Mr Birling

• " hard - headed practical man of business "
• " hard - headed practical man of business "

  • stubborn and set in his ways
  • personification of capitalism
  • immoral
  • takes advantage of the poor's suffering to exploit them for their own financial gain
• " famous youngster generation who know it all. and they can't even take a joke "
• " famous youngster generation who know it all. and they can't even take a joke "

  • mocking
  • irony - he believes he knows everything (war won't start) then he is proven wrong
  • suffering of the poor dismissed as a joke
  • character designed to be flawed and outdated in the society when the play was shown (1945 - post war)
  • preistley encourages children to reject their parents ideas and think freely
• " he obviously didn't like us "
• " he obviously didn't like us "

  • defensive as someone threatens his status
  • arrogance / ignorance
  • denies all responsibility
  • distance blame from himself
  • stubborn and cold older generation
• " all mixed up like bees in a hive "
• " community and all that nonsense "