"I'm not defending him,. understand that a lot of young men"

• Analysis


  Birling's casual dismissal of Gerald's infidelity highlights how he commodifies Sheila, treating her as a tool for a financial alliance rather than as an autonomous individual. By prioritizing the merger of Crofts and Birlings over his daughter’s well-being, Birling exemplifies capitalism’s dehumanizing view of relationships, reducing people to assets for economic gain. This illustrates how capitalist systems perpetuate inequality and exploitation, particularly of women.
• Alternative interpretation

  Birling’s statement also reflects the normalized acceptance of patriarchal privilege in capitalist societies. His use of “a lot of young men” as an excuse for Gerald’s behavior connects to broader societal values of the time, where powerful men operated without accountability. Sybil’s similar acceptance of Arthur’s infidelity underlines how capitalist families maintained appearances to secure their social and financial status, revealing a cyclical system of exploitation and control.
• Themes 


  Gender inequality, Exploitation, and Capitalism: Priestley critiques the way capitalist systems commodify women, reducing them to tools for profit and power. By showing Sheila as a pawn in her father’s financial ambitions, the play exposes the intersections between capitalist greed and patriarchal dominance. This theme extends to how privileged men, like Gerald and Birling, exploit others without consequence.
• Writers intentions 


  Priestley uses Birling to highlight the exploitation inherent in capitalist and patriarchal systems, where even family relationships are subordinated to financial ambitions. By showcasing how Birling prioritizes wealth and social alliances over his daughter’s happiness, Priestley critiques a society that devalues human connection. He urges the audience to reject these norms and embrace a more equitable and compassionate societal model.