The first person to be questioned is Mr Birling. Just before the Inspector’s arrival he was giving the two younger men life advice, ‘A man has to look after himself,’ this is the opposite of the lesson the Inspector is determined to teach them. Mr Birling is far from innocent setting off ‘a chain of events’ by sacking Eva Smith when she is involved in a strike within his business. Sadly, he never accepts responsibility for his actions claiming it all ‘a load of nonsense.’
The next to be targeted is Sheila. The Birling’s daughter. At the beginning of the play she appears naïve and innocent but regretfully also took part of causing Eva’s misery. Sheila jumped to conclusions upon seeing the girl smile assuming she was laughing at her and blackmailed the manager at Milwards, ‘if they didn’t get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again.’ Thankfully, Sheila is more open to the Inspector’s logic and accepts her part of the responsibility feeling dreadful.
Gerald, Sheila’s fiancé, also has blame to shoulder. When Eva changed her name to Daisy Gerald became involved with her, ‘She became your mistress?’ This not only affected Daisy’s life but also Sheila’s, ‘I’m sorry, Sheila,’ after discovering the Inspector was a fake Gerald accepts responsibility for the affair but not for the girl’s death.
Despite not confirming the Inspector’s accusations until later, Mrs Birling turned the girl away when she needed help most. The girl used a false identity using the name of her child’s father to ask for aid from the women’s charity and offended Mrs Birling, ‘a piece of gross impertinence.’ Prejudiced against the girl she used her influence and Daisy was turned away. Mrs Birling never accepts responsibility and fails to comprehend why the others should.
Finally, the Inspector talks to Eric who quickly accepts responsibility for his actions. He was the reason Daisy appealed to his mother’s charity for help. One night Eric had been extremely drunk and had forced himself upon Daisy, ‘ I was in the state where a chap gets nasty,’ and admits that Daisy was pregnant with his child. Eric obviously regrets his actions and sides with his sister on taking responsibility.
The play is focused on leading up to the Inspector’s final speech. ‘We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.’ Here the Inspector is not only addressing the other characters but also the audience.
J.B. Priestley explores the acceptance of responsibility through each of the characters. His aim is to convey an important message to the audience, we are responsible for our actions and their consequences. The play shows us that everyone is responsible, not just the lower classes, the upper class should be more aware as their actions have larger consequences.
