Examine Inspector Goole’s and Mr Birling’s attitudes to society and particularly their attitudes to Eva Smith. Consider Priestley’s message. Inspector Goole’s and Mr Birling’s attitudes to society contrast immensely. Their different approach to life and particularly the different way in which they view the life and death of Eva Smith is central to the play’s theme. The purpose of the play is to convey an important message about social responsibility to the audience and it is the contrasting attitudes of Inspector Goole and the older members of the Birling family – particularly Mr Birling – which bring home this message.
Mr Birling does not care about anyone except himself and his family. He will not face up to the effect of his own actions on other people – even when they have tragic consequences as in the case of Eva Smith’s suicide. Inspector Goole on the other hand has a high regard for individuals wherever they come from in society and strongly believes social responsibility for others goes hand in hand with privilege.
Early in the play we see Mr Birling’s capitalist principles – based on a system where private individuals run businesses for private profit. He looks forward to a time when Croft and Birling are working together “for lower costs and higher prices.” He sees himself as a “hard headed practical man of business” and thinks that times ahead will be good because “we employers are coming together to see that our interests – and the interests of Capital – are properly protected.” He is opposed to working people having their say or striking for better conditions or pay.
Mr Birling supports a very hierarchical society – a class system – and sees himself firmly in the middle class and rising. He has married someone who is socially superior. He is pleased that his daughter Sheila is marrying into old country family with a title and comments to Gerald that he hopes to receive a knighthood soon – showing that he and his family are climbing up the social scale. He is always referring to his own status as a successful businessman, as an Alderman, as former Lord Mayor and as a magistrate.
These all mean a lot to him as status symbols. However although Mr Birling has reached positions of authority in his business life and in public life he does not show any sign of social responsibility to go with them. He cannot see other points of view, and has a very self satisfied and selfish view of life. He comments to Gerald and Eric: “A man has to make his own way and to look after himself…the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everyone has to look after everybody else as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.” He is resistant to change.
Several times during the play we see examples of Mr Birling having double standards. He is quick to condemn Eva’s behaviour, but is willing to be understanding when Gerald has an affair. When he discovers that Eric has been stealing money from the firm his main interest is to play down scandal: “I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can” Mr Birling’s attitude to women is old fashioned. He does not seem to think that they may have views of their own. When Sheila comes in while the Inspector is in the dining room he tells her to “run along” and accused the Inspector of upsetting the child” when she recognises the photo of Eva Smith. He also tries to shield his wife from any involvement with the Inspector and the truth about his son’s involvement with Eva Smith.
All of Mr Birling’s attitudes to society come together in his treatment of Eva Smith. She was a spokeswoman from a lower class of society asking for a small pay rise at the factory so Mr Birling sacked her – even though she was a good worker. At no time can he see that his action contributed to Eva’s suicide. He shows no remorse and distances himself from everything that happens to her. As events unfold his only concern is to cover up any public scandal and ensure that his chance of a knighthood is not damaged. Inspector Goole is a socialist that believes that everyone has individual responsibility for others in the community. He clearly has sympathy with lowly paid workers like Eva and supports their moderate approach in trying to get a reasonable wage. He comments, “it is better to ask for the earth than to take it” – this implies that he is moderate, not revolutionary.
