The Birlings

As a family, the Birlings - and the prospective new addition to the family, Gerald Croft - represent different destructive aspects of capitalism. Their actions and attitudes embody perspectives and experiences by capitalism's focus on money and profit (Arthur Birling), self-righteousness and insensitivity (Sybil Birling), materialism (Sheila Birling), self-indulgence (Eric Birling), and self-serving manipulations of reality (Gerald Croft).

Eva Smith

As a person, Eva Smith (also apparently known as Daisy Renton) represents what can happen to an individual, and a community of individuals, when the destructive qualities of capitalism are put into action. She is perceived by the Birlings, at first, as being disposable and of little value. While the elder Birlings and Gerald Croft continue to perceive her as such, Sybil and Eric Birling, as a result of having their consciences awakened by Inspector Goole, perceive Eva and those in her situation whom she...