Character Evidence Analysis Themes Linked/ reaction
Arthur Birling 1. “and unsinkable, absolutely 1. Dramatic irony used here- over the top- shows that 1. Capitalism vs Socialism- immediately
unsinkable” “I say there isn’t a Birling as a character cannot be trusted and that discrediting Birling. Class- showing how
chance of war”. everything, he stands for is wrong. Morality play- the upper class are out of touch and
2. “I’m delighted about this showing the flaws in the way Birling thinks about criticising what they stand for. Age- his
engagement” “Hard-headed things. The repetition of “unsinkable”- emphasises arrogance is from the fact that he feels
businessman”. how wrong Birling is about things- “absolutely”- shows he has experience of the world.
3. “angrily” “There’s every excuse his blind certainty in the fact of the matter. “I say”- Audience reaction: see Mr Birling as an
for what both your mother and I arrogance of Birling as a character but also of the immediately dislikeable character and
did”. upper class- believes that whatever he says is the will think he is completely ridiculous-
4. “A lot of young men” “We broke truth. “Chance of war”- delusion in the idea that it will after 2 World Wars and the titanic
out and had a bit of fun never happen. sinking.
sometimes” “Fifty pounds”. 2. Birling’s delight at the engagement could be 2. Capitalism vs Socialism, Class.
5. “Show him in here. Give us some genuine- more likely because it was an advantageous The audience sees him as a man who
more light.” “all that nonsense” marriage with the Crofts to benefit his business. The only cares about the welfare of himself
“like bees in a hive” repetition of “hard-headed businessman” shows that and his business, not the happiness of
he perceives success through class and business- and his daughter- he seems to have more
has little attention for his daughter’s delight. He appreciation of the monetary benefit of
clearly cares more about the money he makes than the marriage than that of his daughter’s
his family- which helps to foreshadow the later events lifelong happiness with Gerald- shown
of the play- where his lack of empathy results in the by the fact that Sheila isn’t involved in
death of Eva. the conversation.
3. Inability to take responsibility for his actions that 3. Age, Class: believes that his class will
have killed a girl- even defending his wife as well. protect him from any scrutiny of these
Angry tone shows that he doesn’t appreciate Eric actions. This is a criticism from Priestley
talking back at him- class. Fails to learn the lesson that that the older generations will take no
the Inspector has been trying to impress upon them. responsibility for their actions and that
“Every excuse” believes he can come up with a reason they will be stuck in their ways. The
for his abhorrent acts- arrogance and out of touch- audience would see this arrogance as
believes that nothing that he has done warrants any inexcusable and shocking at Birling’s
criticism. Could be that he truly thinks that he was reaction to a girl dying because of his
doing what was right because of his capitalist views. family.
4. Him defending Gerald shows that he truly doesn’t 4. Gender, Capitalism: Gender double
, care about Sheila’s feeling- and only cares about the standards for men vs women.
prospects of his business. Also, defending Gerald Capitalism, all he cares about is business.
shows the double standards between men and Class: double standards between upper
women, and classes during Edwardian England, as Eva class being able to get away with
Smith was pregnant out of marriage, she was shamed, different crimes and actions because
whereas Gerald is excused because “a lot of young they are far more powerful than the
men do it”. This is further shown by Mr Birling joking average working class. Disgust from the
about his youth, saying he “had a bit of fun”. The audience when he excuses Gerald for
double standards are enhanced when it is revealed taking advantage of Eva and her
Eric stole and raped, where all Birling cares about is vulnerability and his disregard of Sheila’s
the money, and not the fact that his son had a child on feelings about Gerald Cheating on her.
the way. The fact that he only cares about money.
5. The use of Edna as a dramatic device- old fashioned 5. Capitalism, Age, Class: all old
family. No attempt of politeness. Must obey him. fashioned causing the Birlings as a family
Monosyllabic. Imperatives. The criticism of socialism to be alienated from the audience,
as “nonsense” perpetuates the idea that he is old distancing not only the character but the
fashioned, as he is unwilling to accept new ideas ideas that they stand for from the
about the way that society should be run, and just audience, making them be shown to be
insults it and disregards it. Deluded to the idea that how society should not be and the
Capitalism is perfect. Older generation stuck in their Inspector being a mouthpiece for what
ways. society should be.
Sybil Birling 1. “Arthur, you’re not supposed to 1. Snobbish- disapproving of how Sheila is acting- 1. Age: stuck in her ways. Gender: Sheila
say such things.” Really the things stuck in her ways of discussion and talking. “You girls” should act properly as a young woman.
you girls pick up these days.” could show that she wants to distance herself and Class: correcting Arthur to act properly
2.”As if a girl of that sort would Sheila from the “common” language of the time- to in their social class. She is immediately
refuse money” “first, the girl maintain a reputation. Feels as though they need to disliked by the audience, and her
herself” “I accept no blame for it at be traditional. Has to remind Arthur of the proper way treatment of others makes her an
all”. to act and talk- class. Immediately distanced from the unsympathetic character- showing the
3. “He should be made an example audience as she is presented as a dislikeable failure and is ridiculing the class system
of” “ I don’t believe it; I won’t character. “You girls” is also similar to the way she and the traditional gender roles of the
believe it”. later talks about Eva Smith, showing that anything Edwardian Era, and how we should
4. “Edna’ll go. I asked her to wait other than the way she thinks is wrong- out of touch. move away from that.
up to make us tea.” 2. Has no sympathy for a girl who has found herself in 2. Class, Gender: criticising Eva for being
, 5. “I did nothing I’m ashamed of” a hard position. Little moral code- believes that it pregnant but not the father for getting
should be easy to take stolen money. “no blame at all” her pregnant, only for him not marrying
shows how out of touch she is- she truly believes that her. Class: believes that she has done
what she did and the way she acted was correct. The nothing wrong because she has her
blame being placed on Eva could be the fact that she reputation to fall back on, so it cannot
just doesn’t want to take the blame herself or it could affect her negatively- she is helping the
be Priestley showing that the class system itself is to community. She is portrayed negatively
blame, as it allows for things like this to happen. This here to emphasise the point that society
idea of Sybil believing she did the right thing could needs to look out for one another and
show that the upper class has little moral compass not keep to ourselves or only be a part
and also Priestley making a comment on how many of a charity as an escape of being told
women in the upper class were self-righteous and did that they are not doing anything to help
nothing for the community and should be criticised. others, it is essential that we work
Contrast to Sheila’s attitudes. together.
3. Sybil quickly passes on the blame onto someone 3. Class: arrogance and hypocrisy in the
else in order to exonerate her from the whole ordeal, fact that she feels as though she cannot
showing how unwilling she is to take responsibility for be touched. Responsibility: she places
her actions as a whole. This shows that she has no the blame on someone else. This shows
morals and only cares about how it would look If she that she is a woman who cares about
admitted it that she was involved, but as soon as she nothing but her reputation, not even her
starts to realise that the man is Eric, she changes her son. The audience become frustrated at
mind very quickly. This is used to show the hypocrisy her claiming that she refuses to believe
of the upper class, how they will quickly change their that her family could be involved and is
mind in order to save themselves from any scrutiny disappointed in her reaction overall,
but “won’t believe it” if it still affects us. It could be making her an even more dislikeable
the fact that as a mother, she doesn’t want something character and perpetuating Priestley’s
to happen to her son, but it could also be that because message that society must avoid
it is still tied to her family, her reputation is at risk, so returning to this way of thinking and
she doesn’t want to believe the truth. acting.
4. The use of Edna here shows that the Birlings see her 4. Class: Mrs Birling ordering Edna to do
as nothing more than an accessory and an object to everything she wants shows how out of
their family- she has to be around to fulfil the wants touch she is from society, and the
and needs of the family- they have no awareness of expectation that Edna should be
