Notesale: Turn your study into money

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Character Profile - Arthur Birling
Opening Stage Directions:
•

•

‘Arthur Birling is a heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with
fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech
...

o Birling has a regional accent, indicating that he was not always part of
the upper class, but instead had to work his way up from a smaller
background
...

“The four Birlings and Gerald are seated at the table, with Arthur Birling at one
end, his wife at the other
...
He is
seated at the head of the table indicating his position if power
...
And we
don’t guess – we’ve had experience – and we know
...
He is not used to people challenging him (Inspector/Eva
Smith and later Sheila/Eric)
...

o He is a rich, successful businessman – he is a self-made man/nouveau
riche
...
we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer
competing but are working together - for lower costs and higher prices
...
The
fact that he sees his daughter's engagement as a chance to push for
'lower costs and higher prices' shows just how greedy he is
...

o Mr Birling seems to only be interested in how the engagement will be
good for his business, and the amount of money he will make off the
back of it, rather than the happiness of his daughter
...
And I say there isn’t
a chance of war
...
"
o Repetition
▪ Birling emphasises his position as a ‘hard-headed, practical man
of business’, he refused to let Gerald, or the audience forget
about his status and wealth
...

o Dramatic Irony
▪ Mr Birling is confident that there will not be a war, saying that
'there isn't a chance of war' and then repeating this idea when
he considers it 'impossible'
...
The audience, knowing that just two years
after this speech, World War One will begin, see that Mr Birling
is wrong on this point, and on many others, including his
prediction that the Titanic is 'unsinkable'
...

▪ Refuses the world isn’t as comfortable as his wealthy lifestyle
by refusing to except the possibility of war or struggling
economies
...
This tells us that Mr Birling will only believe what
suits him
...
He believes he has no responsibility for lower classes
and has no sense of community
...

▪ He doesn’t believe his actions have consequences
...

o Dramatic Irony

Again, emphasises overconfidence in himself capitalist views
while also highlighting his complete disregard for community
...

“I might find my way into the next Honours List
...
”
o Mr Birling can’t help but brag to Gerald, showing his narcissistic and
arrogant personality
...
His only concern is his reputation and
social status
...

‘How do you get on with our Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts? Perhaps I ought
to warn you that he’s an old friend of mine’
...
He
makes sure that people are aware that he has been active in local
politics and has been Lord Mayor
...

o He wants to avoid scandal at any cost in order to protect his reputation
...
He refuses to take responsibility for
any part in Eva Smith’s death at the start of the play
...
He
cannot understand Sheila’s and Eric’s insistence that there is something
to be learnt
...

“I only did what any employer might have done
...

“I protest against the way in which my daughter, a young unmarried girl, is being
dragged into this”
o Mr Birling acts as if Sheila is entirely oblivious to the situation
...

“Look here, I’m not going to have this inspector
...
”
▪

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

o

Mr Birling uses imperative language towards the inspector, in an
attempt to gain control of the situation
...


Act 2:
Description:

•

Defensive, Imperative, Short-tempered, Impatient, Closed-minded

Quotes:
• “Inspector, I’ve told you before, I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re
handling this enquiry
...
”
o Birling is frustrated that his high class family has come under such
interrogation
...

• “Yes, yes
...

o This shows the reader how Birling is very sexist and is one of many who
believe that men and women should not be treated equally and that
women should be protected from the hardships of life
...
He refuses to believe that he or his family would ever be involved
with a scandal
...
The press might easily take it up
...


Act 3:
Description:

•

Harsh, Arrogant, Controlling, Foolish, Blunt, Traditional, Angry

Quotes:
• “(terrified now) Look inspector, you’re not trying to tell me that my boy – is
mixed up in this?”
o Birling is horrified at the idea of a family member with a criminal record
...

• “Look Inspector – I’d give thousands – yes thousands”

Desperate tone
▪ This shows how Birling believes that money can buy him
happiness and he believes that the fact that he’s rich is enough
to get him out of any trouble
...

“I was almost certain for a knighthood”
o Audience see how self-centred he truly is
o This shows how he only cares about his reputation and not the wellbeing of Eva Smith\ Daisy Renton, as he only talks about the
consequences to himself, rather than the health of anyone else
“But the whole thing is different now…
...
”
o Mr Birling is shaken by the investigation and is shocked by the behaviour
of his son Eric
...
When it seems that the Inspector might have been an
imposter he is overjoyed and mocks the others for having been 'tricked'
by the investigation
...

o Mr Birling is shown as being foolish, this shows he doesn’t understand
the correlation between what he does and the consequences
...
”
o He is shown as being controlling, this shows he has appointed himself as
the leader of the house and he wants to separate himself from those
who think differently to him
...

“[He puts the telephone down slowly and looks in a panic-stricken fashion at the
others
...
A girl has just died – “
o By the end of the play, Mr Birling has not changed at all – he refuses to
learn/take on board the Inspector’s lesson
...
Priestley seems
to be warning us of how dangerous it is if you don’t take responsibility
for others
...
”

Eric
Gerald

“I might find my way into the
next Honours List
...
”

Inspector

“Look here, I’m not going to have
this inspector
...
”

Eva Smith

“there’s a lot of wild talk about
possible labour trouble in the
near future,”

Explanation
• not close – hints that their
marriage wasn’t for love
• treats her like a child,
• feels she needs protecting from
the truth
...
Eric can’t turn to him
when it matters
...

• Happy about his marriage to
Sheila as it is good for business
...

• tries to intimidate him
...

• Threatened by the fact that she
had ‘a lot to say – far too much – ‘,
so he used his power to get rid of
her
...


Character Significance:
He holds the traditional, selfish attitudes (held by the wealthier classes, particularly the
older generation) that Priestley challenged (through the character of the Inspector)
...
He believed that what resulted from this were
the very characteristics shown in Mr Birling (selfishness, exploitative tendencies, power
lust etc
...


Character Profile - Sybil Birling

•

Opening Stage Directions:
•

“His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior
...

o The audience immediately get the impression that there is no warmth to
her character and therefore it is difficult to like her
...


Act 1:
Description:

•

Old Fashioned, Superior, Oblivious, Polite, Patronising

Quotes:
• “(smiling) very well then
...

• “(reproachfully) Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things”
o the adverb “reproachfully” shows her controlling nature as she
discreetly makes sure that all of the family members are ‘acting their
class’ to impress Gerald
...

o Sybil shouts at Sheila for using the word 'squiffy' - meaning drunk
...

• “(smiling) Well, it came just at the right moment
...
”
o Reveals that Mrs Birling is aware of the tension arising between Sheila
and Gerald
...

“Now stop it, you two
...
”
o She tells everyone how they should behave and reprimands them when
they behave in a way which she deems inappropriate for the social
setting and their social class
...
Birling enters, briskly and self-confidently” the stage directions show that
she is aware that she is a ‘social superior’
o she believes that she is better than everyone else, this is evident from
how she enters the room and presents herself in front of the inspector
...
Birling, know”
o she is very confident in herself; she represents the wealthier class
...
Birling is lying to keep herself out of any real trouble and to
maintain her perfect socialite reputation
...
Is she being
punished in some way?
She thinks her social status protects her from the harsh realities of the
world
...


Relationships with other characters:
Person
Mr Birling

Quote
‘[reproachfully] Arthur, you’re
not supposed to say such things –
’

Sheila

‘Now Sheila, don’t tease
him…You’ll have to get used to
that, just as I had
...
I
won’t believe it…’

Gerald

‘[smiling] And I must say, Gerald,
you’ve argued this very cleverly,
and I’m most grateful
...
’

Eva Smith

‘piece of gross impertinence’

shows no remorse
...
"
o Mrs Birling is very unsympathetic when describing Eva Smith's position
...

o She assumes that just because Eva is unmarried and pregnant that she is
unable to have 'fine feelings', a very cruel and cold opinion to have
...
Birling is naïve and ignorant
and refuses to listen to the inspector

Act 3:
Description:
• Distressed, Ashamed, Selfish, Cold, Unregretful
Quotes:
• "No, of course not
...
" "(staggered) it isn’t true
...
Secondly by stating that
Eric is only 'a boy'
...
Her shock at this revelation '(staggered)' is further evidence of this
...

o shows that she feels guilty for not helping Eric’s unborn child but is still
determined to avoid any responsibility of Eva smith’s death by
interrupting to stop him from blaming her
• “I was the only one
...

o showing that she still retains her pride fully while the others felt slightly
humiliated after the inspector exposes them
...
However, she
is loyal to him
...

• Scolds Sheila when she steps out
of line and treats her like a child
...

• Not close
...

• Completely unaware of his
drinking/lifestyle
...

• Sees him as a good match for
Sheila
...

• Remains completely untouched by
his questioning
...

• Refuses to cooperate with him
...

• Irritated by her manner – could
not get over the fact that Eva
Smith called herself ‘Mrs Birling’
...
She sees the
lower class as morally inferior – Priestley hated this kind of attitude and believed that
people with these attitudes had to change if society was going to work
...
She makes us see just how awful life was for the lower classes at this
time (1912) – the class divide was huge
...
The girl was penniless and
pregnant – but Mrs Birling thought she was lying, as no girl ‘of that sort’ would refuse
money
...
”
o She seems to be quite excitable at the start, with no worries or
concerns
...


Act 1:
Description:
• Young, Pretty, Lively, Spoilt, Selfish, Curious, Childish
Quotes:
• “(half serious, half playful)”
o Her childishness may be a way to hide the “serious” concerns about her
relationship with Gerald
...
"
o At the opening of the play she appears to be a little immature and easily
led
...

o Sheila shows her naivety and lack of maturity in the way she reacts to
her father
...
She also refers to her father as 'Daddy', a childish term
...
’
o She responds to Eva Smith as a person, and criticises her father, shows
she can be assertive
• ‘I’ll never, never do it again to anybody
...

o Shows her becoming more self aware
...
We haven’t much time
...
”
o Shelia emulates the Inspector: as she asks Gerald questions just as the
inspector does, she reveals to her family Eric’s drinking problem, she
contradicts and undermines her parents (“Don’t interfere”), and she
moves the conversation on by startling the listeners
...
”
o Not completely naive, she is aware that men use prostitutes and she
knows about dirty old men like Alderman Meggarty
...
’
o She is genuinely impressed by Gerald’s honesty when he confesses to
the affair, despite the fact that it obviously upsets her
...
That's what I meant when I talked about building up a wall
that's sure to be knocked flat
...
"
o At a number of points, Sheila shows that she can see things that the
other characters cannot
...
She knows that if
they try to keep anything from him, it will make things worse
...


Act 3:
Description:
• Sympathetic, Repentant, Caring, Moral, Emotional, Honest, Sensitive, Moral,
Mature
Quotes:
• "I tell you - whoever that inspector was, it was anything but a joke
...

o The change in Sheila here is clear
...
The events of the evening have made her
aware of the serious impact one's actions can have
...
She shows genuine remorse
...
She is aware that
they all played their part
...

o She has the potential to change – by the end of the play, she has
matured considerably and has taken on the Inspector’s (Priestley’s)
message
...
She accepts
responsibility and learns from what has happened and tries to
encourage others to do the same
...


Relationships with other characters:
Person
Mr Birling

Quote
‘I do protest against the way in
which my daughter, a young
unmarried girl, is being dragged
into this
...
’

Gerald

‘But you’re forgetting I’m
supposed to be engaged to the
hero of it
...
I must think
...

• sees her as a ‘child’
...

• It was unusual for a daughter to
do this to her father at this time –
they were supposed to be
respectful
• Not close – sees her mothers
actions as ‘cruel and vile’
• They bicker childishly at the
beginning but both mature
• she holds very similar views to him
at the end of the play
• they seem to stand together (as
the ‘younger generation’) to
challenge the views of Mr/Mrs
Birling and Gerald
• she is excited about their
engagement in the opening scene;
however, there is tension there as
she questions him on his
whereabouts ‘last summer’
...

• She is not ready to take back the
ring
...

• she is curious from the start and is
aware that there is something not
quite right about him
...

• The Inspector has the most impact
of Sheila as she begins to imitate
him
...

• However, after she realises the
consequences of her actions, she
genuinely regrets what she did
...
She is the daughter of Arthur Birling and Sybil Birling, and sister of Eric Birling
...
B
...
In the
second and third acts, following the realisation that she has played a part in Eva Smith's
death, she matures and comes to realise the importance of The Inspector's message
...
’
o This shows Eric’s personality as he seems to be quite uncomfortable,
which suggests he is hiding something
...

o Eric is seated downstage which means that his back will be turned to the
audience/he will be side on
...


•

•

Act 1:
Description:
• Sarcastic, Abrupt, Shy
Quotes:
• “I don’t know really, I suddenly felt I had to laugh”
o The amused tone of Eric shows his abrupt nature early on in the play,
and the audience can see that he doesn’t follow typical etiquette for
higher-class citizens as he is impolite and rude
...
He tries to speak
up but is often talked down by his father
...

• “What about war?”
o This question is used deliberately for dramatic irony as Birling later
claims there is “no chance of war
...

• “yes, I know but still”
o This furthermore shows Eric’s abrupt tone as he interrupts
conversations between his family, and also his contradictive behaviour
towards his father as he questions everything he says
...
Birling’s relationship, as he doesn’t have a good relationship with
him and asks in an attempt to get involved
...

• “Somebody at the front door
...


•

“Is that why she committed suicide? When was this father?”
o the questions by Eric show the generational differences between his
father’s generation and Sheila and Eric’s generation, it shows Eric has
some sympathy for Eva Smith’s death unlike his father
...
”
o The repetition of Mr
...

"No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith
...
And I don't see why she should have been
sacked just because she'd a bit more spirit than the others
...
Even early on in the play he tries
to stand up to his father
...
Here he
questions his father's decision to sack Eva Smith
...
His father quickly shouts him down
though
...
We
were having a little celebration here – “ “isn’t he used to drinking?”
o the interruption and patronising tone from the inspector shows his
suspicion of Eric, and the audience can tell that it isn’t the first time Eric
has drank too much
...
And if he’s not back soon I shall have to go and find him
...


•

•

•

“Look inspector, you’re not trying to tell us that – that my boy – is mixed up in
this - ”
o The use of dashes show the audience that she is hesitating, and that she
is shocked to find out the truth about Eric and Eva Smith
...
The repetition of “that” shows Mrs
...

“Eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed
...
”
o The visual imagery shows how Eric’s anxiety to be questioned by the
inspector is manifesting itself in his physical appearance
...
This creates
suspense for the audience to keep them interested
...
You're
beginning to pretend now that nothing's really happened at all
...
This girl's still dead, isn't she? Nobody's brought her to life, have they?"
o Eric’s experience with the Inspector causes him great emotional turmoil,
unlike some of the other characters
...
He asks the stark question 'This girl's still dead, isn't she?' He is
clearly distressed and understands the gravity of the situation, he can’t
understand why the others don’t
...
’

Mrs Birling

‘I’m absolutely ashamed of you
...

o The dash shows the reader how hesitant Eric is as he is telling his family
about his encounter with Eva Smith, this suggests he is regretful about
what he has done
...

• “She came to you to protect me – and you turned her away – yes, and you killed
her – and the child she’d have had too – my child – your own grandchild – you
killed them both – damn you, damn you - ”
...
The use of dashes also suggests that Eric is upset
about what has happened, which shows that he is regretful about his
actions
...


‘(almost threatening her) You
don’t understand anything
...
You never even tried’
...
’

Explanation
• he doesn’t seem to have his
father’s affection or approval
...

• she is clearly a poor mother
...

• He is angry with her for turning
Eva Smith away from her charity,
and effectively killing her
grandchild
...

• they share the same view at the
end of the play as they have both
learned their lesson
...

• he respects him as he is willing to
take on board the Inspector’s
views
...


Character Significance:
He was part of the ‘chain of events’, having a fling with Eva Smith and getting her
pregnant
...
’ At the start of
the play, he was just like the others – abusing his power over a working class girl
...
He
is ashamed of his behaviour and shows that he is capable of changing for the better
...
’ Therefore, the audience is more likely to forgive him
...


Character Profile - Gerald Croft

•

Opening Stage Directions:
•

‘Gerald Croft is an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy
but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town
...
However, the reader
quickly realises through observing the way he acts and talks, that Gerald
is a rather greedy person deep inside, and cares more about his
reputation and how others think of him rather than doing what is
morally right
...
’ ‘We can keep it from him
...
I’ve been trying long
enough, haven’t I? (As she does not reply, with more insistence
...
Repetition
emphasises how Gerald has had to put in effort to win over Sheila
...
" “A joke really
...
Birling than Eric is, and
Eric is Mr
...

o At the start of the play he seems very comfortable - making himself at
home and behaving like a member of the Birling family he even makes
fun of Eric
...
Gerald confidently makes a joke at
Eric's expense which is full of irony
...
”, “I should say so!”
o Symbolism
o Gerald agrees with Mr
...

“(Showing annoyance) Any particular reason why I shouldn’t see this girl’s
photograph, Inspector?”
o Forthright tone
o Gerald’s impatience begins to show
...

“Not if it was just after the holidays
...
”, “You
couldn’t have done anything else
...
”
o Dash
o Gerald portrayed as a business man just like Birling
...
Birling’s idea of what
is best for a business, even if it means hurting people
...
”
o Dash
o Gerald interrupted by Inspector
...

“Getting a bit heavy-handed, aren’t you, Inspector?”, “Possibly but if you’re easy
with me, I’m easy with you
...
I knew her
...
”
o Short, abrupt dialogue
o Gerald left alone with Sheila at end of Act One; it is revealed that Gerald
had an affair with Eva/Daisy
...

o This abrupt line of dialogue shows how initially Gerald is very evasive
about his involvement with Eva Smith and wants to close down the topic
as soon as possible
...
”
o Dash
o Shows Gerald’s hesitance and inarticulacy in his speech as he is
desperately trying to get Sheila out of the room before more is revealed
...
” Gerald – “And you’re not going to
have any
...
The
Inspector points out his hypocrisy when it is men like him who take
advantage of vulnerable girls like Eva/Daisy
...
"
o Eventually Gerald gains some respect from Sheila and the audience for
being honest about his affair
...
He was in the wrong
to have an affair and then abandon Eva but, his use of emotive language
'cry for help' makes us realise that he genuinely felt sorry for her and
wanted to help her
...
B, Gerald still tries to remain like a
gentleman, the knight in shining armour, even when referring to the
prostitutes around in the city
...

• “You’re going to be a great help
...


•

•

“(Troubled tone)”
o Stage directions, anxious verb
o Shows Gerald’s realisation that Daisy Renton is actually dead and his
realisation that he played a major role, as before he was adamant that
he had nothing to do with her death
...
)”
o Stage directions, sound effects
o Highlights tension as this is a key moment in the play in which more is
revealed about the Birlings
...
This shows how easily Gerald can be
influenced by the people and environment around him
...

Quotes:
• “As he hesitates there is a ring at the front door
...
”
o Sound effects and props, re-entrance of Gerald, panicked adverb -> (“in
alarm”)
o Sudden ring of the doorbell shocks everyone as they think the Inspector
has returned
...
Gerald enters and once again is the Birling’s saving grace as he
delivers the information the Birlings were struggling to figure out
...

• “I had a special reason for coming
...


•

•

•

•

•

“They all look inquiringly at Gerald
...
They look up to
him and takes on board what he says immediately without doubting it
...

“(Slowly)
...
”
o Cautious adverb, stage directions
o Gerald is seen to be quite intelligent, and careful about what he says, as
something said may ruin his reputation with the family
...

“(cutting in) […] But the point is – this sergeant was dead certain they hadn’t any
inspector
...
He is sensitive to
tension and understands the importance of delivering key information
quickly
...
Birling tries
to interrupt)
...
He knows a
lot about the family’s secrets and is trustworthy enough to keep them
...
Birling still treats Gerald as an outsider, as his social
status is higher than the family’s; Mr
...
This contrasts
with Act one when Birling and Gerald seemed closer to each other than
in this scene
...

Gerald - “[…] How do we know any girl killed herself today?”, Birling - “[…] after
swallowing some disinfectant
...


o

This presents Gerald as stubborn and arrogant as he still hasn’t learnt
his lesson from the Inspector, along with Mr & Mrs Birling, symbolic of
the age divide between the Birling ‘children’ and the ‘adults’ as a sense
of catharsis is achieved through Eric and Sheila but not any of the other
characters
...

When your married you’ll realise
that men with important work to
do sometimes have to spend
nearly all their time and energy
on their business,’
‘I’ve gathered he does drink
pretty hard
...
’

Eric
Sheila

Inspector

‘a bit heavy-handed’

Eva Smith

‘She was young and pretty and
warm-hearted – and intensely
grateful
...
Gerald
shares Mr Birling’s views on the
way a business should be run
...

• she approves of Gerald, as she too
is obsessed with social status
...
It is clear that she
has always been suspicious of him
• There is no trust in their
relationship and Sheila realises
this before it is too late
...
He does
not learn from the Inspector
...
Daisy
cared for him a lot more than he
ever did for her, and had to go
away to remember the time they
spent together

Character Significance:
He represents the selfish attitudes of the upper class
...
He lets the audience down; we had hope
that he would change his attitudes, but he doesn’t
...


Character Profile - Inspector Goole
Opening Stage Directions:
Act 1:
Description:
• Serious, Moral, Aggressive, Mysterious, Imposing
Quotes:
• (
...
His tendency to interrupt and control the
conversation adds to this impression too
...

• ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own – and –
We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell
...

• ‘looking hard’
o He is clearly there to challenge and investigate
...

• ‘she died in misery and agony’
o He uses aggressive, shocking language to make the characters feel guilty
for the part they played in Eva Smith’s death

o

he is controlling the structure of the play
...
Good night
...

o The Inspector predicts a hell like future, filled with a nightmarish vision
of 'fire' and 'blood'
...


Relationships with other characters:
Person
Mr Birling

Quote
‘Don’t stammer and yammer at
me again, man
...
’

Mrs Birling

‘his manner was so severe’
...
That man wasn’t a
police officer
...
"
o When he tells the others about Eva Smith's death he leaves in the
gruesome details
...
The Inspector uses this language intentionally to make the
family more likely to confess
...


Explanation
• he challenges him and takes
charge
...
The
Inspector has hope in the younger
generation as they are ‘more
impressionable’
...

• The inspector has the most impact
of Sheila as she begins to imitate
him
...
She supports his views
...
He stands up for the
working class, like Priestley
...
His job is to make the
characters change their attitudes, face up to what they have done and start taking
responsibility for each other – see final message (p
...
He heightens drama – his
entrances and exits are well timed in order to create maximum tension (e
...
at the end of
Act 1 when he walks in on Gerald and Sheila’s conversation)
...




---