Mr Birling Quotes + analysis

• "You'll hear some people say war is inevitable...fiddlesticks'

  Priestley uses dramatic irony to ridicule Mr Birling. His language is also very dismissive when he says 'Fiddlesticks' and 'silly' - he belittles others ideas. He is a representative of the older generation who were unwilling to change
• "The Titanic - she sent sails next week... and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"

  Once again Priestley uses dramatic irony and long monologues to simultaneous criticise and ridicule Mr Birling. The Titanic symbolises his own family - he believes they are untouchable until the Inspector arrives giving them a rude awakening. The repetition of 'unsinkable' demonstrates his poor judgment
• "if you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd be asking for the earth"


  The Hyperbole of 'asking for the earth' is an attempt by Mr Birling to explain his rejection of Eva Smith's pay rise. However, the absurdity of people 'asking for the earth' reflects the absurdity of Mr Birling refusal to pay a decent wage
• "I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the next honours list' 


  Priestley uses the short sentence 'I care' to create a potential turning point, where Mr Birling finally accepts his moral and social responsibility. However, what follows is an anti-climax as Mr Birling's static nature as a character is reaffirmed. What Mr Birling only cares about is his social position, not the wellbeing of Eva Smith and other employees
• "There'll be a public scandal... and who here will suffer more than I will?"

  This rhetorical question is used by Priestley to demonstrate Mr Birling's self-pity rather than sympathy for Eva Smith. His social status is more valuable to him than his employee's lives