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The Characfrom An Insp

Calls

By Will Seaton

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Sheila-

The Birlings daughter. Engaged to bemarried to Gerald Croft. She is in her earlytwenties and is described as pretty. The

attention surrounding her importantengagement gives her great pleasure,showing her to be somewhat self-centred.She then starts the play as someone whomthe audience would regard as superficialhowever, this changes once she hears of thegirls death and her potential part in it andbecomes more caring and sensitive. Sheshows genuine remorse about the fact thatit was her who caused the girl to lose herjob at the shop.

Arguably in the second part she maturesand then definitely realises the importanceof the Inspectors (Priestlys) message.

in her early t

rathe

I'll never, neve

pretty

very pleasedwith life

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Mr Birling-A successful business man, a magistrate and someonewho is active in local politics, Mr Birling has also hadthe honour of being Lord Mayor of Brumley. He hopesthat all this will lead to him being given a knighthoodand therefore becoming more socially acceptable toSir George and Lady Croft, particularly considering hisworking class background. His description is of aheavy-looking and portentous man. This descriptionhelps to give an impression of him being of athreatening appearance. He is pleased about theengagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, as he believes itwill be good for his business. It is central to the playthat his attitude to business and the fact that a man

should look after his own is discredited by theconfessions that the inspector brings about.

He is father to Eric and Sheila. Also he is a capitalistand has right wing political views. Plus Mr Birlingrepresents Priestley's hatred of businessmen who areonly interested in making money. He will never alterhis ways and it is left to the younger generation tolearn from their mistakes .

hard headed pract

of business

heavy-looking man

a man has to m

way

self made man

Look,

Inspector -

I'd give

thousands

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The Inspector-The Inspectors specific name is Goole.His role grows as the play unfolds and thestory of each character is revealed. Whilstthey are broken down he remains solid

and despite attempts from the others todistract him from his purpose he staysthis way throughout. He is the one whomakes things happen in the play. Were itnot for him none of the secrets that theothers have would be revealed and it ishe who demonstrates how people areresponsible for the affect they have onthe lives of others. His sombreappearance in the play is completely theopposite to the Birlings mood at thestart. There is an air of celebration in theroom until he enters bringing with himthe news of the dead girl. After hisintroduction he assumes control of the

conversation and becomes dominant.

Need not b

disconcerting

an impression of

massiveness, solidity

and purposefulness

Ambiguous

Ominous

i

b

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Eric-

Eric is an opposite of his sister and notquite at ease. His father does not approveof him and his mother cannot see his

faults one of which is a drink problem. Hehas made the dead girl pregnant and hehas also stolen money from his father tosupport her. Like his sister, however, hefeels both a strong sense of guilt and realsympathy towards Eva Smith.

He is a strange character given hisbackground and does not hold a largeamount of respect for his father and evenmore so does not fear him. Furthermorehe is not in anyway as worldly or ascunning as Gerald. Again Eric is a youngcharacter that recognises is mistreatmentof Eva Smith.

early twenties

half assertive

half shy

naive

A drunkard

not quite at

ease

Works under

his father

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Gerald-

Sheilas fianc and the son of herfathers industrial rival. He isrespected by Mr Birling who shares

his capitalist and profit centredbeliefs. Self confident and at easewith anyone he comes into contactwith are the his main traits. He iscourteous and tactful towards theBirlings. It comes to light that he hashad an affair with the dead girl who

had changed her name to DaisyRenton at the time.

Finally, Sheila ends their short livedengagement.

about thirty

well bred

young

man about

town

attractive

chap

Works for

Croft Limited

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Eva Smith (DaisyRenton)-

She is linked to all the other characters,except for the inspector and Edna, whoall seemed to have played a part in her

downfall. Her existence and death are indirect contrast with the wealthy lives ofthe Birlings and Gerald Croft.

She worked for Mr Birling, hadrelationships with Eric and Gerald andwas rejected by Mrs Birlings charitablecommittee. She commits suicide twohours prior to the plays context afterdrinking strong disinfectant. However shemay never have existed as one personand instead ultimately epitomises theworking class that are abused in 1912England.

dark eyes

country-bred

Soft

brown

hair

pretty

No parents