Firstly, it must be remembered that the Birling Family are guilty of no actual crime, although all have contributed to the downfall of a particular person due to their particular attitudes and beliefs. Therefore it could be said that Eva Smith was simply a victim of her class and time. The idea of the play, and particularly the role of the inspector is to try to bring the Birling family to understand that they have a moral responsibility for the death of Eva Smith, if not a legal one. This point is very significant and is the basis of the entire play, to grasp it

is imperative to the understanding of the play, without this, an analysis of who is responsible would be far more difficult.

When the inspector begins to question him, Birling denies any knowledge of the girl, although when presented with a photograph, remembers, "She was one of my employees and then I discharged her." Reasons for which later become apparent, "She had a lot to say V too much V she had to go," apparently Eva Smith had particular involvement in a strike at his factory. The strike was caused due to poor pay and long hours, although he refuses to accept any responsibility for her death, "If we were all responsible for everything that had happened to everybody it would be very awkward." Arthur Birling actually has a fair point here and it could be argued that he was just acting as a businessman, as many others would do. However, it is true to say

In conclusion, it would be unfair to blame a single person, as each character contributed to the death of Eva Smith. It may be more wise to blame society and they way in which we live, as it is Eva Smith's class and time that set her apart, no real crime has been commited and it is more a case if social conscience, consequently a moral responsibility should be shared by the family and their future actions affected to aid others and not just themselves.

Sheila is also the first to realise that the inspector has a strange type of power, when Mrs Birling is arguing with him, Sheila warns her, "You mustn't try to build up a kind of wallK The inspector will just break it down. And it'll be all the worse when he does." This later becomes even more apparent as the plot evolves.

He is shown by J B Priestley to be a pompous, selfish, complacent man, ex-Lord Mayor, potential Knighthood and "sound useful party man" who plays golf with the chief of police. Certainly an influential figure within the community, a man that conveys respect.

Fact that he was embezzling money from his father's business in order to support her because she was pregnant. Although Eric is young, immature and naive, he feels genuine guilt and remorse about what he has done. When he discovers that his mother had turned Eva away, his guilt and remorse turn to anger, "Then you killed her. She came to you to protect me V my child V your grandchild V you killed them both V damn you, damn you."

It is also shown that Eric and his father have no relationship, "You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble."

That he was acting only in his own interests and was not particularly keen on aiding others.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Eva Smith, Arthur Birling, Eva Smith's, Crofts Birling, Sheila Gerald, Sheila Eric, Birling Arthur's, Daisy Renton, Inspector Goole, Eric Birling, eva smith, birling family, death eva smith, death eva, arthur birling, help eva, responsibility death, help eva smith, sheila gerald, gerald croft, responsibility death eva, reasons apparent, moral responsibility, involvement death eva, contact eva smith,
Approximate Word count = 2300
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)