An Inspector Calls
Regards himself as reasonable and pays the going rate to employees. Unable to grasp link between actions and consequences, or widerNo concepts of value other than money and position (speech pg. 4 -Proud of his status and is a social climber (Daughter's marriage for statusSees him & wife as upholding 'right' values and as guardians of 'proper'Is blind to issues of the day and has a false optimism for the future based on hisinability to analyse the world around him (Future speeches pg. 6, 7). Speechesare used as a device by Priestley to show Birling's naivete (ignorance), as allthat he predicts is wrong (play written with benefit of hindsight in 1945). Mr. Birling is almost a stereotype/caricature of the capitalistic businessman itsinherent callous heartlessness. Note references to capitalism (pg. 6, 7), business(pg. 6 "hard headed businessman," 10 "mind his own business") and profit (pg.He is proud of his status and reminds other of it (pg. 8 "knighthood" p.10"Bench"), especially when trying to put the Inspector in his place (p.16 "golf").He is so uneasy about these matters that he is uneas
29,30)and knows that the Inspector knows all about them. 13, 15, 16), in the comments that he makes which underminethem. Arthur Birling thinks that Eric has not befitted from the expensiveeducation he has had (because it was bought to improve status and notintelligence? Pg. 35)She is not vindictive as Gerald says (pg. This contrasts with Sheila, whose comments are more balanced andconsidered. Sheila is sensitive and recognises what the Inspector does (lets the charactersincriminate themselves and gets them to admit their connection to EvaSmith/Daisy Renton pg. 32), the father of an illegitimate child(pg. Is very snobbish, conscious of and uses social position to try and intimidate(pg. He also suggests the possibility of there being more than one girlinvolved (pg. Resents being contradicted, even when caught lying by the inspector(pg. Gerald did make Eva happy for a period of time, which is clear from her owndiary and her actions after the 'affair' (pg. He is the first to devise a wayout for the family and checks with the infirmary to see if there is a dead girl(pg.
Common topics in this essay:
Birling Eric,
Priestley Birling's,
Gerald A1,
Birling Regards,
Sybil Arthur,
Sybil Birling,
Eva Smith's,
Gerald Eva,
Joe Meggarty,
Consider Sybil,
character profile,
sybil birling,
pg 54,
arthur birling,
pg 6,
smith/daisy renton pg,
6 7,
play gerald,
lower class,
pg 50,
proud status,
pg 6 7,
eva smith/daisy renton,
pg 13 15,
13 15 16,
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Acceptance Essays
