“A man has too make his own way to look for himself and his family too.” (Page 9)
Mr Birling is a man who doesn’t care about anyone but himself and his family; he has to protect his image and is determined to get his knighthood. He is very glad to hear that the inspector is not real after he has examined everyone.
“Now listen you two, if you’re still feeling on the edge the least you can do is keep quiet. Leave this to us.” (Page 64)
He is very controlling and doesn’t want his family involved; he thinks his status will protect him just in case. Mr Birling has learnt nothing from Inspector Goole as now he knows he isn’t real so nothing can happen; he feels no guilt and is not sorry for anything.
Mrs Birling is the second most responsible for Eva’s death because she was the last person to have contact with Eva; By refusing to help Eva when Eva went to Mrs Birling charity Eva had no choice but to commit suicide as the charity was her last hope and she was pregnant with Eric’s baby.
“She was giving herself difficult airs. She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply abused in a girl in her position.” (Page 64)
Mrs Birling thinks of Eva as a very low class girl with no principles, Mrs Birling doesn’t take the truth well as she didn’t want anyone to know about her involvements in Eva’s death, as she is a very high-class lady with high expectations. When the inspector talks to Mrs Birling, Mrs Birling tries her hardest not to give in and changes the suicide investigation into something that doesn’t involve her.
“I felt it all the time. He never talked like one. He never looked like one.” (Page 63)
Mrs Birling has learnt nothing as she congratulates Gerald for finding out the truth.
“I must say Gerald, you’ve argued this very cleverly and I’m most grateful.”(Page 70)
Mrs Birling feels there is nothing more to be done with the situation and thinks everything is going to be okay after the night is over, she thinks everything was a hoax, and with everything that has happened she mocks her children. This experience has brought Mrs Birlings true feelings out about how she feels about Eric and how she treats him; she doesn’t trust him as much as she trusts Sheila. She learns nothing more as she is not willing to see this experience from a different point of view.
Eric Birling the son of Mr and Mrs Birling is responsible for Eva’s death, but his irresponsibility is partly due to the parenting he has received, Eric is responsible as he got Eva Smith pregnant on a night when he was very drunk and he did not remember what had happened between them. Eric tried to support Eva with stolen money but this shows he gives no emotional support and is immature. Eric is not totally irresponsible as he attempted to help Eva, but Eva wanted nothing to do with him.
He acts impulsively towards Eva and learns from the consequences for his actions. His reaction to the truth about inspector Goole not being a real inspector well as he did not hold back his feelings and emotions back like his mother and father.
“It doesn’t alter the fact that we all helped kill her.” (Page 65)
Eric shows signs of maturity when he and Sheila try to explain what happened with the inspector.
“Whoever that chaps was, the fact remains that I did what I did.” (Page 64)
Eric is able to learn from the mistakes he has made and can change how he reacts in the future as he has learnt from this and what his parents are like.
His parents have a big impact on his life and how he makes his decisions. After the inspector left Eric told his parents everything and they had no reaction, they acted as if nothing had happened that night.
“You’re beginning to pretend nothing happened at all.” (Page 64)
Eric had matured and is trying to take his responsibilities more seriously and maturely.
Sheila Birling, Eric’s sister is responsible for Eva’s death but not as much as Eric, most of Sheila’s actions come from her parents who could not face the fact that they were responsible for Eva Smith’s death, whereas Sheila was able to own up to the things she had done wrong and realise her actions may have helped Eva Smith commit suicide. Sheila got Eva sacked from Millwards, Sheila was jealousy got her in a bad mood as Eva looked better in a dress then she would have done and by getting Eva the sack she was unaware of what may happen to her after.
‘’I told them if they didn’t sack her then I’ll shut my account.’’
After the incident with inspector Goole Sheila was shocked with what she had done to Eva.
‘’Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about this girl destroying herself so horribly’.’ (Page 17)
Sheila accepts that she was very wrong and that she could learn from it, she learns from it and realises what the inspector was trying to do. Sheila is the only one who knows of the inspector’s intentions. She also learns that she should not be selfish like her parents and will try to prevent her selfishness in the future. Sheila is influenced by her parents and is unaware of how to treat working-class people. Sheila is not pretending that this has not happened like her parents. She regrets what she has done to Eva Smith and she now feels she has done something wrong. The inspector bought out the real Sheila, the caring and responsible one. Sheila attitude changes once the inspector has left, she tries to make her parents realise what they have done to push Eva smith to committing suicide.
“The point is you don’t seem to have learnt anything.” (Page 58)
Sheila knows that her parents cannot take the truth like her and her brother Eric; this shows that Sheila is maturing.
The person I feel is the least responsible for Eva Smith’s death is Sheila’s fiancé Gerald, Gerald Croft is responsible for Eva Smith/Daisy Renton’s suicide as he set out for a sexual relationship with her as she was young and very pretty, on the other hand Gerald originally set out to help Eva by rescuing her from the bar and Meggarty the old man who was after her. Gerald felt proud of himself as he felt he was rescuing a damsel in distress as he felt like a knight in shining armour. Gerald had mixed feelings towards Eva as he is in love with Sheila but lusts Eva; therefore he is unaware of Eva’s feelings. He helped Eva by giving her money and a house to live in. Gerald did not take the news well as he made it obvious that he knew her. He may not have
known Eva Smith but he knew Daisy Renton.
“Where did you get the idea that I knew her?” (Page 33)
He tries to hide the truth from Sheila, as he knows he will upset her and get suspicious as he was staying away from her in the summer. Gerald is able to learn a bit from his mistakes, this experience will help him respect Sheila more and treat her more like a lady and be honest. The inspector did not examine Gerald, as the inspector knew that Gerald did not do much to lead Eva to commit suicide, Gerald had made Eva happy even if it was only for a while, as she felt loved. and fell in love with him. She felt she had security and respect. Gerald did not know why the inspector was there and how much he knew before entering the Birling house.
In conclusion the inspector was a very good role model not just for the audience, but also for the Birling children. Mr Birling was the most responsible for Eva’s death as he harmed her first. There were two people that learnt a lot, they were Sheila and Eric Birling. This is because they were able to communicate with the inspector and understand what he said, the inspector may make them change in the future as they are both able to make up their own minds and understand when they have made mistakes. They try to help their parents understand what they have done to Eva and how they caused her to commit suicide. Sheila and Eric will be able to learn from their parent’s mistakes, as they are the younger generation.
