He is decsribed as a
"heavy-looking rater portentous
man in his fifties but rather
provincial in his speech"
He shows off his port to Gerald - "it's
exactly the same port your father gets"
He claims the party "is one of the most
happiest nights of my life
Becuase Sheila is marrying Gerald
Beuase he is merging business
with Croft Limited
He is optimisic for the future and there will be NO WAR
He is extremely selfish
Socailist view - "a man has to make his own way"
Importance community is "nonsence"
He cannot see his wrong in sacking Eva (he was looking
after business interests)
The Inspector
He likes to deal with one person at a time
He gives a figure of authority
He knows a lot about Evan the Birling family and Gerald
He knows he doesn't have much time at
the end as he says "I haven't much time"
Becausehe knows a real Inspector is on their way!
He's final speech is like a politician
"We are responsible for each other" and warns them of the
"fire and blood and anguish" that will result if they do not
pay attention to what he has taught them.
Sybill (Mrs) Birling
She is cold-hearted and snobbish.
She is a prominent member of the local women's charity
She turns a blind eye to her sons
(Eric) drinking issuse
Gerald Croft
Described as 'an attractive chap about 30, rather too
manly to be a dandy buy very much the easy
well-breed young man-bout-town'
At the start he comes across as confident and charming
This changes after his affair with Eva Smith
He initally is evasive and tries not to talk when the inspector mentions the name 'Daisy Renton'
He redeems himself by being more open and honest about the affair as she talks to Sheila
He lets himself down by trying to get the family out of trouble - he doesn't learn from his mistakes.
Sheila Birling
At the start of the play she is giddy, naive and childish young lady
She is shocked by the news of Eva's death
She is regretful of her own involement in the suicide
During the play
her character
matures
She shows an assertive side by standing up to
her mother and father - she shows that she is
insightful and intelligent
Eric Birling
He is described as a character who is
'not quite at ease, half shy, half
assertive
He lacks confidence
He is drunk at the dinner table and it is
later revealed that he has been drinking
too much for too long
Eric had an affair with Eva Smith
He is the father of Eva's baby when she died
Eric stole money from his father to help Eva
In the final act of the play, Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents