An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

Through out the play Mr Birling is made out to be a dislikeable

character and in the opening stage direction priestly describes Mr

Birling as "A heavy looking rather portentous man in his middle

fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech,"

This quotation gives the audience an immediate clue to Mr Birlings

character, suggesting that he is self interested before he has even

spoken in the play.

The audience's dislike for Mr Birling quickly grows because of the

attitude he displays to Gerald. He sees the marriage as an opportunity

to improve his own standing by merging his business with Gerald's

fathers;

"Perhaps we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birling are

no longer competing but are working together-for lower costs and

higher prices"

Birling has no interest in weather Sheila, his daughter, is marrying

Gerald on the basis of love and respect. His only concern is the

potential the union of businesses has for him; to make more money by

joining the Birling and Croft family businesses.

Mr. Birling believes its every man for himself, to look after number

one, and not to care for poor people to forget about community. He is

very sexist as he tries to hide the truth form his family particularly

from Sheila. He does this because he believes young girls like Sheila

should be shielded from horrible things like death, because women are

too weak to cope with harsh reality but he believes men can.

When the inspector shows the family the picture of Eva Smith and the

family all find out they are all partly responsible for her death

Arthur Birling attempts to use status and power to influence the

Inspector. He was forever reminding him that he was an ex mayor and a

magistrate. He becomes extremely angry when he is accused of being

involved with Eva's death. This refusal to take any responsibility for

Eva Smith causes the audience to dislike Arthur Birling even more.