An Inspector Calls

5 Pages 1239 Words

Character Profile - Arthur Birling
Regards himself as reasonable and pays the going rate to employees.
Unable to grasp link between actions and consequences, or wider
social/world issues.
No concepts of value other than money and position (speech pg. 4 -
Daughter as deal).
Proud of his status and is a social climber (Daughter's marriage for status
pg. 4, 8).
Sees him & wife as upholding 'right' values and as guardians of 'proper'
conduct.
Is blind to issues of the day and has a false optimism for the future based on his
inability to analyse the world around him (Future speeches pg. 6, 7). Speeches
are used as a device by Priestley to show Birling's naïveté (ignorance), as all
that he predicts is wrong (play written with benefit of hindsight in 1945).
Mr. Birling is almost a stereotype/caricature of the capitalistic businessman its
inherent callous heartlessness. Note references to capitalism (pg. 6, 7), business
(pg. 6 "hard headed businessman," 10 "mind his own business") and profit (pg.
14, 15).
He is proud of his status and reminds other of it (pg. 8 "knighthood" p.10
"Bench"), especially when trying to put the Inspector in his place (p.16 "golf").
He is so uneasy about these matters that he is uneasy about Gerald marrying
Sheila (pg. 8). At the end of the play it is the possible loss of his knighthood
that bothers him most, not his conscience (pg. 57).

Character Profile - Sybil Birling
Even more hard-faced and arrogant than her husband.
Introduced as her husband's social superior (pg. 1).
Is very snobbish, conscious of and uses social position to try and intimidate
(pg. 31).
She expects other to respect her, her opinions and defer to her (pg. 31).
Resents being contradicted, even when caught lying by the inspector
(pg.30,41-2,44).
Sybil Birling seems to be genuinely surprised to hear about Eric's drink problem,
although this doesn't surprise Sheila or Gerald (pg. 32) and surprised t...