An Inspector Calls Essay.

Sheila.

SHEILA is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited. My first impression of Sheila is that she is an cheerful person. My evidence for this is that she says in act one. "(gaily and possessively) I should jolly well not think so Gerald. I'd hate you to know all about port - like one of those purple faced old men " This proves to us that at the start play Sheila is a cheerful person at the start of the play.

In the beginning of the play Sheila thinks that working class citizens are humans not just cheap labour.

When Sheila hear the death of Eva Smith she is distressed to hear about it. My evidence for this is that she says when she hears what happened she reacts by saying. "(rather distressed) Sorry its just that I can't help thinking about this girl destroying herself so horribly - and I've been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn't told me. What was she like? Quite young?" This prove to us that Sheila was happy tonight until she heard about Eva's death and that she is also devastated to hear it.

When the inspector interviews Sheila comes across her own interrogation because in act one she says. "(miserably) so I'm really responsible?" This proves to us that she has come across her own interrogation but it also shows that she admits that she is responsible fro Eva's death.

Sheila appears completely accepts the blame for Eva's death. My evidence for this is that in the play it quotes. "I've told my father - didn't seem to think it amount to much - but I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Did it make much difference to her?" This piece of evidence proves to us that she has completely accepted the blame for Eva Smith's death and feels exceptionally dreadful about it. The last sentence in the quote tells us that Sheila thinks that now Eva has died the way anyone feel can't change anything at all.

When the inspector leaves Sheila's initial behaviour changes only slightly, she feels less guilty and also has something to hide about Eva's death. My evidence for this piece is that in act three when the inspector leaves she says. "(slowly) we hardly ever told him anything he did not know. Did you notice that?" This piece of evidence proves to us that Sheila has told the inspector something but not everything to her knowledge about the incident. This also shows that Sheila feels less guilty about it. When Sheila finds out that inspector was not a real inspector she is very relieved but still feels guilty. I can prove this because in the play Sheila says to her family. "(bitterly) I suppose we're all nice people now." however it also quotes "but that won't bring Eva Smith back to life will it?" These two pieces of evidence proves to us that Shelia is relieved that now the inspector is not a inspector at all, however the evidence still show us that she still feels guilty.

Sheila's feelings have not changed towards the treatment of other people at the beginning of the play she thought that other people should be treated with respect and dignity.

Mr Birling.

BIRLING is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech. My first impression of Mr Birling is that he is an ironic character. I can prove this because in the play Mr Birling says. "And I say there isn't a chance of war. The world is developing so fast that it'll make war impossible. There will peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere " he also says. "the - Titanic - she sets sail next week - forty six thousand and eight hundred tons - forty six thousand and eight hundred tons - New York in five days - and every luxury - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable" These two quote prove to us that Mr Birling is an ironic character and does not have any clue what is going on in the world the time because by the time this play written both World War one and two had already happened and Titanic has sunk almost thirty three years ago.

When Mr Birling hears about Eva Smith's death he does not seem to be really bothered about it and don't care at all. My evidence for this is that in the play he says to the inspector. "(rather impatiently) Yes, yes horrid business. But I don't see why you should come hear inspector? " This piece of quote prove to us that Mr Birling is not even slightly bothered that one of Brumley citizen had just died horribly this afternoon.

Mr Birling comes across his interrogation by, to begin with saying he does not know who this Eva Smith is and then finally admitting he does know her. My evidence for this is that he says. "(slowly) No I seem to remember hearing that name somewhere. But it doesn't convey anything to me. And I don't see where I come into this." He also says; "Yes I do she was one of my employees and then I discharged her." These two piece of evidence prove to us that Mr Birling start to deny knowing her and then admits he knew. Mr Birling does not accept any responsibility for Eva's death. I can prove this because in the play Mr Birling says. "Oh well put it that, there's something in what you say. Still I can't accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we'd had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn't it." This piece of evidence proves to us that Mr Birling doesn't accept any responsibility for Eva Smith's death and will not accept any responsibility at all, it also so show us that his solid conscience are morally wrong.

When the inspector has left the Birling's house Mr Birling acts as if he learnt some sort of lesson where on the other hand when the inspector was present at the Birling house he acted as if he was all good and has nothing to learn. My evidence for this that when the inspector is not hear Mr Birling says to his family. "Don't I? Well, your quite wrong there. I've learnt plenty tonight. And you don't want me to tell you what I've learnt, I hope. When I look back at tonight - when I think of what I was feeling when the five of us sat down to dinner at the table-" This piece of evidence proves to us that Mr Birling thinks he has learnt some sort of a lesson. When Mr Birling finds out that the inspector is not real he is relieved and very happy but wants Sheila and Eric to keep what happened to themselves. I can prove this because in act three when Mr Birling finds out that the inspector is not real he says. "(relieved with happiness, talking to Eric and Sheila) Now listen you two. If you're still feeling on the edge, then the least you can do is to keep quiet. Leave this to us. I'll admit that fellow's antics rattled us a bit. But we've found him out - and all we have to do is to keep our heads. Now its our turn." This prove to us that Mr Birling is relived that the inspector is not real but despite what happened to a young women during the past two years he wants for people to put it behind them and not let anyone know about it. Mr Birling's feelings towards the treatment of other people have not changed. My evidence for this is that Mr Birling says. "(triumphantly) There you are! Prove positive. The whole story's just a lot of moonshine. Nothing but elaborate sell! (He produces a huge sigh of relief.) Nobody like to be sold as badly as that - but for all that - (he smiles at them all) Gerald have a drink." This piece of quote proves to us that Mr Birling thinks that this whole story is a load of rubbish and there is no point of taking any notice of it.

Conclusion.

I strongly thinks that Sheila has learnt something during the play because at the beginning of the play she thought that working class citizens were just humans and that she was superior to them but gradually towards the end she started to think what would life be like if you were in the shoes of Eva or John Smith and how would she liked to be treated. However Mr Birling has not learnt a single thing he still thinks that workers should be happy for what they get and should not ask for more. The point Priestly is trying to make is that upper and middle citizen don't treat working class citizens with dignity and they should take it into consideration on how to treat other people especially people who they are superior to. When the inspector talks about "millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" in his final speech he means that there millions of young working class men and women left that are still being treated badly by people who are superior to social. Priestly is trying to warn the audience that if we don't treat working class citizen with dignity they might all suffer like the way Eva Smith has suffered.