I have decided to take two characters from the play describing them all the way through, showing any differences, influences and how successful the inspector is. Also, showing any change in the way they act and what they say to others around them. The two people I have chosen are; Mr Birling and Sheila Birling. These two, apart from being from the same family, are very different and in some cases the complete opposite.

At the beginning of the play Mr Birling acts very self-confident and smug. He believes, strongly, in a capitalist world. You can tell this from his speech on pages nine and ten; "K a man has to make his own wayK" Birling doesn't know how his actions affect others. " KWe were paying the usual rates and if they didn't like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else. It's a free country, I told them." Eric replies "It isn't if you can't go and work somewhere else." He is almost self-obsessed and believes that everyone has to look after themselves and no one else. He is arro

gant and doesn't seem to learn. He is difficult to get through to, thick-skinned and egotistical. When he detects that Eric's mother objects to Eric marrying Sheila he replies with this speech. "K there's a fair chance that I might find my way into the next honours list. Just a knighthood, of course. K Well when she comes back, you might drop a hint to her." He loves the sound of his own voice and likes to make speeches. Also, he is snobbish which is very true of Edwardian society.

Sheila replies " No, not yetK" Sheila rejects the ring because she is more mature and she realises that Gerald did in fact cheat on her and she can see that he just want to continue as if nothing had happened.

As soon as Birling finds out about Eric's involvement in the whole thing he loses his confidence; "Look Inspector your not trying to tell us V that V my boy - is mixed up in all this?" Birling is scared mainly for himself and what it would do to his knighthood. Also, of what the whole thing would do to his general public image.

And Birling replies "And you're not eh?" This shows that Birling eventually learnt nothing and was ready to continue about his old life thinking of just himself and his family. But then at the end, just as you think Birling is ready to carry on as usual the writer leaves it open for Birling to change again; "That was the police. A girl has just died V on her way to the Infirmary V after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here V to ask some V questions. (As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls.)"

At this point I think that the Inspector is partially successful. I think that Birling understands what the Inspector sets out to do. But as soon as he finds out the Inspector is a fake he reverts straight back to his old, unchanged, self. Sheila says, "KYou began to learn something. And now you've stopped. You're ready to go on in the same old way?"

Some common words found in the essay are:
Sheila Birling, Sheila KYou, Sorry It's, John Smiths, Birling Eric's, , Eric- Eric, Sheila Holds, Millwards Inspector, Eva Smith, inspector trying, sheila replies, socialist idea, sheila birling, understands inspector, inspector changed, police inspector, inspector tries,
Approximate Word count = 1380
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)