Mr Arthur Birling

• Arthur Birling is the head of the Birling household and an active member of the community in Brumley
• He has made himself very wealthy by being a "hard headed business man" and thinks he may be in line for a knighthood
• At the start of the play he comes across as being arrogant, making long speeches about his predictions for the future. 
• He also makes assertions about how a man should look out for number one and not waste time helping others.
• Sybil, his wife, is his 'social superior' and it is hinted that he is self-conscious about being from a more working-class background.
• He is materialistic and possessive and also has old fashioned views about women
• Mr Birling is shaken by the investigation and is shocked by the behaviour of his son Eric. However, he doesn’t learn any lessons during the course of the play.
•  When it seems that the Inspector might have been an imposter he is overjoyed and mocks the others for having been 'tricked' by the investigation.
• Mr Birling is presented as a foolish and naive man which helps to form the audience's negative opinions of him
• Mr Birling is a business man whose main concern is making money. This is what is most important to him and he comes across as being greedy (capitalism)
• Birling is portrayed as a character who cares only for himself and his family, which cements the audience perspective of him being egotistical and a excessive capitalist
• Is firmly entrenched with 1912 ante-bellum (pre war) English social elite.
• Birling's dominant position within a static society is portrayed through his patriarchal business, marriage to Mrs Birling and his indifference to Sheila's concerns
• Priestley exhibits Arthur Birling as the living embodiment of the capitalist ideology
• "Heavy looking" symbolises greed and frequently displays his "portentous attitude"
• He has a clear pompous perspective which is evident through his immediate reclamation of the spotlight
• Arthur's lower class origins cause insecurity as he constantly reminds people of his societal place.
• His "provincial" speech could indicate a lack of sophistication
• Priestley's opening description of Birling's house indicates the cosmetic nature of their comfort
• Birling compensates for his "provincial speech" and unrefined etiquette through his "substantial" house
• Desire to ensure his status of belonging to the upper echelons of society (high class) is derived from his initial social inferiority, before he started his business
• Birling is condemned by higher class men due to his lack of aristocratic background (nouveau riche)
• Desire to dismiss Eva's suicide is catalysed by pressure of maintaining his public image
• Priestley uses Arthur as a method to critique capitalism and reveal the cycle of oppression due to classism
• Arthur remains a static character because Priestley intends him to be a vehicle for capitalism
• Birling's attempts to condescend the inspector create a facade of authority to mask his own insecurity
• Mr Birling is portrayed as arrogant and ignorant. We see this when his speech is diluted with dashes and hesitations
• There is noticeable tension between Gerald and Arthur and that increases his ostentatious tendencies.
• Mr Birling is a foil to the Inspector . They compare ideologies that each character represents.
• Mr Birling's relationship with his son lacks familial connections and Eric opposes his father's morals
• Mr Birling attempts to lecture Eric and influence him with capitalist and individualistic notions
• There is a divide between Sybil and Arthur as they were potentially married for her social status rather than love(transactional marriage)
• Mr Birling intends to live in the same fashion before the Inspector's arrival (cycle of immorality)
• Arthur feels instant catharsis when the prospect of no criminal record is proposed