First Impressions

At first when i saw this books the front cover didn't exactly inspire me to read it, although as people say... 

"Never judge a book by it's cover"

But once i had started to read this play in English i really started to enjoy it as mystery and crime books appeal to me. The characters within this book are kept to a minimum so i thought i would share a few thoughts and ideas i had about how the characters came across at the beginning off the book.

Arthur Birling is totally unaware of the consequences his selfish acts cause for other people as he doesn't care how low there wages are as "lower costs mean higher prices" pg Arrogant, Greedy Arthur Birling is totally unrealistic about the future and he calls the Titanic “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” pg 7, which is ironic as we all know what happens to that. He is also extremely confident that “there’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere” pg 7 although, we know the war was soon to begin.

At first we don’t really get to see much of Mrs Birling’s personality because she is quite secretive and unspoken, however from Priestley’s description we learn she is “a rather cold woman” and not very approachable or motherly to her children especially when in a moment of dramatic irony she calls her son “a drunken young idler".

Gerald Croft may be described as “an attractive chap about thirty… very much the easy well-bred young-man-about-the-town”, however he constantly lies about where he has been and who is with to the rest of the family, including Shelia, when he had an affair. He also comes across as weak and willing as he is always looking for the easy option and sucking up to Mr Birling which is evident from pg 6,15 and 17 when he says “I believe you’re right Sir”

Eric comes across as being a rebellious man in his “early twenties” right from the start of the play when he is constantly challenging his father’s statement, “What about the war?” pg 6. He is very unsympathetic towards Eva Smith and her death saying it was “tough luck” she was sacked and lived a tragic life which is extremely rude coming from him and what he has done to her.

Shelia is most affected by the delivered news from the Inspector and admits to her responsibility to having been part of the reason the girl died although she is most troubled by Eva’s story. Its apparent to the audience she is intelligent when she works out that Gerald has had an affair behind her back “I expect you've done things you’re ashamed of too” pg 23

The inspector is an extremely blunt and direct person as he likes to be told the truth and only the truth in its simplistic form. He isolates each member of the family “one line of inquiry at a time” pg 11 and tricks them into telling the truth. Out of all the characters the Inspector is least intimidated by Mr Birling “Apologize for what – doing my duty?” and stands his ground with his inquiries until he has spoken to each and every member of the family.