Character description: Gerald is a successful, self-made businessman who holds wealth and status within the community as a magistrate and the mayor of Brumley. He is around thirty years old and is described as an attractive and well-bred man. He is dismissive of his responsibilities but recognizes his wrongdoings and has good family values, as shown in his intention to help Eva Smith with a place to live.
Authorial methods: Gerald is foreshadowed in the play, and his character and values are similar to Arthur's. This hints at the author's intentional creation of characters who share common traits.
Examples: When Gerald dismisses his responsibility towards Eva Smith, it serves as an example of his dismissive attitude. His willingness to help Eva with a place to stay showcases his good family values.
Character description: Sybil, the wife of Arthur and mother of Sheila and Eric, is concerned with the class system and often shows embarrassment and disapproval towards those from lower classes.
Authorial methods: The author employs the character of Sybil to highlight the societal attitudes towards the working class.
Examples: Sybil's lack of compassion towards Eva Smith and her dismissal of Eva's claims serve as examples of her disapproval of those from lower classes.
Character description: The Inspector serves as a mouthpiece for the author's socialist views and challenges the Birlings' attitudes towards social responsibility. He remains unchanged at the end of the play and appears as a figure of authority who stands up for the working class.
Authorial methods: The Inspector conveys the author's views on socialism and social responsibility, making him an important voice in the play.
Examples: The Inspector's key quotes about the interconnection of lives and the responsibility individuals have towards each other serve as examples of the author's messages through the character of the Inspector.
Character description: Eric is a representative of the younger generation, who feels uncomfortable and shy in social settings. He supports the idea of social responsibility and is quick to condemn the system that allowed his family's behavior towards Eva Smith.
Authorial methods: Eric's character showcases the author's intentions to represent the younger generation's views on social responsibility and moral improvement.
Examples: Eric's recognition of the lessons taught by the Inspector and his willingness to change serve as examples of the author's portrayal of the younger generation's attitude towards social responsibility.
Character description: Edna, the Birlings' maid, serves as a reminder of the family's wealth and the presence of the lower classes. She introduces the Inspector and provides insight into Eva Smith's life, as they come from similar backgrounds.
Authorial methods: The author uses Edna's character to highlight the class differences and the role of the lower classes in society.
Examples: Edna's interactions with the Inspector and the Birlings serve as examples of the author's intention to showcase the contrast between the upper and lower classes in the play.
As evidenced by the characters and their interactions, "An Inspector Calls" conveys important themes about community and responsibility, the class system, and the generation gap. The author employs various literary techniques, such as foreshadowing and the use of the Inspector as a symbol of social responsibility. The characters serve as examples of societal attitudes and moral improvement, providing a comprehensive analysis of the themes within the play.
