J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls :: English Literature

English Coursework - An Inspector Calls.After the inspector leaves, The Birlings discuss the nights events.They go into a stage of blaming each-other for Eva Smiths death,pushing the guilt onto one-another. Mr. Birling still does not havehis priorities straight as the first thing that ab initio springs tohis instinct is that fact that the families reputation will go down thedrain if any of the information they gave out will be found out by thepublic. He claimed that Therell be a public scandal. He was certainthat he was going to get a knighthood in the next honours appoint. Inresponse to his fathers attitude, Eric is unconcerned virtually what thepublic will think, but more concerned about what went on that night.Mister and Mrs Birling wear outt want to admit to themselves that theyplayed any part in the girls death, and keep twisting the subject topoint the blame abide to Eric. Eric informed his parents Well, I dontblame you. But dont forget Im ashamed of you as well- yes both ofyou. He is openly admitting that he has done wrong, but thinks thatit is unfair to take all the responsibility for the death of the girl.Here again, his Father was steering the blame away from them by sayingTheres every excuse for what both your mother and I did- it turnedout unfortunately, thats all. This is a gutless attitude for them tohave considering how they were judgement before the inspector left them.Sheila was quiet up until this.Sheila is on Erics side and openly admitted that she behaved badly,but she then pointed out that they were pretending that nothing ofttimeshas happened. It is here when Eric reminds his father of what he hadtold himself and Gerald earlier that evening just before the inspectorhad arrived- A man has to make his own way, look after himself andmind his own business, and that we werent to take any notice of thesecranks who tells us that everybody has to look after everybody else,as if we were all mixed up together. Thinking about this, theBirling s begin to have doubts as to whether the inspector is in fact,an inspector. It seemed too ironic that an inspector would walk in atthat moment. Sheila described it as being very queer. She thenquoted it doesnt much matter now how ever mister Birling disagreesas it matters a devil of a mickle to him. He is relieved that there isstill hope that his reputation is not at stake, and let off the hook