Mr Birling

• • Mr Birling represents the antithesis of Priestley's message on social responsibility.
  • He only cares about himself and always puts himself first, even when this means harming others.
  • He is also completely oblivious about what other people go through, or how his actions impact others.
  • No matter what, he never accepts responsibility. As he is an upper class,
  • Capitalist businessman, Priestley suggests his lack of compassion and responsibility are tied to his class and Capitalist ideologies.
• He tells Eric and Gerald,

  "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." (Act 1, pg 10).


  • His intolerance of Socialism reflects the political climate of the 1910's, and suggests
  • he is narrow-minded.
• "The way some of these cranks talk and write now,... community and all that nonsense.''


  • His harsh and insensitive language - "cranks" and "all that nonsense"
  • - would have made Priestley's audience recognise him as heartless. It seems like he is disgusted by the idea of looking out for others.
• "like bees in a hive"


  • The simile implies social responsibility is primitive and demeaning.
• ''you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else...as if we were all mixed up''


  • The phrases "you'd think" and "as if" show Mr Birling finds the idea preposterous.
  • His comments on the Titanic and war have already discredited him, so the audience knows his statements on "community" will also be challenged.
• -Priestley conveys Capitalism's inherent negligence through Mr Birling's interest in money.

  When he says,

  • "We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests - and the interests of Capital - are properly protected," (Act 1, pg 6)
  • Priestley implies Capitalists feel they have a responsibility to make profit but not a responsibility to their workers.
• "We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests''


  • The protection of the "interests" of businessmen and Capital would be particularly shocking to Priestley's audience, who knew of the horrors society endured because of Capitalist greed and neglect.
• ''...are properly protected,"


  • It becomes more shocking still when the audience learns of Eva Smith's death: she was not "protected" by the Birling's or her society.
• He tells the Inspector, "It's my duty to keep labour costs down,"

  (Act 1, pg 15),

  • implying his business pursuits require him to exploit his workers.
  • He feels a "duty" to his business but not his society.
  • Priestley shows neglect and inhumanity are a part of business.
  • This showcases Mr.Birling’s concern over profits rather than worker welfare, illustrating how he prioritizes financial gain over fair wages or decent working conditions.
• Importance of family honour:

  • Priestley shows how Mr Birling prioritises himself over his duty to others.
  • His motto about family loyalty is repeated several times, as he tells Eric and Gerald,
  • "A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too," (Act 1, pg 9).
• "A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too,"


  >The repetition of "a man has to" reveals Mr Birling believes men are born with an obligation to themselves alone.

  >The delay before "and his family too" even suggests his family comes as an afterthought.
• Rejection of responsibility

  When faced with the consequences of his actions, Mr Birling refuses to accept any blame.

  He declares

  • "Obviously it has nothing whatever to do with the wretched girl's suicide," (Act 1, pg 13),
  • Believing his actions must be irrelevant because he fired her "two years ago" (Act 1, pg 17).
• "two years ago" (Act 1, pg 17). 


  He thinks the two events can't link because they happened so far apart.

  • Priestley implies this interpretation of responsibility is simplistic and self-serving, allowing people to excuse themselves of blame.
• "Obviously it has nothing whatever to do with the wretched girl's suicide," (Act 1, pg 13),


  > "Wretched girl" reveals his lack of compassion and patience, suggesting he won't

  take responsibility because he doesn't sympathise with Eva.
• Mr Birling's continued rejection of responsibility seems to be a result of arrogance and disrespect for others. Accepting blame would be seen as a sign of weakness and imperfection.
• As Eva's story is revealed, Mr Birling insists he's innocent, saying, "I can't accept any responsibility," (Act 1, pg 14).


  He doesn't want to be accused of making a mistake in his judgement, and doesn't want to be burdened.

  > The modal verb "can't" suggests accepting blame goes against his nature.
• Even after the family have been taught about the consequences of their actions, Mr Birling

  claims,

  • "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all," (Act 3, pg 57).
• "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all,''


  > The noun "excuse" connotes a pathetic, worthless 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.