To continue, it could also be said that Arthur Birling is in a way a coward as he not willing to take responsibility for his part in the suicide. Linking in to this, we are able to understand that Arthur Birling doesn’t want to be a part of the enquiry and that he wants the Inspector to start interrogating other members of the family. The phrase “don’t tell me…” is extremely interesting because from this we are able to see that Arthur Birling doesn’t want to be in the spotlight anymore and that he is not going to stand up for anyone else’s nonsense on his actions. At the end of the play, he knows he has lost the chance of his knighthood, his reputation in Brumley and the chance of Birling and Co. merging with their rivals. Yet he hasn't learnt the lesson of the play: he is unable to admit his responsibility for his part in Eva's death.
This is equally due to his age and the society he is surrounded by. The generation Mr Birling was associated with were very much stuck in their views and didnt to want to change/weren't open to it. The word “awkward” represents the awkwardness Mr Birling feels as he knows what he has done played a part, but he doesn't want to admit that he had a toll affect on a lower classes life. He doesnt want to belittle himself to the level of Eva’s. Secondly, Priestley makes Birling a selfish, rich upper class symbol of moral corruption.
The play starts with the entire Birling Family sitting around having drinks to celebrate the daughter Sheila’s engagement to a wealthy businessman named Gerald. The play delivers a serious message about society and it revolves around the questioning of Eva Smith’s death and how everyone is partly to blame. Mr Birling and Sheila respond to the inspector in very different ways and Priestley clearly wants the audience to consider their outlook and perhaps question their own choices in life. As the play progresses, we realise that everybody is partly to blame for the tragic suicide of Eva Smith. However Mr and Mrs Birling never actually do take the blame and keep making excuses for their actions.
Self-realization is a key topic in the film Look Both Ways; and each character comes to some form of their own self realization as the story of the characters told. Meryl and Nick’s lives become intertwined they both learn that they can forget their fears of life and commit to a serious relationship with each other. Andy questions his will to live as he has confrontations with his ex-wife and his current lover. Phil also finds his self-realization as the affects of the fatal train accident along with the knowledge of Nick’s cancer diagnosis come into his life bringing him closer to his family. Meryl, an illustrator of sympathy cards is faced with visions fear and death around every corner in her day to day life.
Mrs Birling appears not to believe that someone like Eva, a 'lower class' person, could even have feelings, let alone need them taking into account. The older generation can be exemplified through their attitudes which revolve around protecting their own social status whereby they do not seem to care for anyone but themselves and their family, this can be recognised when the Inspector reveals all about Eva Smith, and their reaction to this awful death, even though they are involved, seems to be non-existent, though evidence is presented by the inspector, they still persist that they haven't participated to this death. They are completely unsympathetic towards
He would not tell anyone of the reason behind his sorrow, and this secrecy and guilt would manifest itself through illness. Every time someone dies, Victor feels more sorrowful and guiltier, yet he never reveals why he feels this way and quickly falls ill. He becomes a burden to those who care, as they have to take care of him. This time, it’s different, (which can be interpreted as an indicator that the climax is near), and by the end of the passage, Victor doesn’t feel that he’s helpless in this situation, in fact, he is determined to do something for his loved ones instead, and this time, Victor is not afraid of the monster, he will face the monster. This is indicated at the end of the passage, as Victor realizes that postponing the wedding will not bind the monster, and it may get revenge in some other, more horrifying way.
Ishmael had to accept the challenge and walk out of his comfort zone; he was facing his fear and speaking to the audience. James Scobie tries to comfort Ishmael but Ishmael believed that James had it easy because he had already sliced his fear and told Ishmael is secret “one can only handle so much fear”. James Scobie helped Ishmael to overcome his fear of Barry Bagsley by showing him loyalty of friends make him more confident about himself. Near the end of the year James Scobie disappeared, which made Ishmael a target to bully because he didn’t have anyone to protect
He makes the anticipation of bad news worse than the bad news itself. As Kumalo “arrives” at the point of sorrow, it is a relief because although he still feels crushed to know all that has become of his son is a murderer, he at least stands on solid ground. This is shown when he goes to visit his son before the trial and loses respect for his brother because his brother refuses to try to grieve. He knows that by refusing to do so, his brother is also refusing to heal. Kumalo knows that there is no purpose in extending the journey, because then he would just be extending the pain.
Both Charlie and Alan found it easier to not express their feelings than to try to overcome them. Charlie did all he could to avoid the life he once knew. He would run from his in-laws to keep himself from being reminded of his past. The only reason Charlie felt comfort in Alan's friendship was because Alan knew nothing about Charlie's family or that time in his life. But as Alan keeps trying to get Charlie to open up about his life and his family Charlie continually becomes very angry and hostile, and storms off to avoid thoughts of the life he once knew.
Why would the witnesses knowingly stand by and not do anything to help when they knew that the outcome of the events could be tragic? In “Thirty-Eight Who Saw Murder Didn’t call the Police,” several witnesses were asked why they hadn’t called for help they replied by saying “I didn’t want to get involved” (Gansberg 122) A husband and wife both said “Frankly, we were afraid” (122). Although in the sort story “Samuel,” some of the men and other passengers thought, “These kids do seem to be acting stupid” (Paley 259). But then they thought of the things they did as kids and didn’t seem to think it was risky (259). In both stories the witnesses were either too scared or didn’t think it was a big deal to get involved.