How is Sheila Billing Presented?
Sheila is presented as a naive upper-class girl who develops into a morally responsible and socially aware young woman.
Paragraph 1 - Sheila Birling
Immature
“very pleased with life”
“Is it the one you wanted me to have?”
👉 Childish, dependent, sheltered
👉 Theme: Class privilege
Paragraph 2 - Sheila
Accepts Responsibility
“I know I’m to blame”
“I’ll never, never do it again”
👉 Guilt, maturity
👉 Theme: Responsibility
Paragraph 3 - Sheila
Represents Change
“You’re pretending everything’s just as it was before”
👉 Challenges parents
👉 Theme: Generational divide / Hope
How is Mr Birling presented?
Mr Birling is presented as arrogant and selfish, representing capitalist values that Priestley criticises.
Paragraph 1 - Mr Birling
“unsinkable absolutely unsinkable”
“The Germans don’t want war”
👉 Dramatic irony makes him foolish
👉 Theme: Capitalism
Paragraph 2 - Mr Birling
Refuses Responsibility
“I can’t accept any responsibility”
👉 Selfish
👉 Ignores consequences
Paragraph 3 - Mr Birling
Reputation Matters Most
“There’ll be a public scandal”
👉 Cares about status, not morality
👉 Theme: Social responsibility
How is Mrs Birling presented?
Mrs Birling is presented as cold, classist and unwilling to change.
Paragraph 1 - Mrs Birling
Cold & Superior
“a rather cold woman”
“her husband’s social superior”
👉 Looks down on others
👉 Theme: Class divide
Paragraph 2 - Mrs Birling
Lacks Empathy
• “Girls of that class”
👉 Dismissive
👉 Prejudice
Paragraph 3 - Mrs Birling
Refuses Blame
• “I accept no blame for it at all”
👉 No development
👉 Represents stubborn upper class
How is Eric presented?
Eric is presented as troubled and irresponsible at first but later accepts responsibility.
Paragraph 1 - Eric
Uncomfortable
l “half shy half assertive”
👉 Hiding something
👉 Foreshadowing
Paragraph 2 - Eric
Irresponsible
“I was in a state when a chap easily turns nasty”
👉 Immature
👉 Abuse of power
Paragraph 3 - Eric
Accepts Guilt
“The fact remains that I did what I did”
👉 Honest
👉 Theme: Responsibility
How is the Inspector presented?
The Inspector is presented as powerful and moral, representing Priestley’s socialist message.
Paragraph 1 - Inspector
Powerful Entrance
• “impression of massiveness”
👉 Authority
👉 Controls room
Paragraph 2 - Inspector
Moral Message
“We are members of one body”
👉 Unity
👉 Socialism
Paragraph 3 - Inspector
Warning
“Fire and blood and anguish”
👉 Threat of consequences
👉 Priestley’s warning to audience
How is Gerald presented?
Gerald is presented as charming but ultimately unwilling to fully accept responsibility.
Paragraph 1 - Gerald Croft
Charming
“easy well-bred young man-about-town”
“Attractive man”
👉 Upper class confidence
Paragraph 2 - Gerald
Affair
“I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me”
👉 Self-justifying
Paragraph 3 - Gerald
Focuses on whether it was a hoax
👉 Learns little
👉 Represents resistance to change
