Mr Birling

• "As it happened more than eighteen months ago - nearly two years ago - obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl's suicide." - A1


  Themes of Responsibility

  Despite his naive and nonsensical reasoning, Mr. Birling's usage of the adverb "obviously" demonstrates his defensive attitude. The unwillingness of the elder generation to take ownership of their actions is reflected in his lack of regret. His view that the girl, not him, was responsible for the suicide is shown by the apostrophe on "girl's," accentuating his disdain for the working class.
• "(jovially) But the whole thing's different now" - A1


  Themes of Responsibility

  The stage direction (jovially) depicts an unorthodox emotion for a play concerned with the matter of suicide. Mr. Birling is so self-absorbed that he seems to operate in his own realm. He is apathetic towards the things that happen around him.
• The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense. - A1

  Themes of Responsbility

  Mr. Birling's callous attitude towards social responsibility would have been perceived as unfeeling by his audience. He disapproves of the notion of caring for others and suggests that it is archaic and belittling. His previous comments on the Titanic and the war have already damaged his credibility, so his remarks on "community" will likely be met with skepticism.
• "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all - A3


  Themes of Responsibility

  The noun “excuse” connotes a poignant, futile reason, suggesting Mr Birling is desperate to excuse himself of blame. The words “unfortunately” and “that’s all” convey his heartlessness, suggesting the upper classes trivialised and dismissed the lower classes’ hardships. Eva’s death is merely an unforeseen tragedy, an inconvenience, and not worthy enough to make Mr Birling accept responsibility.
• Now look at the pair of them- the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke. - A3


  
  

  He derisively labels the younger generation as 'know it alls' but ironically thinks he 'knows it all'. Priestley deliberately set the play in 1912 to fragmentise the 'know it all' ignorance of the older generation. His speech is cut off after his callous dismissal of the suicide as a 'joke', he is abruptly interrupted by the telephone. Through the play form, Priestley can visually depict Mr Birling's capitalist beliefs should be physically and symbolically removed from society.
• What's the matter with that child - A1


  Themes of Older v Younger gen

  Sheila’s viewpoints are regarded as juvenile and inconsequential, using the diminutive word 'child'. When Sheila begins exhibiting socialist beliefs, he uses the pronoun "that" to absolve himself of any liability for her because he finds them so repugnant that he would reject his own child.
• 'You don't know what some of these boys get up to nowadays. More money to spend and time to spare than I had when I was Eric's age, - A1


  Themes of Older v Younger generation

  It suggests that he believes that life is easier than when he grew up. He implies the younger generation are spoiled because they have more “money” and “time” to themselves. Priestley implies that the older generation perceived the younger generation as weaker and less worthy because of it. The noun “boys” is infantilising and belittling, showing how he doesn’t take the younger generation seriously
• 'You'll hear some people say that war's inevitable. And to that I say -fiddlesticks! The Germans don't want war. Nobody wants war, except some half-civilised folks in the Balkans. And why? There's too much at stake these days. Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war.' - A1


  Themes of Older v Younger generation

  Priestley employs dramatic irony in these claims to demonstrate how illusory the egos of previous generations were. He implies that these calamities were caused by hubris and overconfidence, as they failed to see them approaching.
• as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive- community and all that nonsense


  Capitalism v Socialism

  Mr Birling employs zoomorphism to depict the principles of socialism as animalistic, absurd and unattainable. The colloquial term 'nonsense' is utilised to describe Mr Birling's elitism and apathy, as he dismisses any political opinion with which he disagrees.
• "...we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together - for lower costs and higher prices."


  Themes of Capitalism v Socialism

  Speaking with an egoistic disrespect for his daughter, the speaker sees Sheila and Gerald's marriage as a commercial deal. He expresses his egoism and parasitic tendencies by wanting to take advantage of both clients and employees. The essence of capitalism is captured in the expression "lower costs and higher prices."
• hard-headed practical man of business. - A1

  Themes of Capitalism vs Socialism

  This is a political allusion to Sir Stanley Baldwin's accusation that 'hard-faced men' profited from wars; Mr Birling represents these affluent merchants who callously exploited the anguish of war for financial gain. The alliterative 'h' in 'hard-headed' sounds forceful, indicating his rank and might.
• She sails next week - forty-six thousand eight hundred tonnes - forty-six thousand eight hundred tons - New York in five days - and every luxury - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable - Act 1


  Themes of Capitalism v Socialism

  Mr Birling's adoration for the Titanic, with its undeniable size and strength, echoes the Capitalist's yearning for such dominance. He considers it a symbol of capitalism's prosperity. Ultimately, the Titanic was not "unsinkable". Priestley demonstrates that capitalism has severe faults.
• There'll be a public scandal...and who here will suffer for that more than that I will - A3


  Themes of Guilt

  The use of the question is an attempt for Mr Birling to evoke pity and sympathy from his family. This exposes his hypocrisy, as he exhibited no sympathy for Eva. The verb 'suffer' is hyperbolic and melodramatic, proving him to be self-centered. It also highlights how he is incapable of feeling guilt as he is too preoccupied with the 'public' repercussions. The repetition of 'public' throughout the play is used to show how closely intertwined wealth and reputation were.
• a young unmarried girl is being dragged into this - A2


  Themes of Gender

  His artificial care for his daughter is ironic as we know that he exploits Sheila for social and financial gain through marriage. We also see his insincerity as he doesn't care that a young girl was pushed to suicide so his apparent concern for a young girl to be involved in a police investigation is deceitful
• not only something to make em prettier - A1


  Themes of Gender

  Mr Birling demonstrates a stereotypical view of women and does not see them as individuals. He suggests that a woman's purpose is to look pretty and collects all women under this view. He speaks about women in an offhand manner, using colloquial abbreviations. Sheila's confrontation with Eva about clothes prompts the audience to question if Birling has projected his patriarchal and misogynistic views onto his daughter.
• Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector - A2

  Themes of Gender

  The possessive pronoun 'my' is a means of him establishing control to elevate himself. The use of a rhetorical question paints Birling as patronising, he is in a power struggle with the Inspector and he immediately resorts to aggression and disrespect to win the social battle, painting him as undeserving of respect.
• a heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties - A1


  Themes of Capitalism v Socialism

  In Priestley's work, the phrase 'heavy looking' carries significance for the audience as it reflects affluence and indulgence, both highly valued in post-war society. Birling's heaviness is symbolic of his status and undisciplined tendencies. The word 'portentous' exposes capitalism's superficiality, highlighting Birling's obsession with wealth and status. Priestley satirizes capitalism by presenting it as an ostentatious affair.
• “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?”


  Themes of Responsibility

  Because of Mr. Birling's presumptive temperament and Priestley's utilisation of the adjective "awkward," it becomes apparent that a greater sense of responsibility for everyone would only be "awkward" for him. This dissatisfaction extends to the middle-class capitalist ideology and class that he embodies.
• there'll be a public scandal

  Themes of Older vs. young gen, Guilt, S/C

  The use of euphemism language reveals Mr. Birling's unwillingness to accept responsibility for a major crime, preferring to characterise it as a "mere" scandal. This demonstrates his obstinacy and reluctance to expose his public identity. His egoistic demeanour exposes his lack of civic and moral responsibility as a member of society. As Priestley has already pointed out, it is sorrowful but not unusual that capitalist figures from the elder generation lack character development.
• A1 Key Words

  Noveau Riche

  Portentous

  Capitalist

  Selfish

  Superficial

  Insecure
• A2 Key words

  Insensitive

  Callous

  Misogynistic

  Arrogant
• A3 Key words

  Egocentric

  Archetype of irresponsible capitalists

  Stagnant

  Self absorption

  Rigidity