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He is worried about how the public will view the story in act 3. He wants to hide the fact that Eric stole money rather than deal with the issue that his son is at ‘rock bottom’ by saying "I've got to cover this up as soon as I can" we can see Birling’s blatant disregard to how someone that cannot get him any financial or social gain feels. Eric on the other hand fully admits his wrong doings and accepts responsibility. Birling being part of the older generation is represented as the exact person that Priestley hates. He is completely unsympathetic towards Eva Smith and will take no responsibility for his actions as his self-important behaviour makes helps to convince himself that he has done nothing wrong this can be shown in his wife when Mrs Birling states “I think she had only herself to blame.” by stating this she reiterates to the Inspector that she feels she has no involvement in the death, by stating 'only herself to blame' in relevance to Eva's death is very cruel and self-centred, as she is clearly trying to revert the blame back to
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At the end of the play she realises her own reputation within the town will be tarnished. Yet, like her husband she refuses to believe that she did anything wrong and does not accept responsibility for her part in Eva's death. Sheila is described as "a pretty girl in her early twenties very pleased with life and rather excited". Although she has probably never in her life before considered the conditions of the workers, she shows her compassion immediately she hears of her father’s treatment of Eva Smith "But these girls aren’t cheap labour-they're people". Already she is starting to change; her sympathetic view would support not only the post-war audience at the time but also the views of Priestley. After the interrogation from the inspector she is horrified by her own part in Eva's story, she feels full of guilt for her jealous actions and blames herself as "really responsible". Through-out the play she becomes more and more mature as she realises that her parents are not as lovely and proper as they make out. Her behaviour contrasts with her parents; she is aware of her
At the end of the play she realises her own reputation within the town will be tarnished. Yet, like her husband she refuses to believe that she did anything wrong and does not accept responsibility for her part in Eva's death. Sheila is described as "a pretty girl in her early twenties very pleased with life and rather excited". Although she has probably never in her life before considered the conditions of the workers, she shows her compassion immediately she hears of her father’s treatment of Eva Smith "But these girls aren’t cheap labour-they're people". Already she is starting to change; her sympathetic view would support not only the post-war audience at the time but also the views of Priestley. After the interrogation from the inspector she is horrified by her own part in Eva's story, she feels full of guilt for her jealous actions and blames herself as "really responsible". Through-out the play she becomes more and more mature as she realises that her parents are not as lovely and proper as they make out. Her behaviour contrasts with her parents; she is aware of her