Compare and contrast Mr. Birling and Sheila Birling Essay -- English L

Compare and contrast the characters of Mr. Birling and Sheila Birlingin their attitudes to social issues.In the play An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestly, Mr. Birling andSheila Birling invite contrasting attitudes to social issues. The authoruses this difference to highlight the diversity between generationsand their reactions to situations faced. Arthur Birling is the engenderto Sheila Birling and so is presented as the older, old-fashi unrivaleddgeneration whereas Shelia is the young generation, who is more awareof the responsibilities they have towards other people. (?)The play begins with Mr. Birling and his family celebrating theengagement of Sheila to Gerald. The atmosphere is talented andlight-hearted. Before the Inspector arrives, Birling is happy withlife and himself. He guesss, Its one of the happiest nights of mylife. This shows that he is quite selfish because he only thinks thatit is one of the happiest nights of his life, non of Sheila andGeralds. He also shows tha t he can accept economic change in businessbut not social and personal change, as we see later in the play. Hesays, Therell be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere except of course in Russia, which pass on always be behindhandnaturally. Mr. Birlings tone of voice at the beginning of thisquotation is boastful which changes to scorn when he talks aboutRussia. His scornful attitude towards Russia emphasises Mr. Birlingslack of attitude towards others. Sheila, too, is in a happy andplayful mood at the beginning of the play. The stage directions sayhalf playful, half serious which emphasises her good mood. Sheiladoesnt say much at the beginning as it is Mr. Birling doing most ofthe talking. Bot... ... still affected by what has happened even though itmay not be true. She doesnt understand how her father can go back tonormal. Mr. Birling emphasises the differences between the older andyounger generations and refuses to accept social change. Sheila getsstronger throughout the play and she symbolises the new generation andsociety. Sheila accepts change and knows what they did was wrong. Sheunderstands that if it had happened, there would have beenconsequences. The message that J.B Priestly is putting across is thatpeople have a responsibility towards others. The Inspector says, Wedont live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible foreach otherif men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taughtit in fire and blood and anguish. The party at the beginningrepresents society but underneath the happiness, society is rotten.