Characters
Protagonists:
- Eva Smith
Eva Smith is an unseen but central character in the play. She was described as being “pretty – very pretty ” with ”soft brown hair and big dark eyes”. It was revealed that she had no parents, and no family. One after the other, the Birlings made her life even more miserable by dismissing her from her only job, exploiting her and getting her pregnant, and even giving her the cold-shoulders when she was in a desperate need for help. This eventually caused her to commit suicide by drinking a strong disinfectant, killing herself and her unborn baby.
- Inspector Goole
The inspector is initially described as creating "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit. He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking.“ The inspector …show more content…
Mrs Birling used her “influence, as the most prominent member of the committee” to keep the other members from helping Eva. She was the first character to lie to the inspector, and was also the most arrogant and pompous of all.
- Sheila Birling
Sheila is "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited." At the start, she seemed like a typical spoiled child. When she and Eva crossed roads at the shop, "Milwards", she persuaded Eva's manager to fire her because she was jealous of how pretty she was. Later on in the story, however, she succeeded to change the viewer’s opinions; she was regretful of what she did to Eva and was compassionately regretful of her actions “I know I'm to blame – and I'm desperately sorry.”
- Eric
Protagonists:
- Eva Smith
Eva Smith is an unseen but central character in the play. She was described as being “pretty – very pretty ” with ”soft brown hair and big dark eyes”. It was revealed that she had no parents, and no family. One after the other, the Birlings made her life even more miserable by dismissing her from her only job, exploiting her and getting her pregnant, and even giving her the cold-shoulders when she was in a desperate need for help. This eventually caused her to commit suicide by drinking a strong disinfectant, killing herself and her unborn baby.
- Inspector Goole
The inspector is initially described as creating "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit. He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking.“ The inspector …show more content…
Mrs Birling used her “influence, as the most prominent member of the committee” to keep the other members from helping Eva. She was the first character to lie to the inspector, and was also the most arrogant and pompous of all.
- Sheila Birling
Sheila is "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited." At the start, she seemed like a typical spoiled child. When she and Eva crossed roads at the shop, "Milwards", she persuaded Eva's manager to fire her because she was jealous of how pretty she was. Later on in the story, however, she succeeded to change the viewer’s opinions; she was regretful of what she did to Eva and was compassionately regretful of her actions “I know I'm to blame – and I'm desperately sorry.”
- Eric