An overview of the Characters from An Inspector Calls by JB Priestly

As part of our FREE character profiles for 12 key GCSE texts. We want to help you revise and learn GCSE English and GCSE English Literature to your full potential.

• Arthur Birling: The Head of the Birling family. A big, arrogant man in his mid 50’s. Husband of Sybil, Father of Eric and Sheila. Arthur is a Greedy man who is more worried about profit than the loss of life and is obsessed with his social standing.

• Sybil Birling: Wife of Arthur and Mother of Eric and Sheila. Sybil is aloof and hypocritical, quick to show her distaste of working class women like Eva/Daisy but blind to the problems in her own family.

• Sheila Birling: Daughter and oldest child of Arthur and Sybil, Sheila is engaged to Gerald. Initially shares the prejudice of her parents towards the working class. Sheila’s character develops greatly and she comes to be remorseful for the death of Eva/Daisy and develops a much stronger social conscience.

• Eric Birling: Son of Arthur and Sybil. Eric has problems with Alcohol and is revealed to have impregnated Eva/Daisy and to have stolen money. Eric feels guilty about the death of Eva/Daisy and eventually realises the need to change his ways.

• Gerald Croft: Son of George and engaged to Sheila Birling. Gerald admits to having an affair with Eva/Daisy and for a time looking after her as his secret mistress. Gerald shares the prejudice of Arthur and Sybil.

• Sir George Croft: Father of Gerald and Owner of Croft’s Ltd a competitor to Arthur Birling’s business Birling and Co.

• Inspector Goole: Introduces himself as a police inspector but becomes something of a mystery character. Goole interrogates the Birling family about the death of Eva/Daisy and their connection to it. The real identity of Goole is never ascertained and although he may not be a real police inspector he seems to know all about the other characters various secrets and their involvement in the death of Eva/Daisy. Goode’s real identity and motives are very much open to interpretation.

• Eva Smith/Daisy Renton: Vulnerable and in poverty with no family Eva/Daisy has connections to all the other characters. The reasons for her death by suicide whilst pregnant and her mistreatment by the Birling family are the focus of the play. Through her links to the Birling’s and Gerald, Eva/Daisy shows the prejudices against and mistreatments of the working class in 1912.

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