The Character that Changes Most in Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

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The Character that Changes Most in Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley During the play, the inspector prys into the personalities of the main characters, Gerald Croft, Eric Birling, Sheila Birling, Mrs. Sybil Birling and Mr. Arthur Birling. The two characters that change the most during the play are Sheila and Eric, the two younger members of the Birling family. They change as a result of the inspector linking them and their thoughts, actions and ultimately way of life to the apparent suicide of a local woman, "Eva Smith", who it appears, had links with all of the main characters in the play. Mr and Mrs. Birling do not appear to change in their personality or behaviour, although the inspector tries to open their minds to living without prejudices, but they cannot change. The inspector sums this up when he says "We often have more influence on the young", suggesting that the inspector does, and will have more of an impact on Sheila and Eric Birling, than on their parents. At the beginning of the play Sheila is; rich, spoiled, and arrogant and is unable to control her bad temper. For example she gets into a foul mood in a department store, when a dress she really likes suits the girl working there (Eva Smith) who tried it on and not her. The girl smiles to herself, looking good. When Sheila notices this, she storms out of the store. Sheila is brought up to believe that she (and those in her family and of the same social standing) is better than those lower down the social scale. She has a very privileged life to look forward to, is affluent and is engaged to the son of a very fine, wealthy family. Sheila's personality comes through when she meets Eva in a Department store, after Eva has been sacked by Mr. Birling from his factory for wanting higher pay. Sheila, in the store, is angry with her mother, as Mrs. Birling thinks that the dress that Sheila wants doesn't suit her.

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