An Inspector Calls - Important Characters

An inspector calls

Arthur birling

* He is middle class, wealthy and dreams of being upper class

* Hopes to be knighted “there’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next honours list

* Former lord mayor of brumley and is very self-confidence “ I was an alderman for years and lord mayor for two years”

* As a local magistrate he see himself above law

* You know the chief constable “we play golf together sometimes”

* At the end is glad to have avoided public scandal

* Totally unaware of effects of his actions on other people

* Loves ripping his employees off “lower costs and higher prices”

* Unrealistic about the future “titanic is unsinkable”

Quotes

* ‘heavy looking, rather portentous man’

* ‘community and all that nonsense’

* ‘the wretched girl’s suicide’

* (Eric)‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble. That’s why.’

* ‘The whole story’s just a lot of moonshine.’

* ‘I know the Brumley police officers pretty well’

How does he develop?

* Does not develop

* Glad that there is no public scandal

* Still accepts no responsibility for Eva’s death

* Selfish – even after knowing that Gerald had an affair with Eva he wants Sheila to marry him

Sybil Birling

* Horrible snob looks down on people with less money

* Refuses Eva smith money just because she used same name as her calling it “a piece of gross impertinence”

* Hypocrite and judge lower class more harshly when her family is not upper class

* She is irresponsible and not knowing that his son is the guy who got Eva pregnant called him “drunken young idler”

* Wants no responsibility for Eva’s death

* Higher in social class to her husband

Quotes

* ‘Girls of that class.’

* (On Eric’s drinking) ‘He’s only a boy.’

* ‘We’ve done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving causes.’

* ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’

* ‘I blame the young man. He ought to be...