Inspector Calls characters

Question 1

Gerald Croft

Answer 1

represents: upper class assumed superiority
- took advantage of Eva when she was vulnerable
- doesn’t change throughout the play

Question 2

Eric Birling

Answer 2

represents: middle class men who treat women badly
- learns to take responsibility and challenge the status quo by recognising the impact of his actions

Question 3

Inspector Goole

Answer 3

represents: Priestley’s socialist ideals
- ensures the Birlings and Gerald recognise the horrible death
- final speech warns about the importance of community
- acts as Priestley’s mouthpiece

Question 4

Mr Birling

Answer 4

represents: capitalist views
- wants to perpetuate stereotypes so he can exploit workers
- doesn’t change, cares more about his reputation than his family

Question 5

Eva Smith

Answer 5

represents: working class people (everyman character)
- through the play, the audience sees the transition from being spirited and standing up for workers to being beaten down by the ‘chain of events’
- suicide not necessary if society took responsibility for her situation

Question 6

Sheila Birling

Answer 6

represents: young middle class women who challenged the status quo
- selfish views to taking responsibility
- learns to challenge patriarchal status quo for women like her

Question 7

Mrs Birling

Answer 7

represents: middle class women who pretend to be charitable for show
- class-conscious + accepts the status quo for women at the time
- doesn’t change throughout the play and doesn’t accept responsibility
- corrosive influence of power in the hands of unfeeling authority
- Sybil = ironically named after a prophetess, she can tell the future?

Question 8

Eric and Gerald

Answer 8

• two privileged young men exploiting women who were forced, through poverty, to resort to sex work