The issue of whether Mrs. Sybil Birling bears greater responsibility for Eva Smith’s demise than any other character in J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a complicated one. Although every character plays a part in the terrible conclusion, Mrs. Birling bears a great deal of responsibility for her actions and attitudes.

Mrs. Birling’s Responsibility

Refusal to Help: When Eva sought assistance after losing her job, Mrs. Birling had the power and resources to help her because she was the head of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organization. Rather, she adamantly declines to provide any help, claiming that Eva committed a “moral fault.” This rejection has a direct effect on Eva’s circumstances and adds to her hopelessness since it demonstrates her lack of compassion and readiness to assist others in need.

Class Prejudice: Deeply ingrained class prejudices are reflected in Mrs. Birling’s attitudes. She believes that Eva and other members of the working class are beneath her and deserve their tragedies. Eva is dehumanized by her disdain for people beneath her social status, which causes her to reject her request for assistance. This discrimination emphasizes how the upper class contributes to the suffering of the lower class and widens the social gap.

Denial of Accountability: Mrs. Birling denies any involvement in Eva’s demise throughout the play. She continues to act defensively and maintains that her family has done nothing wrong when the Inspector confronts her. The refusal of persons in positions of authority to admit their part in sustaining social inequalities is a larger social problem that is reflected in this denial.

Comparison with Other Characters

Arthur Birling (Mr. Birling): Mr. Birling bears some responsibility as well because he dismissed Eva from his factory after she pushed for higher wages. His capitalist mentality puts profit before people, which highlights how exploitative his employees’ working circumstances are. His behavior exposed a structural flaw in the way employees are treated, which paved the way for Eva’s difficulties.

Eric Birling: Eric and Eva’s closeness makes assigning culpability more difficult. After she gets pregnant, he leaves her after seducing her. Eva’s mental health is directly impacted by his refusal to accept accountability for his actions. Eric, in contrast to Mrs. Birling, exhibits regret and a wish to change, suggesting room for improvement.

Sheila Birling: By having Eva fired from Milward’s out of jealousy, Sheila contributes to Eva’s demise. But throughout the play, she undergoes a profound metamorphosis, finally admitting her remorse and accepting responsibility for her deeds. Her mother’s unwillingness to take responsibility stands in stark contrast to her willingness to grow and adapt.

Although Mrs. Birling is not entirely to fault for Eva’s passing, she bears a large portion of the guilt because of her denial of responsibility, class bias, and refusal to assist. She is one of the drama’s most guilty characters because of the direct role her actions play in the tragic conclusion. It is crucial to realize, nevertheless, that the play criticizes a social responsibility framework that all of the characters are a part of. Each plays a part in the larger social problems that result in Eva’s terrible destiny. As a result, although if Mrs. Birling’s acts are especially harmful, everyone shares responsibility for Eva’s passing, illustrating how pervasive social injustice is.