Mr Birling

• (jovially) but the whole things different now - blame and responsibility 


  stage directions (jovially) depict an unorthodox emotion for play concerns with matter of suicide, mr birding is so self absorbed he seems to operate in his own realm - apathetic towards things that happen around him
• we may look forward to a time when crofts and birlings are no longer competing but working together - capitalism vs socialism

  exposes perceived function of sheila and Geralds marriage - sees it as financial transaction as this is all that matters to him - selfish disregard to his daughter - espouses exploitative nature as he wishes to take advantage of both the worker and customer - overtly self-absorbed
• hard-headed practical man of business- capitalism vs socialism

  political allusion to sir Stanley Baldwin who accused 'hard faced men' of profiting from wars, birling stands to represent these affluent businessmen who callously took advantage of suffering of war for financial gain - alliterative 'h' on 'hard-headed' sounds aggressive, used to assert his power and status
• a young unmarried girl (sheila) is being dragged into this - gender

  artificial care fir daughter is ironic as we know he exploits sheila for social and financial gain through marriage - see insincerity as he doesn't care that a young girl pushed to suicide so apparent concern for young girl to be involved in police investigation is deceitful
• is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, inspector? - gender

  possessive pronoun 'my' is a means of establishing control to elevate himself - use of rhetorical question paints birling as patronising - in a power struggle with inspector and immediately resorts to aggression and disrespect to win social battle - undeserving of respect