The Theme Of Responsibility In An Inspector Calls

How is the theme of responsibility presented in ‘An Inspector Calls’?

The theme of responsibility is presented at different levels throughout the play ‘The Inspector Calls from different characters. Some show responsibility throughout the play, others show none at all, and several even have a change in the amount of responsibility they appear to have.

Sheila Birling shows responsibility by admitting what she’s done and feeling miserable after realizing what she’s done to an innocent woman that she hadn’t even known. Sheila explains to the inspector in detail what happened on the day that she met Eva and doesn’t deny it when the inspector says “You might be said to have been jealous of her”, “Yes, I suppose so”, her answer was short, there wasn’t any denial, she says “Yes” first which is a sentence word that she used to further prove that she has come to the realization of why she did what she did. She knows and understands that what she’s done to Eva was wrong, she accepts that her actions led Eva to a terrible state and a small action could lead to a horrific outcome.

Mr. Birling doesn’t show any responsibility throughout the play, “obviously it has nothing

“Could I have a drink first?”, he asks that question because they all already found out about his drinking habits and he no longer feels the need to hide it from them. “First” he uses the word first to show how much he relies on drinking and as an alcoholic he can’t do anything without it. “I got it – from the office—”, he pauses when he admits that he had taken his father’s money but when he’s asked if it’s stolen, he says “Not, really”, he wasn’t ashamed of it, he never was, the short reply expresses his confident tone, he doesn’t think he did anything horrific he simply believes he borrowed it that’s why he offered it to her. He acted irresponsibly by spending his father’s money on drinking and stealing even more because he couldn’t solve his problems