Eric

- “Squiffy”
“When a chap easily turns nasty”
o The adjective squiffy shows the regular occurrence of Eric’s dependence on
alcohol, through the adjective’s colloquial nature.
o An alternate interpretation is that alcohol is a symbol for his greed, which is reinforced by
his later interactions with Eva Smith.
o The adverb ‘easily’ has the disturbing impression that Eric believes It is normal to treat
lower class women in the manner that he treated Eva.

- (Shouting) and I say the girl’s dead and we all helped kill her and that’s what matters”
o Eric taking responsibility contrasts him with his parents who avoid the matter by
‘excusing themselves’ or ‘cover[ing] it up’.
o The stage direction “shouting” implies his passion on the subject and how strongly he is
impacted by the death.
o The blunt use of the statement regarding her death brings to light how more seriously Eva
has been affected, evoking sympathy within the reader and contrasts his parents who are
only concerned with the impact to them.
o The possessive pronoun ‘we’ accumulates how widespread and apparent inequality, and
the mistreatment of the lower class is.
o The fragmented speech presents his distraught.

Sheila

- But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”

o Imperative verb emphasises her passion behind the argument and representing her
rejecting the capitalist ideology.

- “You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl”
o Sheila showing her maturity as she can identify the ‘wall’ that the upper class
build between the lower. Suggested that her parents are blinded and trapped by
the wall, representing the class system.
o Sheila’s moral turning point of the play, where she directly challenges her father,
signalling her maturity and conscience.
o Metaphorically challenging capitalism
 Generational differences

Ability to change:

- “(Shouting) and I say the girl’s dead and we all helped kill her and that’s what matters”
- “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”
“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl”

- “Now I feel really engaged.”-

This ignorant materialism, symbolised by the engagement ring, shows that Sheila requires an
object to feel secure in her relationship. This further gives the impression that her upbringing
has created a bubble around her where she is at its centre.

-  'I told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again and I’d persuade
mother to close our account with them’:
She also shows the huge power that the wealthy in society can wield and how abuse of this
power can have horrible consequences. Perhaps Priestley is telling wealthier viewers of his
play to be aware of their power and not misuse it and even unintentionally cause great harm to
others.

Inability to change:

- “There is every excuse for what your mother and I did”

“I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can”
- Lack of accountability- “excuses”. Indicates that there is not a viable reason for what they
did. To add, the ambiguous nature of what they did, shows they understand what they did was
wrong, yet they are not willing to take the blame.
- “Excuses” further shows entitlement as the rich, represented by the Birlings, are  excused
from consequences solely due to their status.
- “Cover” reflects the importance of appearance to upper classes and how they feel necessary
to have a perfect image, perhaps unlike the poor.

- “I’m very sorry. But I think she has only herself to blame”
- Blunt tone shows that Mrs Birling has no remorse for her actions and refuses to take
responsibility and allocates it to Eva herself.
- Represents the lack of accountability exercised by all upper class, the lower classes issues
don’t concern them
- “But” shows that her apology was insincere, portraying her cold, unsympathetic character.
Further exposing her apology to be condescending and sarcastic.