ipl-logo

Sheila's Death In An Inspector Calls Essay

838 Words4 Pages

In ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley, the actions of the Birling family and Gerald are factors in Eva Smith’s death. Their lack of social responsibility and feelings of superiority cause them to treat those they see as inferior with little thought and compassion. As a socialist, Priestley may have been attempting to comment on the injustice of class systems in the 1900s and the negative impacts of Capitalism on society.

In the first act of the play Sheila is naive and petulant. Her sense of superiority and lack of empathy for the lower class causes her to get Eva Smith fired, claiming that “she was very pretty” and so she “couldn’t feel sorry for her”. This illustrates the deep rooted sexism within society, causing Sheila, a woman herself, …show more content…

He tells the Inspector that it’s his “duty to keep labour costs down”. The noun ‘duty’ illustrates the upper class’ twisted view of morality, with Birling believing he is completely right, and even morally correct in, denying his workers adequate pay. This continues throughout the play, with Birling claiming that if they don't “come down hard” on the working classes “they’ll soon be asking for the earth”. This hyperbole demonstrates the extent of Birling’s greed, suggesting that he believes his workers asking for a fair wage is ridiculous and extortionate. The Inspector, a mouthpiece for Priestley and symbol of socialism in the play, responds that “it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it”. This metaphor is a warning to Birling, demonstrating Prietley’s own views on Capitalism and his complete opposition to Birling’s. The Inspector’s, and so Priestley’s, distaste for Birling further emphasise how he believes it is wrong and unjust for the upper classes and capitalist manufacturers to hold so much power. Mr Birling’s actions are seen to be the starting point of Eva Smith’s spiral of bad luck with the Birling family, with his materialism and unsympathetic attitude allowing him to sack Eva and cement his part in her tragic death. This view on how inequality leads to tragedy may have been solidified during Priestley’s time in the army during WWII, where the officers of higher class would send soldiers of lower classes do die on the front lines whilst they themselves remained

Show More
Related

How Does Priestley Present Money In An Inspector Calls

1538 Words | 7 Pages

Priestley implies that higher social class makes people greedy, through creating Mr Birling as a symbol of pomposity of capitalists in Edwardian society. He is constantly insecure in his own position and comes from the nouveau riche, making him socially inferior to the Crofts. Priestly illustrates how even Mr Birling experiences class prejudice despite being middle-upper class which provokes him to work harder and explains why he cares so much about being a ‘practical man of business’ and expanding his business to earn more money to decrease his insecurity. This is displayed when he says ‘There’ll be a public scandal... and who here will suffer for that more than I will’ indicating how significant money and his business is to him that he cares for his reputation before anything else. The desire of being associated amongst a higher class is the crucial reason for Mr Birling’s perspective on life, he is constantly striving to make more and more money to be able to live happily.

Read More

How Does Priestley Present Injustice In An Inspector Calls

1425 Words | 6 Pages

Sheila even reveals to the inspector that ‘If she'd been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it’, which perfectly summarises how Sheila’s selfishness towards others and how she cares more about people’s appearances than their actual worth as human beings. Next, Gerald Croft is shown to be selfish towards Eva Smith as he met her at a bar and began a romantic relationship with her, but he was not serious about her and eventually ends the relationship,

Read More

Mr Birling In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

481 Words | 2 Pages

J.B. Priestly, presents the character of Mr Birling to show how business was an important aspect of life, ' hard-headed business man'. The alliteration 'hard-headed' has dual meanings of both ruthlessness in terms of business and 'hard-headed' as in arrogant. This presents a capitalist society and how Priestly wants the audience to understand that business was practically the heart of a man's life. Also, Priestly wanted to infer how the capitalist view was wrong. There is an atmosphere of misplaced optimism during 1912.

Read More

How Is Mr Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls

1785 Words | 8 Pages

An inspector calls, written by J.B Priestly, is a play based on a suicide of a young woman Mr birling was the most to blame as he started the chain of misfortunate events of Eva Smith’s life which eventually lead to her suicide. Mr Birling is an exalted as well as being a wealthy capitalist, he is also portrayed as being a rather portentous man. Moreover, Priestly presents him as a middle-class citizen and extremely proud of his company Birling and co While boastingly claiming that he has “a couple of hundred workers under” him “which keep changing.” Due to his higher status to Eva Smith he views the working class as cheap labour rather than humans.

Read More

The Significance Of Confessions In An Inspector Calls

1681 Words | 7 Pages

The admission, ‘I caught sight of the girl smiling at Miss Francis’, highlights her insecurity and lack of confidence. However, we feel sorry for her as, in the early 20th century, young women were judged on their looks, which perhaps explains why she felt envious and this is considered as sinful. During Sheila’s interrogation, she remembers “[Eva] was a very pretty girl […] that didn’t make it any better.” and admits, “I went to the manager and told him this girl had been very impertinent – and – and - ”. The hesitation shows shame and regret and while looking back at her actions, she does not have enough words to

Read More

How Does Priestley Present Mccarthyism In An Inspector Calls

1401 Words | 6 Pages

As a result of the Birlings'' for all intents and purposes capitalist viewpoint, Priestley clearly actually shows the disparity between the for all intents and purposes upper and definitely lower classes in An Inspector Calls, which basically leads to Eva Smith\'s very tragic suicide as a result of the Birlings\' kind of capitalist viewpoint on life in a subtle way. There specifically is no doubt that Priestley focused on the patriarchal nature of sort of British society at the time, doing so to emphasise the need for change to basically take place in Britain, especially for families like the Birlings, who mostly are represented by Priestley\'s work, which basically is quite significant. At the start of the play Priestley actually highlights

Read More

How Does Priestley Present Mr Birling

1855 Words | 8 Pages

In the play An Inspector Calls, Priestley fundamentally presents a class ridden society through the characters attitudes and behaviour's within the play. The Birling family is seen to be attentive towards their class in society, especially Mr and Mrs Birling. Priestley uses the Birling family and The Inspector to imply how an arrogant and conceited mindset can destroy the lives of the less privileged through actions and words. Mr Birling is shown to be an extremely selfish, arrogant and stubborn character in the play.

Read More

Gender Stereotypes In An Inspector Calls Essay

1410 Words | 6 Pages

The repition of "I am a hard headed man of business" shows his arrogance and his capitalistic and emotionless mentality. "I say there isn't a chance of war" show his stubborn and arrogance. Priestly uses this dramatic irony to persuade the audience to side against Birling as they will think that he is foolish, unsympathetic and untrustworthy. As of portraying their stubborn and heard headed personality was not enough, Priestly makes it sure that the audience is able to clearly see mentality and coldness that capitalism brings to a human by making men emotionless and unsympathetic. "Well, we've several hundred young women there, y'know, and they keep changing.

Read More

Mr Birling Quotes

541 Words | 3 Pages

In J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," Mr Birling is portrayed as a wealthy businessman and a prominent member of the community. He is the head of a family that represents the upper class of Edwardian society, and his views and opinions reflect the prevailing attitudes of his time. Mr Birling's views on gender are typical of the patriarchal and conservative attitudes of his time. He believes that women should be submissive and should not have a say in political or economic matters.

Read More

Morality And Double Standards In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

504 Words | 3 Pages

In the play An Inspector Calls written by J.B Priestley, the use of morality and double standards gives us an insight into the society of the early 1900s; which remains relevant in social stratification, cultural and deviance aspects. Through the story of Arthur Birling, Mrs. Sybil Birling and their children Eric and Sheila. The upper-class family, with untouchable reputation, enjoy of an intimate party soiree in honour of Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Son of a well-known business man, Sir George Croft from Crofts Limited. When Inspector Goole pays a mood-changing visit, resulting in the systematic manipulation of the presumably respectable characters.

Read More

The Role Of Lighting In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

928 Words | 4 Pages

J.B Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1945, the last year of World War 2 but sets it in 1912 a time of inequality where upper and lower class was distinguished and treated differently within society and where a big gap existed among poor and rich people. The play introduces us to the theme of social inequality and social responsibility displaying the fact that trade unions were very weak, workers had few rights, wages were very low and many other injustices where made specially towards women; they were treated very differently then men and they were looked on as less important in society. Lighting is changed at the arrival of the Inspector "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder" this displays a contrast between scenes and atmosphere. It also shows the change in mood; suggesting a cheerful environment and a very joyfully and delight mood, everybody feeling thrilled for Shelia 's engagement and celebrating united as a family. But it changes to "brighter and harder" at the arrival of the Inspector and

Read More

Jimmy Cross Analysis

288 Words | 2 Pages

Although Martha never returned Jimmy Cross’s affections towards her, and although Jimmy understands that on some levels, he continues to fantasize and obsess about her in order to carry himself through the war. Martha, to Jimmy, is not a living and breathing person; much like Kiowa carries his belief in God with him, Jimmy carries his obsession with Martha, his continual wondering about her virginity or her poetry in order to distract himself from the pain of war, in order to believe there are still beautiful things left in the world. He does this without wanting to; even when he is desperately trying to look out for his men, his subconscious is still forcing him to dream about Martha: “ And then suddenly, without willing it, he was thinking

Read More

J. B Priestley's Use Of The Inspector In The Crucible

1359 Words | 6 Pages

Priestley demonstrates the theme of wealth, power and influence as Mr Birling acts callously towards the Inspector. However he is not affected by Mr Birling’s cruel disregard for the lower class and indifference towards the wellbeing of those he considers as inferior to himself, linking to the theme of class politics. For example, at the end of act 3, the Inspector delivers his final speech, telling the Birlings that “If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”, which once again links to class politics. Priestley is essentially warning the audience of the consequences of capitalism, showing the audience that if the bourgeoisie do not change their ways and treat the lower class more fairly and equally, they will face endless adversity and destruction; fundamentally manipulating the audience into believing one has to either be socialistic or capitalistic. The metaphor “fire and blood and anguish” gives a compelling image that insinuates conflict and the words, “fire”, “blood” and “anguish” also hints at a religious evaluation, as if the Inspector was a messenger from god.

Read More

Essay On Sheila's Change In An Inspector Calls

1041 Words | 5 Pages

Here, there is a visible separation between the old and young characters because the old, Mr and Mrs Birling are still sticking to their arrogant and capitalistic views, however, the young, Sheila and Eric understands they have been immoral. Priestly had purposefully done this to highlight how corrupt capitalistic views were. As Priestly was a socialist he wanted to spread a message portrayed by the Inspector and the younger

Read More

Inspector Goole Character Analysis

1642 Words | 7 Pages

Priestly attempts to exemplify in Mr Birling’s character into the type of mentality that majority of upper class capitalist business men had in the early 1900s in England. It is extremely ironic that the Inspector rings the bell of the house just as Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald that people must look out solely for their own interests ("a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and - “ act 1): throughout his interrogation, the Inspector champions the very opposite idea - that "we are all responsible for each other.” The Inspectors view on community as a whole is considered a very socialist view. Notably, Priestly was socialist after all and used the play as a more socially acceptable way of stating his opinion on social responsibility, politics and labour rights. The

Read More

More about Sheila's Death In An Inspector Calls Essay

Related Topics

Open Document