Compare And Contrast Two Characters From The

Play ÅeAn Inspector CallsÅf By JB Priestley Essay, Research Paper

Rina Babla

Sheila and Mr. Birling have very different characteristics. Sheila, being a much younger character, is quite impressionable, whereas Mr. Birling is not. SheilaÅfs attitude and views change as the story goes on, whereas Mr Birling refuses to change altogether. Their characteristics are shown in their reactions to EvaÅfs death, and to each other.

Mr. Birling is the father of Sheila Birling and considers himself to have a very high status in society. He is a prosperous factory owner, a local magistrate and ex-Lord Mayor of Brumley. He regards himself as being reasonable, but his first priority is to make money ÅeitÅfs my duty to keep labour costs downÅf and therefore pays his employees no more than the going rate. However, as the play continues further, we are shown how Sheila sees her father being exposed as a Åehard headed business manÅf and as an insensitive character. Sheila on the other hand is shown as being young, attractive, sensitive, an honest character. She is one of the very few characters in the play that is impressionable, and deeply affected by what the Inspector reveals to her family through the play.

Mr BirlingÅfs and SheilaÅfs character have very few similarities. This is shown in the very first act, by the language both father and daughter use. Sheila uses slang, whereas Mr Birling, being a very ÅeimportantÅf and ÅerespectableÅf character, uses no such slang. ÅeYouÅfre squiffyÅf she uses this expression to tell her brother, Eric that he is drunk. Her use of slang expressions, helps to emphasise her youth whereas Mr BirlingÅfs words as well as language clearly emphasise how pompous he is. He is full of Åeself-importanceÅf and feels what he has to say is most important. When he interrupts Eric, Åejust let me finish, Eric,Åf he doesnÅft even stop to consider that Eric may have something of some importance to say.

However, at the beginning of the play, when SheilaÅfs story is revealed, she seems to have very similar characteristics to that of her father. She seems very selfish and full of self-importance. An example of this behaviour, is demonstrated when she gets Eva fired from her job, which was simply, as she admitted later, because she had laughed at her. She felt that she had a very high status in society, which gave her the ÅepowerÅf to be able to do this. This basically mirrors her fatherÅfs attitude, which does not change, at any point in the play.

Very early in the play, when we hear about how Eva lost her job at ÅeMillwardsÅf, Sheila is seen as being insensitive towards otherÅfs feelings. Mr Birling is also shown as being an insensitive business man, which again introduces the ideas of Mr BirlingÅfs first priority, ÅeIf you donÅft come down sharp on some of these people, theyÅfd soon be asking for the earthÅf. He feels his business is so much more important than even just the opinionÅfs of his employees, who he clearly feels, do not have his knowledge of the business world.

Mr Birling, feels that he always knows what is best and likes to be the centre of attention, like when Sheila receives her engagement ring from Gerald, she is very excited about the whole situation, but he begins to draw the attention to himself, by telling everyone about the Titanic, and how technology has advanced, so much, that he can be so sure to dismiss the possibility of it sinking. His interruptions clearly contradict the care and responsibility he supposedly has for his family. ÅeA man has to look after himself and his ownÅf he also likes to boast very much about himself, and how important he is. Mr Birling just wants his family to be respected in society and so tries to encourage them to do things that will help them to achieve an even higher status. For example, he doesnÅft really consider his daughterÅfs feelings towards her marriage to Gerald, he just encourages it as he hopes that it will unite his company with CroftÅfs Ltd, so that they can Åework together for lower costs and higher pricesÅf. This is why it appears that he regards his daughterÅfs marriage as an advantage to his company, almost like a business arrangement.

Since Mr Birling is well aware that GeraldÅfs mother is against her sonÅfs marriage because she believes him to be marrying beneath him socially, he tries to hint that he is expecting to receive a knighthood in the next honours list, in the hope that this may ease the concern GeraldÅfs mother has. Sheila, on the other hand is actually wanting to marry Gerald because she loves and trusts him not simply so it will be an advantage to her fatherÅfs company. This is why she is mature about the breaking up of her engagement and remains calm. Whereas her father tries to discourage the break up for obvious reasons, ÅeNow, Sheila, IÅfm no defending him. But you must know that a lot of young men-Åf He doesnÅft even stop to consider his daughterÅfs feelings and just thinks of the effect it would have on his business.

When the Inspector arrives, Sheila is not actually present, but Mr Birling is. The