Mr Birling

• 'Giving us port Ena? That's right. You ought to like this port Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finshly told me its exactly the same port your father gets from him.'


  port = wealthy, middle/upper class would purchase/serve/consume port to demonstrate their wealth --- Birling is showing off to Gerald (Gerald is social superior to Birling) -- shows an imbalance in power -- Birling name drops to endear himself to a family who is higher class
• birling has moved from Working Class to Middle Class through the success of his business - he has to be told how to behave by mrs birling who is his 'social superior'
• birling gives a speech at the engagement that doesn't focus on the engagement, but his opinion on the economic future of England, refers to himself as ;'hard - headed business man', 'hard - headed practical man of business' - entire view is built on work and money not family -- result in a lack of empathy for those he exploits in order for his business to grow 'a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself'
• represents capitalism


  businesses privately owned to make profit - 'labour costs down' -- refuses to pay Eva - lead to her death??

  dismisses Goole - 'probably a socialist'

  'community and all that nonsence'
• dramatic irony


  play set in 1912 but performed in 1945

  'the Germans don't want war' -WW1/WW2 -- the idea of war is 'nonsense' + 'fiddlesticks' - which was the view of many in the 1900's - dismissive tone shows his confidence

  'unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' - titanic
• dramatic irony - why does Priestly use it?


  makes him seem uninformed and ridiculous

  when he portrays his view on employees and businesses the audience feels this is also inaccurate

  devalues his opinion
• he ends the play in the same manor he started - no character growth
• when he is told Eric : stole money, is an alcoholic and impregnated Eva, he only cared about the money most of his dialogue was about the money

  'I've got to cover this up as soon as I can'
• doesn't accept responsibility for Eva's death ; 'There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did' -- this backs Goole's comments : 'Young ones..... more impressionable'

  'still I can't accept any responsibility'