An Inspector Calls Characters

Mr Birling
1. He is decsribed as a "heavy-looking rater portentous man in his fifties but rather provincial in his speech"
2. He shows off his port to Gerald - "it's exactly the same port your father gets"
3. He claims the party "is one of the most happiest nights of my life
  1. Becuase Sheila is marrying Gerald
  2. Beuase he is merging business with Croft Limited
4. He is optimisic for the future and there will be NO WAR
5. He is extremely selfish
6. Socailist view - "a man has to make his own way"
7. Importance community is "nonsence"
8. He cannot see his wrong in sacking Eva (he was looking after business interests)
The Inspector
1. He likes to deal with one person at a time
2. He gives a figure of authority
3. He knows a lot about Evan the Birling family and Gerald
4. He knows he doesn't have much time at the end as he says "I haven't much time"
  1. Becausehe knows a real Inspector is on their way!
5. He's final speech is like a politician
  1. "We are responsible for each other" and warns them of the "fire and blood and anguish" that will result if they do not pay attention to what he has taught them.
Sybill (Mrs) Birling
1. She is cold-hearted and snobbish.
2. She is a prominent member of the local women's charity
3. She turns a blind eye to her sons (Eric) drinking issuse
Gerald Croft
1. Described as 'an attractive chap about 30, rather too manly to be a dandy buy very much the easy well-breed young man-bout-town'
2. At the start he comes across as confident and charming
  1. This changes after his affair with Eva Smith
3. He initally is evasive and tries not to talk when the inspector mentions the name 'Daisy Renton'
4. He redeems himself by being more open and honest about the affair as she talks to Sheila
5. He lets himself down by trying to get the family out of trouble - he doesn't learn from his mistakes.
Sheila Birling
1. At the start of the play she is giddy, naive and childish young lady
2. She is shocked by the news of Eva's death
  1. She is regretful of her own involement in the suicide
3. During the play her character matures
4. She shows an assertive side by standing up to her mother and father - she shows that she is insightful and intelligent
Eric Birling
1. He is described as a character who is 'not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
2. He lacks confidence
3. He is drunk at the dinner table and it is later revealed that he has been drinking too much for too long
4. Eric had an affair with Eva Smith
  1. He is the father of Eva's baby when she died
5. Eric stole money from his father to help Eva
6. In the final act of the play, Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents

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An Inspector Calls Characters

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	Created by Alex Dance almost 7 years ago