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

Compare and contrast the characters of Mr. birle and Sheila birlein their attitudes to friendly issues.In the forgather An examiner Calls by J.B. hieratic, Mr. Birling andSheila Birling wealthy person contrasting attitudes to social issues. The authoruses this difference to highlight the diversity amongst generationsand their reactions to situations faced. Arthur Birling is the fatherto Sheila Birling and so is presented as the older, old-fashionedgeneration whereas Shelia is the younger 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 joyous andlight-hearted. Before the Inspector arrives, Birling is happy withlife and himself. He tells, Its one of the happiest nights of mylife. This shows that he is quite an selfish because he only thinks thatit is one of the happiest nights of his life, not of Sheila andGeralds. He excess ively shows that he can accept economic change in concernbut not social and personal change, as we see later on in the play. Hesays, Therell be peace and prosperity and speedy progress everywhere except of course in Russia, which will ever be behindhandnaturally. Mr. Birlings tone of voice at the beginning of thisquotation is boastful which changes to scorn when he talks slightlyRussia. 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 story 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... ... pipe down 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 answerable foreach otherif men will not learn that lesson, and so they will be taughtit in fire and blood and anguish. The party at the beginningrepresents society but underneath the happiness, society is rotten.