Mr Birling

• Insecurity point


  Mr birling is a character who has worked his way into the upper ckass which wouod have been extremely unusual in the time period. This makes him a character that constantly seeks approval and he is very insecure
• Points


  Insecure

  Self absorbed

  Responsibility

  Age
• Insecurity quotes


  Provincial in his speech

  You ought to like this port Gerald it's the exact same as your father gets

  There's a fair chance I may find myself in the next honours list
• Provincial in his speech


  The adjective "provincial" is used to show the low-class origins of Mr Birling. He has to compensate for his lower-class accent with material possessions.
• You ought to like this port Gerald it's the exact same as your father gets


  verb "ought" reveals Mr Birling's insecurities regarding social status; he is hesitant to command Gerald (who is of a higher class) like he would command Eric.
• There's a fair chance I may find myself in the next honours list


  Mr Birling's insecurity is revealed by his feeling of inadequacy due to his lower social status, compared to the Crofts. Therefore, he feels the need to compensate with boasts of a potential knighthood.
• Self absorbed quotes


  It's one of the happiest night of my life.. your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me

  Perhaps I ought to warn you the chief constable is an old friend of mine. We play golf together

  There will be a public scandal.. and how will suffer for that more than I will?
• There will be a public scandal.. and how will suffer for that more than I will?


  The rhetorical question is used by priestly to portray mr birlings self pitty. He isn't remotely bothered by the fact that a young woman has committed suicide due to the actions of him and his family but more the fact that his social image will be spoilt
• Perhaps I ought to warn you the chief constable is an old friend of mine. We play golf together


  Mr birling attempts to intimidate the inspector with the verb "warn". The belief that his association with the chief constable puts him above the law epitomises the need for social justice and responsibility
• It's one of the happiest night of my life.. your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me


  The selfish nature of me birling is revealed in his use of personal pronouns "me" and "my". The emphasis on mr birlings own life is due to his social status increasing after Sheila's marriage to Gerald. In reality it matters not if Sheila and Gerald are happy.
• Responsibility quotes


  And as it happened 18 months ago-nearly 2 years ago- obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girls suicide

  There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did

  I've got to cover this up as soon as I can
• I've got to cover this up as soon as I can


  Priestly uses this sense of urgency as me birlings reaction to his involvement in the suicide of Eva smith to show how focused he his on upholding his social status rather than being concerned about the girls suicide
• And as it happened 18 months ago-nearly 2 years ago- obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girls suicide


  The use of the adverb "obviously" is used to emphasise me birlings arrogance and disregard for his own social responsibility. Priestly does this to continue mr birlings unlikable image
• There's every excuse for what both and your mother and I did


  Mr birling separates himself and Mrs birling the older generation from Sheila and Eric the younger generation. This diversion of blame onto his children reveals the selfish core of mr birling and his inability to develop a sense of social responsibility
• Younger vs older


  Why you hysterical young fool get back or I'll....

  "now look at the pair of them — the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke"
• Why you hysterical young fool get back or I'll....


  Here Priestley uses irony to further create a dislikeable perception of Mr Birling, who insults and threatens violence towards his own child. Therefore, it is clear that it is in fact Mr Birling who is "hysterical".
• now look at the pair of them — the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke


  The use of the noun "joke" is significant as it is ironic. It occurs just before the phone rings and a 'real' inspector calls on the telephone. Also, trivialising Eva Smith's suffering as a "joke" emphasises the static character of Mr Birling.