Arthur Birling at the start of the play before the inspector arrives is very arrogant and a bit of a show off we know this when he says to Gerald “There’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next honours list, just a knight hood of course”. Mr Birling, I Feel has no self pity all he cares about is himself and his profits, Because when the inspector reveals that Eva smith was a former employee of Birlings and company and had been sacked from the factory by mr birling himself for wanting a small wage rise, Mr Birling obviously refuses “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”. He turns a bit defensive and still doesn’t take any blame for Eva’s Death “Still I can’t accept any responsibility. He also seems to be a bit capitalist concerned about money and profits, not people “Working together –for lower costs and higher prices” This shows me he is a wealthy man especially with that motto and that, that was all he really cared about. He is big headed because he thinks because he is wealthier than everyone else he is sure that he will not be in the war “Some people say wars inevitable. And to that I say- fiddlesticks!” J.B Priestley does this to show the audience that Mr Birling is well off as well as powerful.
The Inspector arrives in a very peculiar way. The Birlings are seated in the dining room when a harsh figure of a police inspector intrudes from the back door. Before the inspector had rudely interrupted the celebration of Mr Birling daughter’s engagement, the atmosphere was calm and happy with every member of the family having fun. When the inspector had arrived the Birlings felt out of place especially with the inspector looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking.
The inspector is at the Birlings inspecting about a young girl who has commited suicide by swallowing a lot of strong disinfectant which burnt her insides out. When Mr Birling hears about this he has no sympathy for this girl Eva smith “horrid business. But I don’t understand why you should come here, inspector” He seems the investigation is a waste of time “Nothing whatever to do with that wretched girls suicide”. Mr Birling, I Feel has no self pity all he cares about is himself and his profits, Because when the inspector reveals that Eva smith was a former employee of Birlings and company and had been sacked from the factory by mr birling himself for wanting a small wage rise, Mr Birling obviously refuses “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”. He turns a bit defensive and still doesn’t take any blame for Eva’s Death “Still I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were responsible for everything that happened to everybody …. It would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” Even though the inspector has arrived Mr Birling is still pig headed. During the course of the inspectors stay Mr Birling thinks the inspector is a fake “a socialist or more sort of crank”.
The inspector leaves the scene leaving the Birlings with something to think about “One Eva Smith has gone, but there are still millions left, with their lives, their hopes and fears. We don’t live alone. We are responsible for each other, if men will not learn that lesson they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish”. The Inspector walks straight out, leaving them staring, subdued and wondering, with Shelia quietly crying and Mr Birling checking the inspector had left by
