Characters Quotes

Question 1

How is Mr Birling presented throughout the play?

Answer 1

Arrogant, Capitalist, Sexist/Old fashioned views on women, Materialsitic and Possessive, ANTI - SOCIALIST

Question 2

How is Mr Birling conveyed as arrogant? (Context and 2 Quotes)

Answer 2

“And I say there isn’t a chance of war.”
Described the Titanic as “unsinkable”
The play is set in 1912 but was published in 1946, well after we know that there has been a WW2 and the Titanic did infact sink.

Question 3

How is Mr Birling conveyed as a Capitalist/Materialistic? (1 Quote)

Answer 3

“…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.”

Although it is his daughter’s engagement party, he focuses on his gain in business.

Question 4

How is Mr Birling conveyed as Sexist? (1 Quote)

Answer 4

“…clothes mean something quite different to a woman..”

Question 5

How is Mr Birling conveyed as Possessive?

Answer 5

“Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?”

He emphasises that Sybil is ‘his’ wife suggesting that he sees her as a possession. He does not allow Sybil to talk for herself here.

Question 6

How is Mr Birling conveyed as Anti-Socialist?

2 Quotes

Answer 6

“As if we are all mixed up together like bees in a hive. Community and all that nonsense.”

“A man has to mind his own business and look after his own.”

Question 7

Why is it significant Mr Birling is presented as an Anti Socialist?

Answer 7

He conveys the wrong and opposite attitudes that Priestley wants to convey. He is presented in a negative like through his arrogant personalityt so they audience develop a resentment for him and his attitudes.

Question 8

How is Mrs Birling presented throughout the play?

Answer 8

Cold, Snobbish, Ignorant and uncaring nature.

Question 9

How is Mrs Birling presented as cold and unsympathetic?

Answer 9

“A rather cold woman, and her husband’s social superior.”
“I didn’t like her manner.”
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
She is vindictive and judgemental of Eva.

Question 10

How is Mrs Birling presented as ignorant?

Answer 10

“I blame the young man who was the father of the child.”
“He should be made an example of.”
“No, of course not. He’s only a boy.”
She couldn’t possibly believe herself to be wrong and is ignoring the fact that Eric is no longer an innocent, naive child.

Question 11

How is Mrs Birling presented as snobbish?

Answer 11

“What an expression, Sheila! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!”
“Girls of that class.”
Sybil believes if people do not behave properly they should be looked down on and she does not respect those in the lower class.

Question 12

How is Sheila presented at the opening of the play?

Answer 12

giddy, naïve, childish and materialistic

Question 13

What does Sheila’s personality gradually develop to as the play continues?

Answer 13

She shows an assertive side, she is insightful and intelligent, and is regretful of her actions.

Question 14

How is Sheila presented as childish?

Answer 14

“I’m sorry Daddy actually I was listening.”
“Yes, go on, mummy.”
“You’re squiffy!”
Despite being in her twenties, she refers to her parents as “Mummy” and “Daddy”.

Question 15

How is Sheila presented as materialistic?

Answer 15

“Oh – it’s wonderful! Look – mummy – isn’t it a beauty?”

Her attention is fully focused on this beautiful ring rather than her future husband, she enjoys the idea of marriage and living in luxure rather than the idea of Gerald.

Question 16

How is Eric. Wing shown as lacking confidence?

Answer 16

“I don’t know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh.” Here he cannot explain his sudden laughter, he is very awkward and unsure of himself.

Question 17

How is Eric seen as assertive?

Answer 17

He questions his father’s decision to sack Eva Smith, but gets shouted down though.
“No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith. Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don’t see why she should have been sacked just because she’d a bit more spirit than the others.”

Question 18

How is Eric seem as Emotional?

Answer 18

“(bursting out) What’s the use of talking about behaving sensibly. You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. This girl’s still dead, isn’t she? Nobody’s brought her to life, have they?”

He is clearly distressed and understands the gravity of the situation, he can’t understand why the others don’t.

Question 19

How is Gerald Croft as being confident?

Answer 19

“Sure to be, unless Eric’s been up to something.” Gerald at the beginning of the play confidently makes a joke at Eric’s expense which is full of irony, to fit in with the Birlings.

Question 20

How is Gerald seen as Evasive?

Answer 20

“All right. I knew her. Let’s leave it at that.” This abrupt line of dialogue shows how he’s initially very evasive and wants to close down the topic as soon as possible.

Question 21

How is Gerald seen as being Honest?

Answer 21

“The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help.”

His use of emotive language “cry for help” makes us realise that he genuinely felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.

Question 22

How is the Inspector seen as Imposing?

Answer 22

“…he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”

Describes his imposing figure and his tendency to interrupt and control the conversation adds to this impression too.

Question 23

How is the Inspector seen as Emotive?

Answer 23

“Her position now is that she lies with a burnt out inside on a slab”

This is such a shocking image presented in plain language, it is not surprising that it impacts upon the emotions of the other characters and the audience. The Inspector uses this language intentionally to make the family more likely to confess.

Question 24

How is the Inspector seen as Prophetic?

Answer 24

“And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.”

The Inspector predicts a hell like future, filled with a nightmarish vision of ‘fire’ and ‘blood’. Priestley experienced war first hand, so some suspect that what he saw in wartime influenced the Inspector’s final speech.

Question 25

How is Eva Smith/Daisy Renton seen as Strong Willed?

Answer 25

Birling: “…she’d been working in one of our machine shops for over a year. A good worker too. In fact, the foreman there told me he was ready to promote her into what we call a leading operator - head of a small group of girls. But after they came back from their holidays that August, they were all rather restless, and they suddenly decided to ask for more money.”

Even by Mr Birling’s own admission, Eva Smith had lots of qualities that showed her strong will - she was lively, worked well and was in line for a promotion. He sees her asking for more money as a bad thing, as Eric later states ‘I don’t see why she should have been sacked just because she’d a bit more spirit than the others. You said yourself she was a good worker.’ The same strong will that made her stand out as a good worker eventually got her the sack.

Question 26

How is Eva Smith/Daisy Renton seen as having a sense of Humour?

Answer 26

“Well, when I tried the thing on and looked at myself and knew that it was all wrong, I caught sight of this girl smiling at Miss Francis - as if to say: ‘doesn’t she look awful’ - and I was absolutely furious.”

Here the audience would empathise with Eva and see her laughing at Sheila as showing that she has a good sense of humour and a human side. If Priestley had not shown this side to Eva then she might have come across as ‘too good to be true’ and would not be believable as a character.

Question 27

How is Eva Smith/Daisy Renton seen as Sensitive?

Answer 27

Inspector: “She kept a rough sort of diary. And she said there that she had to go away and be quiet and remember ‘just to make it last longer’. She felt there’d never be anything as good again for her - so she had to make it last longer”.

The Inspector explains how Eva Smith went away to be ‘quiet’ and to ‘remember’. These words clearly show that Eva was emotionally sensitive. The fact she also felt that ‘there’d never be anything as good again for her’ make us realise how devastated she was when Gerald ended their relationship. The fact that Gerald just got back on with his life and relationship with Sheila makes the audience empathise even more with the sensitive Eva.

Question 28

“Men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business”

Answer 28

Mrs Birling

Shows that the relationship between burling and his wife is not of a loving or caring or romantic nature

Question 29

“I wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport -“

Answer 29

Eric Birling
Shows how Eric is shallow and how he objectifies her.
Shows the sexist and misogynistic attitude of the time.
He is honest unlike Gerald Croft

Question 30

“I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her. I made her go to Morgan Terrace because I was sorry for her, and didn’t like the idea of her going back to the Palace bar.”

Answer 30

Gerald Croft

He tries to justify his actions towards Daisy Renton/ Eva Smith to the other characters and to himself.

Question 31

“You killed her - and the child she’d have had too - my child - your own grandchild - you killed them both - damn you, damn you -“

Answer 31

Eric Birling
The language reflects the family situation as the punctuation is fragmented and so is the family.
He swears at his mother which shows show emotional he is.

Question 32

“I don’t give a damn now whether I stay here or not.”

Answer 32

Eric Birling
The swearing shows his anger and frustration.
Shows how Eric is not really part of the family

Question 33

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?”

Answer 33

Gerald Croft
He tries to make Sheila forget about what happened which shows how Gerald has not learnt his lesson and not changed unlike Sheila.

Question 34

“You seem like a nice well-behaved family-“

Answer 34

Gerald Croft
Foreshadowing
The word “seems” shows the illusion/ façade that the family put on as throughout the play we find out how they’re not a “nice well-behaved family”.

Question 35

“A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course”

Answer 35

Mr Birling
He put himself first and this shows his selfish nature as he even talks about himself first in the sentence - the syntax of the sentence shows how Mr Birling is selfish.

Question 36

“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.”

Answer 36

Inspector

Shows how capitalist men like Mr Birling and Alderman Meggarty are abusing their position in society.

Question 37

“I’d give thousands - yes, thousands -“

Answer 37

Mr Birling
Shows his capitalist attitudes and how he would just pay to get rid of his problems, it suggests he’s changed however he wants to pay for it not to get leaked to the press therefore he hasn’t really changed at all.

Question 38

“She came to you for help, at a time where no woman could have needed it more. And you not only refused it yourself but saw to it that others refused it too.”

Answer 38

Inspector

Shows how Mrs Birling lacks empathy with Eva Smith though she’s had kids herself.

Question 39

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.”

Answer 39

Sheila Birling

Shows that Sheila recognises her as human and shows that Sheila starts to mature early on.

Question 40

“It’s exactly the same port your father gets”

Answer 40

Mr Birling
Shows Mr Birling’s status - that he’s not at the top but he’s quite high up.
Shows that Mr Birling trying to impress and wants to move up the social status, this shows his pathetic and childlike nature.

Question 41

“Perhaps I ought to explain first that this is Mr Gerald Croft - the son of Sir George Croft.”

Answer 41

Mrs Birling
They want to make themselves seem more important.
The ‘perhaps I ought to…” seem threatening and facetious.

Question 42

“Your mother - Lady Croft - while she doesn’t object to my girl - feels you might have done better for yourself socially.”

Answer 42

Mr Birling
As he uses “Lady Croft” suggests he maybe doesn’t know her name as he’s never met her as he’s not high enough in the social ladder. Mr Birling seems not to like to admit that he is not as high up socially.

Question 43

“Why shouldn’t we try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”

Answer 43

Eric Birling
Shows Eric’s contrast to his father and shows the differences between the generations. Also shows how Eric supports the socialist movement and that he doesn’t understand capitalism.

Question 44

“She was giving herself ridiculous aids. She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position.”

Answer 44

Mrs Birling

She is stigmatising Eva and is prejudiced towards Eva.

Question 45

“No, I don’t think any of you will forget. Nor that young man, Croft, though he at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time. Well, Eva Smith’s gone. You can’t do her any more harm.”

Answer 45

Inspector
This is when Gerald leaves and returns, he meets a police officer and tries to explain the inspector is fraud - leads to uncovering that the Inspector isn’t real. The inspector lets Gerald go as arguably he suspects to be uncovered as a fraud - no harm done but they feel guilty and know what they have done to a girl. The inspector gives Gerald for some credit and implies that Gerald didn’t do as badly to Eva smith as some of the the other members of the family.

Question 46

“That was the police. A girl has just died - on her way to the Infirmary - after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here - to ask some - questions -“

Answer 46

Mr Birling
An effective ending.
The Birlings and Gerald are stunned, especially Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald who just a minute ago had been sure they were in the clear. The audience would be shocked and left with lots of unanswered questions.

Question 47

“One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths stuck left with us… all intertwined with our lives…”

Answer 47

Inspector
Inspector’s final speech so will dramatic as a final effort to get the older generation to change. Also suggests that they can help others if they’ve learned after what they did to Eva. ‘Intertwined with our lives…” shows the idea of collective responsibility.

Question 48

“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are all responsible for each other.”

Answer 48

Inspector
Some of the Inspector’s final lines.
Also shows the idea of collective responsibility and also shows the socialist message that Priestley is trying to convey.

Question 49

“The girl discovered that this money you were giving here was stolen, didn’t she?”

Answer 49

Inspector

Shows how Inspector knows everything before the characters answers his question.

Question 50

“But don’t you see, if all that’s come out tonight is true, then it doesn’t much matter who it was who made us confess. And it was true, wasn’t it? You turned the girl out of one job, and I had her turned out of another. Gerald kept her - at a time when he was supposed to be too busy to see me. Eric - well, we know what Eric did. And mother hardened her heart and gave her the final push that finished her. That’s what’s important - and not whether a man is a police inspector or not.”

Answer 50

Sheila Birling
A round up of the whole play and what each character did to Eva in chronological order. Also shows how Sheila has matured and changed from the start of the play. “Well, we know what Eric did” suggests she thinks that what Eric did is unspeakable and maybe the worst of what each person did.