Reasons for which later become easy to see, "She had a lot to say ,too much, she had to go", apparently Eva Smith had particular involvement in a strike at his factory. The strike was caused by the poor pay and long hours, although he refuses to accept any responsibility for her death, "If we were all responsible for everything that had happened to everybody it would be very awkward." Arthur Birling actually has a fair point here and it could be argued that he was just acting as a businessman, as many others would do. However it is true to say that he was acting only in his own interests and was not particularly interested on helping others.
SHEILA:.
Sheila Birling, Arthur's daughter, has a very different set of characteristics. When she recognised the photograph she immediately runs out the room, as if in disgust of her actions, a complete opposite to her fathers views. She later returns guiltily, "You knew it was me all along didn't you?" Immediately her character is shown to be sympathetic because of this guilt. Sheila goes on to explain how she was entirely responsible for Eva Smith loosing her job at Milward's, "I went to the manager at Milward's and I told him that if they didn't get rid of that girl I'd never go near the place again and I'd persuade mother to close our account with them." This shows that Sheila, like her father, abused her position as a wealthy member of the community, who could influence others due to her relations. .
Sheila does however feel great guilt for the actions that she commited, she agrees with the Inspector when he says, "You used the power you had to punish the girl." Unlike her father, Sheila is full of sorrow and remorse for what she did, the inspector supports her when stating, "She feels responsible." Sheila does infact, say that "I know I'm to blame and I'm desperately sorry." .
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Sheila is also the first to realise that the inspector has a strange type of power, when Mrs Birling is arguing with him, Sheila warns her, "You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall.
