that of relief for Mr and Mrs Birling, whilst Gerald, Eric and Sheila still feel guilty and regret what they have done. It seems that the elder generation are unmoved by the experience, while Sheila and Eric are completely at odds with their parents. Eric than says,
”I agree with Sheila. It frightens me too¨.
It’s still the same rotten story whether it’s been told to a police inspector or not.
The phone then rings with news that an inspector is being sent over in connection with the death of a young woman and the scenario starts again. Mr and Mrs Birling seem more concerned about their reputation than with the death, while Eric, Sheila and Gerald are still in shock.
In conclusion, it would be unfair to blame a single person, as each character contributed to the death of Eva Smith. It may be more wise to blame society and they way in which we live, as it is Eva Smiths class and time that set her apart, no real crime has been committed and it is more a case if social conscience, consequently a moral responsibility should be shared by the family and their future actions affected to aid others and not just themselves.
The play is not so much about the Birling family themselves, but about society in general, J B Priestley shrewdly performs this as he manipulates the effect of time difference to get his message across.
