Mr Birling

• Perfect Thesis 


  Mr Birling is the personification of the callousness of capitalism. His family are a microcosm of the political and social elites in post-war Britain. Mr Birling is the antithesis of Priestley's core beliefs. A play about the dangers of war; money plays a role
• "The Titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable!"


  Priestley utilises dramatic irony to discredit the capitalist ideology that he goes on to represent Priestly suggests that men like Birling have unquestionable authority. Repetition of "unsinkable" reinforces his overbearing confidence ; he's exposed as moronic, self-absorbed and his family sink under the inspector's 'brighter' lighting (In Act 3 he 'collapsed' into his chair)
• "A man must look after himself and his own way"


  “man” – masculine pronouns highlight his deeply intrenched patriarchal beliefs; product of a

  hierarchical society. His lifestyle is reliant upon the exploitation of working-class women.

  Patronising tone with his children, threatened by the upsurge of socialist beliefs.
• " The dining room was heavily comfortable, but not cozy or home-like"


  Adjective “heavily” connotes abundance and excess which alludes to the grotesquely wealthy

  nature of the family. He draws our attention to how dysfunctional and jaded the family are;

  Birling prioritises profit over being a compassionate father. Does capitalism also raise neglectful fathers?

   Competitive markets

   Wage inequality

   Individualism
• "The famous younger generation that know it all"


  “famous” highlights the rising socialist sentiment in Britain in the early 20th century; Russian revolution. The sarcasm in these lines highlight how pompous and naïve he is. This highlights the conflict between the young and old in the play. Birling remarks that there will be “steadily

  increasing prosperity”, which was followed by the worst economic depression in history. Ridiculed and mocked by Priestley.
• "Higher prices, lower wages"


  “higher prices” – Birling, like many entrepreneurs, exploits the consumer too; deceives them into buying a product above its value. Consumer and the producer suffer. The comma literally separates in the line; highlighting the separate worlds they belong to.
• "You're not the type of father a chap can go to!"


  Eric to Mr Birling; Mr. Birling has raised a son that is ‘half shy, half assertive’. We get the impression that Eric feels uncomfortable and out of place. He often objectifies and infantilises his children, branding Sheila a “child” and Eric a “boy”.

  The young people in the play are stuck in the hermetic “pink” bubble, shielded by their parents. Eric medicates with alcohol as he feels trapped. Eric is “squiffy” and laughs at his family false pretence. Eric is the product of a dysfunctional father. Hegemonic patriarchy.