Arthur Birling

• "All mixed up together like bees in a hive"


  simile suggesting that socialists are mindless creatures

  believes different social classes shouldn't mix
• "obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl's suicide"


  Trying to belittle the Inspector

  Continuous attempt to degrade Eva Smith despite her death and he avoids acceptance of responsibility

  Thinks because she is working class, she is unworthy->patriarchy, prejudice, misogynistic
• "A man has to mind his business and look after himself"


  He represents greed and Capitalism

  Demonstrates the patriarchal society that the men run the family and have more importance than the women
• "I'm talking as a hard headed, practical man of business"


  Believes selfishness leads to success

  Pronoun 'I' shows his self-absorbance and ignorance
• "Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"


  Dramatic irony to alienate Mr Birling and his capitalist views from the audience

  The working class sunk underneath the immoral attitudes of the upper class

  Links to the Titanic as a symbol of capitalistic accomplishments
• He is narcissistic. He is the epitome of capitalist businessmen, he is prepared to sacrifice morality in order to gain affluence and social power
• adjectives

  selfish

  foolish

  ambitious

  businessman

  capitalist
• "community and all that nonsense"

  he disregards socialism and enforces his capitalistic ideas