Mrs Birling sees Sheila and Eric still as "children", although they are both in their twenties, and she speaks patronisingly to them. She doesn’t seem to know them well at all. She tries to deny things that the younger generation do: Eric's drinking, Gerald's affair with Eva, and the fact that a working class girl would refuse money even if it was stolen, claiming "She was giving herself ridiculous airs." She is astutely aware of the importance of social class at the time, and the varying ranks of the characters. This façade is to protect the social ranking of her family. She seems to be oblivious to her children’s feelings, and the parents underestimate Shelia’s intelligence and maturity. Sheila says “he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang ourselves", but the parents do not listen her listen. This seems to make Sheila more critical of her parents throughout the play, supporting her brother’s views more. She is angry with her parents for trying to "pretend that nothing much has happened." Sheila says, "It frightens me the way you talk:" she cannot understand how they cannot have learnt from the evening in the same way that she has. She is seeing her parents in a new, unfavourable light.
Mr Birling is an over-bearing, traditional father figure, who had certain ambitions for his children and he seems to be concerned that they are not going to live up to them. In relation to Eric, he seems to be rather contrary. He wants Eric to come into the family business, but also seems to have doubts about his abilities to take the responsibility. Eric does not have an easy relationship with his father. “This girl – Eva Smith…Why shouldn’t she try for higher wages?” says Eric. Eric is bored, rather immature and foolish young man who is a heavy drinker. His father is partially at fault for this as he will not give Eric any responsibility and trust. Like Sheila, Eric is sympathetic towards Eva Smith and states that he is ashamed of his parents, especially his mother. "I'm ashamed of you”, he says.
Mr Birling is quite protective of Sheila, and is guiding her to make a good marriage to Gerald, which he hopes will unite the two businesses “Crofts and Birlings working together for lower costs and higher prices”, but also make Sheila happy. He is pleased that the Crofts are titled and seems to take some credit for bringing about the marriage.
The children appear to me more flexible to social change, unlike the parents who are very conventional. The relationships in the family weaken as the truth is revealed. Sheila, Eric and possibly even Gerald are children of snobbish, selfish parents so their behaviour might well have been different had they been brought up by better people. The young are more likely to learn from their mistakes and be adaptable than the old who are too set in their ways. Mr and Mrs Birling do not accept any responsibility for their actions and they are snobbish parents which will influence the character of their children.
