A character who does demonstrate the true meaning of responsibility is Shelia.

Initially
she seems much the same as her parents with quite childish tendencies, “Oh look
mummy,” but as the play develops is seems this was more through naivety to the
struggles of the working classes. Sheila is the first to defend Eva Smith and thus the
working classes declaring, “they’re not cheap labour, they’re people.” This not only
juxtaposes her father’s attitudes but is the start of her accepting her responsibility as
an adult and forming her own ideals. Priestley presents the character as someone who
is able to change and by the end she has matured a great deal thus showing the
audience that they too have the power to change and that accepting responsibility can
be a positive experience.
Priestley also shows that Shelia has learnt from the experience and is taking her new
knowledge of social responsibility seriously when she stands up to her parents saying
“it scares me the way you talk.” The verb “scares” is significant as it shows that people
who do not take responsibility i.e. her parents as seemingly out of control and could
potentially be very damaging to society. Priestley is perhaps highlighting that there is
much to be learnt for the recent wars and those that refuse to do so are a danger to
progression in the future.
The most significant character to link to the theme is the Inspector who, arguably,
reflects the views of Priestley himself. His final speech is almost entirely focused on the
theme and the idea that we are “members of one body.” This links to the idea of
socialism and collective responsibility if society is to function fully. The reference to
“millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths” reminds the
audience that while Eva Smith in the play is fictional the experiences and lifestyle she
led is not. The use of the polysyndetic list is significant is driving home the force of the
message and just how widespread the need for change is. The use if the name Smith is
important, being the most popular surname in the country at the time, the audience
are likely to know someone with the name and therefore it adds a personal
association with the plight of the character. The audience may well take on the idea of
responsibility if linked to a person they know as opposed to a purely fictional person.
Throughout the play we see characters accept and deny their individual responsibility
in the fictional case and yet is it clear that the message of collective responsibility is
not fictional. It could be argued that that phone call at the end of the play is history
reliving itself as the older Birlings were still not seeing their collective role in society
and until everyone is willing to take their responsibility seriously such stories of
anguish will continue. Priestley is trying to guard against this happening again by using
a visual stimulus for this message.