Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

Eva Smith/Daisy Renton is the two names given to the girl who suffers at the hands of the Birlings and Gerald.

Themes: Love

Throughout the play the idea of love varies, depending on which character is talking about it.

Mrs Birling

Mrs Birling is a prominent member of her society and believes that, as a result, she should be treated in a manner that befits her stations.  She's unable to grasp the situation at hand and takes no responsibility in the part she plays.

Sheila

Sheila is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Birling and is engaged to Gerald Croft.  Sheila represents the younger generation and the new ideas that they possess.

Themes: Responsibility

Throughout the play, Priestly highlights the different roles the Birling family played in the fall of Eva Smith.  Although he highlights that each had some hand in her ultimate suicide, he does not lay the responsibility of it at any sole person.  Instead, he comments that responsibility is shared.

Gerald Croft

Gerald Croft is the son of wealthy industrialist and business rival of Mr Birling, and he has just become engaged to Sheila Birling.

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