Who is Most Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith in An Inspector Call

Who is Most Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith in An Inspector Calls An Inspector Calls is what is known as a well constructed play. Its progression is that of ignorance to knowledge. The characters are the Birling family, Gerald Croft and of course the formidable Inspector Goole. All the characters start off in a lulled sense of security. Sheila begins very pleased with her life and with her fiancà © Gerald Croft, as one might who is getting married. Gerald is introduced as the well-bred upper-class man about town. Eric, Sheila’s brother starts off shy and progresses through the play, as does Sheila. Meanwhile Mr and Mrs Birling are self-centred upper class adults who look down on anyone below them, even their own children. The entrance of the inspector shatters the whole family’s security and confidence as he tells them a girl called Eva Smith has died in the Infirmary after drinking disinfectant, consequently burning out her insides. The cracks in the Birling family ship begin to show. All of this is represented by the Titanic as people considered the boat to be unsinkable and yet it proved them wrong and sunk, the Birling family think themselves unsinkable and yet their boat eventually sinks too. Arthur Birling is moved to anger by the Inspector’s confrontational manner and accusation of sacking Eva Smith. Gerald, meanwhile, is in agreement with Birling and says, â€Å"I know I would have done the same thing.† Eric takes his father’s sacking of Eva personally and replies, â€Å"It isn’t as if you cannot go and work somewhere else.† Mr Birling sacked Eva because she went on strike with several other girls to get twenty-five shillings a week instead of twenty-two and six. Sheila is next to be examined by... ...s thing to do. Eric and Sheila, characters representing the younger generation learnt from this tragic episode and finally realised that their actions do have consequences, and progressed and matured by the end of the play. In my opinion, Gerald also learnt to be more humble and considerate, and clearly demonstrates his sorrow at the tragic death of Eva – he is also a member of the younger generation of the Birling family, although obviously one episode is not going to wipe out years of indoctrination by the Birling family! Mr and Mrs Birling do not change at all and have obviously learnt nothing from the death of Eva. They are the same cold-hearted people as previously. The Birlings and Gerald Croft are examples of the unscrupulous people in the world who exist the. Play highlights that you never know who is aware of your wrong doings and actions.