J.B. Priestley

More clues are added to the plot gradually as the play develops to give the characters and the audience a chance to solve the mystery of Eva's death by themselves, and the suspense is heightened by the skilful use of climaxes within the play. The story of the girl is left by the Inspector Goole to tell itself, and he only makes minimal interruptions. Each turn of events is described and pulled apart by the Inspector, slowly building up the story of what happened to Eva Smith and who caused her to commit suicide. However the excitement and suspense is not over when the Inspector leaves, with the unexpected phone call and the loop beginning again. .
             Arthur Birling is described at the beginning of the play as "A heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties, with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech." Arthur Birling is the head of the family, the head of his own firm and represents the views and values of many men living in Edwardian Britain, and as head of the family he makes the speeches and presides over the family gathering. He uses bombastic language, and is very pleased with himself and his achievements after working hard to become the head of his own business, marry above himself and become a respected member of the community. Birling's status is very important to him and the last thing he wants is anything that could jeopardize this. This is shown at many places in the play, he buys his port from the same buyer as the socially superior Crofts, and he is only concerned about Eva because of the effect the scandal could have on his chances of a knighthood. His language is very self-congratulatory, and almost bullying as he believes himself to be right about everything, this is shown in every speech he makes, but especially in the first speech "And I am talking as a hard-headed practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war." This is just one of the many cases of dramatic irony that Priestley uses in the play.