... characters are being controlled by their gender. For example, it is interesting that Sheila is very aware that it is Gerald who will and has picked the wedding ring for her, and seems to not mind in the slightest, "Oh - Gerald - you've got it (the ring) is it the one you ... the recriminations of what happened that night begin, Mr. Birling is very anxious about his knighthood whereas the younger members of the cast such as Eric and Sheila feel emotionally drained and ashamed of what they had done and their part in the whole saga. Throughout the play Sheila has been ... Mrs. Birling puts...

• Word Count: 5428
• Approx Pages: 22
• Grade Level: High School

... ordered her to be dismissed from her job in a shop simply because of her pride; Gerald Croft kept her as his mistress before leaving her suddenly; Eric Birling also had an affair with the girl and stole money to keep her living; and Mrs Birling used her influence to deny help to Eva Smith ... , which he eventually broke off in September. We consequently discover that what appeared to be a very insignificant break up by Gerald had colossal consequences. In November Eric met Eva in the same place. He managed to get her pregnant. When she found out that he was giving her money that he had s...

• Word Count: 4496
• Approx Pages: 18
• Grade Level: High School

... were two world wars about to happen, but the characters did not. The Inspector seems to already know of the incidents that the family tell him. When Eric and Sheila find out what their parents and Gerald contributed to the demise of Eva, they are shocked: 'Well I think it's a damn shame.' The ... show people like Birling to be at fault. Each of the Birlings and Gerald have done things to Eva that were wrong. However, Sheila and Eric are very regretful and seem to have learnt from their mistakes and immediately become more likeable and seem less at fault. The Inspector implies that the ......

• Word Count: 4696
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: High School

... It is about a family which consists of Arthur Birling, a wealthy, successful manufacturer, his wife, also his social superior, Cybil Birling and their children, Eric Birling and Sheila Birling. Eric's behaviour can be described as peculiar due to the fact that it is described as both "shy and assertive", and Sheila is a pretty young lady. ... from exactly where it left off, just like it did at the end of act one and the beginning of act two, when Eric left. The stage directions read: "Eric is standing just inside the room and the others are staring at him". His only words are "you don'...

• Word Count: 1261
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... play were all over the place. The ones that most caught my eyes were Man vs. Man (Mr. Goole vs. everyone in the family), Man vs. Man (Eric Birling vs. his parents), and another Man vs. Man (Sheila Birling vs. Gerald.) In this play, the theme was basically stated towards the end. As Goole, ... the father, Arthur Birling. Following with Sheila Birling, Gerald (Sheila's recent fiancé), Sybil Birling and lastly Eric Birling. The second conflict is another Man vs. Man, with Eric versus his parents. In the play, Eric has a drinking problem and no one seems to notice except his sister Shelia a...

• Word Count: 959
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . You can see this when Sheila says, " These girls aren't cheap labour, they"re people." Another example of this is when Eric says, "He should have kept her on." This shows that Sheila and Eric thought that their father had done something wrong. This was a very big mistake by Mr Birling. It left Eva without a job and ... Eva To find the father of the child as it was his responsibility. This is how Mrs Birling is involved in the whole thing. Well Eric comes in the story too. Eric is an immature wild drinker who is all so very selfish. Well he saw Eva at the Place Bar. He quite fancied her...

• Word Count: 2092
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... her the most responsible because she turned downed Eva when she most needed help. Eric Birling a young man and known as being sometimes being a bit squiffy, also Eric is known to sleep with prostitutes, Eric played a big responsibility into to Eva's death. Eric got drunk one night & met Eva; Eric took Eva back to his house and made love to her. Couple month's later Eva ... the inspector that he is the father of Eva's baby and that he needed to manage with money. Eric had no idea that Eva committed suicide, until the inspector told him Eric was shocked and couldn't believe it he blamed h...

• Word Count: 1005
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... explained that: "The girl had been causing trouble in the works. I was quite justified." He was backed up by Gerald Croft whereas Sheila and Eric disapproved. Arthur Birling resents being challenged by the inspector and especially resents the suggestion that he just uses girls for cheap labour and getting rich on ... be homeless and starving. Society's attitude to unmarried mothers was also very different from today. It was intolerant and Daisy would be looked down on. Eric is sorry for what he has done, but that doesn't excuse his behaviour. Although not entirely to blame for her suicid...

• Word Count: 2558
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... can see in the way he replies to Sheila above. I think, overall, that the Inspector has a different effect on each of the characters but mostly on Eric and Sheila as they are they children in the play as he says to Mrs Birling: (Coolly) "We often do on the young ones. They"re more ... ought to be dealt with very severely -" "(With sudden alarm) "Mother - stop - stop!" There is intense drama here as the audience realises with Sheila that Eric is to blame. Here, the stage directions say much as they show that Sheila is astonished by the way her mother is demanding this boy be treated, so s...

• Word Count: 1848
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... money" and that he was "a youngster, silly and wild and drinking too much." She does not realise of course, that she is describing her own son Eric, Mrs Birling even suggests "He ought to be dealt with very severely." Mrs Birling only later realises the truth at the end of Act Two, where she ... , no regret is felt and it seems that she is totally unmoved by the whole incident, only when she discovers that her own son is involved. ERIC: Eric Birling returns to the play in Act Three and under questioning from the inspector reveals the extent of his drinking, his relationship with Eva Smith...

• Word Count: 1941
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... Gerald is a businessman with a single aim of making a profit, agreeing that if an employee is not helping to complete this aim then they should be fired. Eric on the other hand should disagree with Birling, he makes a comment saying " it isn't if you cant go and work somewhere else" when Birling says its ... a free country and Eva can work somewhere else. Eric should be disgusted with a hint of anger against his father. The room is extremely tense when Sheila enters with an argument going on, she creates a kind of ... Sheila should accept the fact that she is to blame, not attempting to...

• Word Count: 2117
• Approx Pages: 8

... 's stubbornness and her attitude towards responsibility. Sybil is a cold woman. She constantly tells her daughter, "Sheila, I simply don't understand your attitude," referring to Sheila's visible knowledge about everybody's guilt. When Eric reveals that he was the father of Eva's child, Sybil remarks, "There must be some mistake," revealing her distress, but not because he was the father, but because the family ... name would be shamed if it gets out. Eric Birling is a quiet young man who speaks his opinion when he feels it's best, this is often rectless and he is also a heavy drinker. W...

• Word Count: 1260
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... no idea about Russia's political power, which was to be shown shortly after. Birling silences and dismisses other points of view, particularly when it comes from someone younger, such as Eric or Sheila. When the Inspector tries to challenge his actions and decisions, Birling is surprised and doesn't like the Inspector taking control of the situation. Birling doesn't feel that he ... the future, knowing that war is inevitable and it is Birling's attitude which will cause it. The Inspector's moral force works well on the younger member's of the Birling family, Eric and Sheila, but not on ...

• Word Count: 2403
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... Smith to Daisy Renton after she has an affair with Sheila's fiancé Gerald Croft, all summer. After Gerald dumps her, she has an affair with Eric Birling, Mr. Birling's son, and she becomes pregnant. But she wouldn't get any more money from him after knowing that he stole it. So she ... with good leadership qualities and a sense of justice, but she can't cope with always being the one to be chucked out. Because of her vulnerability Gerald and Eric use her, even though she knew that Gerald wouldn't marry her because they are of two very different classes she still goes out with him. Sheil...

• Word Count: 1459
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... the other characters. During the play you can see that Sheila sees her farther a hardworking business man who is very impressive in his work, her brother Eric, is a troubled and uncomfortable person who depends on alcohol to get himself through life. Then there is her mother Syble who is very vain and spiteful. ... firing her and Mrs. Birling turning her away at the Women's Charity Organization. Then with Sheila and the shop incident they had, also there was Eric who gets her pregnant and to top it all, Gerald having an affair with her while being married to Sheila. All this can clear a...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... financial support, she went to Mrs. Birling's charity for money, food or at least sympathy. But as she lied about her situation (to protect Eric), Mrs. Birling used her power to influence the others not to allow her support. During the whole play Priestley writes so that you feel sympathetic ... class people of England during that period. Priestley believes strongly in socialism and shows this by portraying the Birling's as a ruthless family. Priestley cleverly uses Eric and Gerald in the play, as they both sleep with Eva Smith, thus causing a family disgrace, as she was of a lower-class...

• Word Count: 1654
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... owner of Birling and Co. which is a factory that employs several hundred young women. He is also the husband of Sybil Birling and the father of Sheila and Eric Birling. He was an alderman for years and Lord Mayor two years ago, as of now he is a Magistrate. This shows that he is quite a powerful and ... easily take it up.' We can tell that Mr Birling is a social climber and he strives to become better. In act three after knowing Eric stealing the money from the accounts, Mr Birling told Eric 'You must give me a list of those accounts. I've got to cover this up as soon as I can.' The ...

• Word Count: 996
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... best. She is very much a housewife and without the roll of being Mr. B's wife I don't honestly think that she would be anywhere at all. Eric Eric is a very like minded individual and he is Mr. B's little toy, Eric is supposed to be marrying Sheila, but this is probably just because of the family's well known name and he also being a factory owner likes ... and respects Mr. Birling a lot. Plus there is the fact of the money that is enlived within the family and this just might come in useful in the future to Eric. Status Their status in the play is one of a well-known high class and very...

• Word Count: 861
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... sets a very positive atmosphere.There are some undercurrents of tension throughout the beginning before the Inspectors arrival between Eric and Birling. 'BIRLING-Whats the matter with you? ERIC-(defiantly)Nothing.' They don't seem to understand each other which also implies they are not very close.When Edna ... have any sort of public scandal which will jeopardise his chances of receiving a knighthood. Before the Inspector arrives Birling is impatient with Eric and is in control of the situation.Birling is confident,jovial,excited and even smug about his daughters engagement because it m...

• Word Count: 1612
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... increase in wages; Sheila ordered her to be dismissed from her job in a shop simply because of her pride; Gerald Croft kept her as his mistress before leaving her suddenly; Eric Birling (Mr & Mrs Birling's son) also had an affair with the girl and stole money to keep her living; and Mrs Birling used her influence to deny help to Eva ... relationship. However, the fact that he is thought of in very low esteem by Sheila and her parents after he tells the details of his affair. Eric: is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Birling. Eric has a drinking problem, we know this because at dinner Sheila noti...

• Word Count: 1526
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... came to inform the Birling's of her suicide they would probably have never known that she was gone. This adds greatly to the guilt of Sheila and Eric but once again, not Mr and Mrs Birling. A straightforward detective thriller's purpose is to entertain. An Inspector Calls is different because it has a moral ... all by the older generation, the Birling parents. Once the full extent of the situation is known then Birling thinks his conscience is clear and blames Eric, but as he reveals that the Inspector took me by surprise', his conscience obviously isn't clear. Mrs. Birling delights in b...

• Word Count: 3387
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: High School

... is an animated and vivacious character who has an idea about the outside world and so, is not completely innocent. Eric, her brother, is characterized as "half-shy" and "half-assertive". Shiela and Eric together represent the younger generation in society. Their progression is from "immature" and "ignorance" to that of " ... the working class. She is time and again, downtrodden. i.e. Mr. Birling throws her out of her job when she needed it. Gerald and Eric both use her and in some way keep secret or smother the fact that they did. Sheila uses her power to throw her out of her ... . Sheila...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... came to inform the Birling's of her suicide they would probably have never known that she was gone. This adds greatly to the guilt of Sheila and Eric but once again, not Mr and Mrs Birling. A straightforward detective thriller's purpose is to entertain. An Inspector Calls is different because it has a moral ... all by the older generation, the Birling parents. Once the full extent of the situation is known then Birling thinks his conscience is clear and blames Eric, but as he reveals that the Inspector took me by surprise', his conscience obviously isn't clear. Mrs. Birling delights in b...

• Word Count: 3228
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... inspector or Birling, she is less one-dimensional than the pair of them however she is only used in the play as a literally device. Eric can be considered in the same light as Sheila, together they represent the younger generation, well, at least the thinking and intellectual of the ... however, they all begin to crack, but the degree to which they accept the blame, reflects on the amount they have learned. Sheila and Eric obviously admit their past and are exceptionally contrite; they show remorse for what they have done. Although Birling doesn't learn anything, and appears to be ... ...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5

... deal with, but when another human being is brought into the picture then it becomes marginally more difficult of a task, which is what Eric conclusively did to Eva when using her, "For the end of a stupid drunken evening."" (Act 3). Eric had met her in the palace bar, being drunk as usual and "Began talking to her, and stood her a few drinks."" (Act ... he care for her but he gave her a fairy tale life for an amount of time. She left him with a positive experience and wanting to change her life whereas with Eric, whom I think is the most responsible, impregnated her and left her with a ...

• Word Count: 1827
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School