... 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

... . 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

... 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...

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... '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

... 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

... 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

... 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

... 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 ... ...

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... 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

... where to look for his answers. He shows Mr Birling a photograph of a young girl names Eva Smith that committed suicide, the inspector did not let anyone else see this picture. Eric says, "Any particular reason why I shouldn't be allowed to see this photo inspector?" The inspector simply reply's, "there might be". This is strange to ... Eric, why can't they all see the photograph? Mr Birling explains to the inspector that he knew this young girl from his work place, and that one day she along with ... he had had an affair with her. At the start of the play Sheila seems very happy and t...

• Word Count: 1442
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School