Responsibility in An Inspector Calls
● Theme of responsibility is closely related to the theme of equality
and occurs in different ways throughout the play
● Mr Birling feels his responsibility is to make as large a profit as he
can from his business, whether or not this means treating his
workers unfairly.
● Mrs Birling has responsibilities as chair of the Brumley women’s
charity organization, but believes help should only be given to
those who deserve it.
● Sheila realises too late that her social standing as a valued
Milwards’ customer brings responsibilities with it.
● Eric has little sense of responsibility at all, until he is moved by the
inspectors words
● Gerald showed some responsibility by helping Daisy Renton
escape from the palace theatre bar. He provided her to a limited
extent, but he also disregarded his responsibilities to sheila.
● The main focus of responsibility in the play is that which the
Birlings and Gerald had to Eva Smith and how their failure to take
responsibility decided her fate:
- Mr Birling dismissing her from his factory
- Sheila had her dismissed from Milwards
- Eric and Gerald took advantage of her vulnerability
- Mrs Birling refused to help her when she most needed it.
● Mr Birling gives a speech about responsibility to oneself and one’s
family, later on Eric remarks on it.
● Mrs Birling states her view about who is to blame for Eva Smith’s
pregnancy.
● Theme of responsibility is closely related to the theme of equality
and occurs in different ways throughout the play
● Mr Birling feels his responsibility is to make as large a profit as he
can from his business, whether or not this means treating his
workers unfairly.
● Mrs Birling has responsibilities as chair of the Brumley women’s
charity organization, but believes help should only be given to
those who deserve it.
● Sheila realises too late that her social standing as a valued
Milwards’ customer brings responsibilities with it.
● Eric has little sense of responsibility at all, until he is moved by the
inspectors words
● Gerald showed some responsibility by helping Daisy Renton
escape from the palace theatre bar. He provided her to a limited
extent, but he also disregarded his responsibilities to sheila.
● The main focus of responsibility in the play is that which the
Birlings and Gerald had to Eva Smith and how their failure to take
responsibility decided her fate:
- Mr Birling dismissing her from his factory
- Sheila had her dismissed from Milwards
- Eric and Gerald took advantage of her vulnerability
- Mrs Birling refused to help her when she most needed it.
● Mr Birling gives a speech about responsibility to oneself and one’s
family, later on Eric remarks on it.
● Mrs Birling states her view about who is to blame for Eva Smith’s
pregnancy.
