Mr. Birling I think is fairly responsible for the death of Eva Smith although what he did had justified reasons. Mr. owned his own company in which a few workers protested on low wages, he “he let them come back” except “for the four or five ringleaders, who’d started the trouble”. “Eva Smith was one of them”. Mr. Birling started the chain of events that late would end Eva’s life. He made her unemployed and left her with no place to go. He completely rejected the idea that he caused Eva’s death, because “if you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth”. He also thinks any other employer would have done what he did. Mr. Birling did not learn anything whatsoever from his experience as he is self-centered and thinks he is always right. “I’m talking as a heard headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn’t a chance of war.” This shows how blinded he is and how much he thinks of himself, as a few years later there was the greatest war the world had ever seen.
Mrs Bilrling is the most responsible for Eva’s death out of all the characters. “As the most prominent member of the committee” she influenced others to “refuse help to the girl”. She ended the last hope Eva had and struck the final blow that would later end Eva’s life. She completely rejects the truth that she was involved in the death of Eva Smith and even boasts about how she kept the inspector at bay. “He certainly didn’t make me confess”. This reveals she is more worried about the news getting out and her reputation destroyed rather then the person who she helped to kill. She also does not learn anything from her ordeal just like Mr. Birling her husband.
Gerald on the other hand seems to be let of lightly by the inspector because even though he took advantage of Eva he still took care of her and loved her even though she was of a lower class. He also felt “sorry for her”. This shows he didn’t help Eva to “make love to her”, but due to her awful situation he helped her. Gerald reacts to the truth in an awkward manner although he confesses, he doesn’t want the truth to go public and he doesn’t deem to care much for the girl. “ there is no real evidence that the chap was an inspector” this shows that although he feels sorry for society he would put himself in front of others, to live up to his name. He learns what he did was wrong but I don’t think he will change in the future and will carry on with his old ways.
I think Sheila is to some extent responsible for the death of Eva smith. Because she made Eva lose her job, but on the other hand she never knew her actions would go to an extent that it destroyed Eva’s life. Also her actions took place a long time before Eva died. In addition to that Sheila at the time “was in a furious temper”. This tells us Sheila was not herself when she told the manager to fire Eva as she was very angry. Eva reacted differently to the truth, rather then the other family members as she felt guilty for what she did and told herself what she did was out of order. She also says “if I could help her now, I would”. This shows Sheila is terribly sorry for Eva and grieves fro Eva’s awful life and death. Sheila has learnt the most from her experience and vows “never to do it again” this shows Sheila has noticed how she lived her life was wrong and now that the inspector has showed her reality, she wants to change.
Eric is highly responsible for what happened to Eva as he used her and subsequently made her pregnant. He put her in a position so that she can’t work or apply to get money from Mrs. Birling’s charity organization. This is shown when Eric quotes “she thought she was going to have a baby” and Mrs. Birling who wouldn’t give Eva any money quoted “I blame the young man who was the father of the child”. This shows Eric used Eva for fun and ruined her chance to start a new life. Eric completely acknowledges what he did was wrong and accepts full responsibility that he “helped kill her”. This shows that Eric accepts his wrong doing and is willing to change his behavior in the future towards females.
Throughout this play Sheila and Eric seem to have learnt the most from their visit by the inspector this shows J.B Priestly suggests that the younger generations seem to learn more and accept responsibility. This also implies that in the future younger generations will realize their wrong doings and change; also they would find it easier to accept responsibility. Priestly also hints that older generations find it difficult to learn social responsibility as they think they are superior and always right.