mr arthur birling

• who is he?

  the head of the birling household
• what does he embody?

  the greedy capitalists and their values
• what technique does priestly use in his speech?

  dramatic irony
• what themes does he present?

  • capitalism vs socialism

  • young vs old

  • responsibility
• what was mr birlings motivation?

  eva was the ringleader and encouraged others to go on strike and she asked for a pay rise
• when did mr birlings interrogation take place?

  act 1
• what does he own?

  a textile factory in brumley
• how is he presented?

  • arrogant

  • patronising views on women

  • capitalist

  • possessive
• what did mr birling believe?

  it was his duty to keep labour costs down
• did mr birling accept responsibility?

  no
• what was his role in eva’s death?

  fired her from his factory
• mr birlings character developmentact

  act 1 - attempts to assert his dominance

  act 2 - defensive of others

  act 3 - learns nothing
• mr birling language analysis

  • dramatic irony

  • regional accent
• mr birling character overview

  • former lord mayor and magistrate

  • hopes to obtain a knighthood

  • runs a textile factory

  • sacked eva smith
• what does he epitomise (perfect example of)?


  capitalism
• how is mr birling a stagnant character?


  he stays the same