Mr Birling

• (heavy-looking, rather portentous man)'


  Act One: A phrase to describe Mr. Birling
• I speak as a hard-headed business man'


  Act One: Mr. Birling thinks that he knows everything because he has his own business
• The Germans don't want war'


  Act One: What Mr. Birling thinks about the Germans
• I say there isn't a chance of war'


  Act One: What Mr. Birling thinks about war
• You've a lot to learn yet' (about Eric)


  Act One: Mr. Birling thinks that he knows everything and Eric knows nothing
• Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable'


  Act One: What Mr. Birling thinks about the Titanic
• Yes, my dear, I know - I'm talking too much'


  Act One: Mr. Birling is used to being nagged by his wife, but he still over rules what she says, even though she is his social superior
• There's a very good chance of a knighthood - so long as we behave ourselves'


  Act One: This quote from Mr. Birling foreshadows what is about to happen
• A man has to make his own way'


  Act One: This shows Mr. Birling's capitalist views about how you should live your life
• Community and all that nonsense'


  Act One: Mr Birling's views on communtiy
• A man has to mind his own business and look after himself'


  Act One: Mr Birling thinks that you should keep yourself to yourself and not get involved with other people's business
• Wretched girl's suicide'


  Act One: Mr Birling appears to be very unsympathetic about Eva
• I can't accept any responsibility'


  Act One: Mr. Birling refuses to take any blame for what has happened
• But you must understand that a lot of young men-'


  Act Two: Mr. Birling makes excuses for Gerald's bad behaviour because Sheila marrying Gerald would be good for Mr. Birling's business
• Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges' (IG)


  Act Two: IG tries to put Mr. Birling in his place, saying how public men have more than just good luck
• When this comes out at the inquest'


  Act Two: All Mr. Birling cares about is how other people view him and how this will affect his social ranking
• I hate these fat old tarts round the town - the ones I see some of your respectable friends with-' (Eric)


  Act Three: Mr. Birling does not seem to have very honourable friends
• I've got to cover this up as soon as I can'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling does not want people finding out about what he has done
• Because you're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble' (Eric)


  Act Three: Mr. Birling is not a very fatherly figure for Eric. This is said in response to trying to cover up Eric's number changes on the bank account
• Your trouble is - you've been spoiled-'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling blames Eric for being spoiled even though it is clearly Mr. and Mrs. Birling's fault
• You hysterical young fool' (about Sheila)


  Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that Eric is always over reacting
• You're the one I blame for this' (about Eric)


  Act Three: Mr. Birling blames his son rather than taking the responsibility for himself - he would rather see anyone else be ruined than go down himself
• There'll be a public scandal' 'I was almost certain for a knighthood'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling doesn't care that someone has died and only cares that he will lose his social ranking
• There's every excuse for what your mother and I did'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling defends him and his wife's actions
• Who will suffer from this more than I will?'


  Act Three: This quotation makes Mr. Birling sound very selfish
• Probably a socialist or some sort of crank'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that anyone that isn't a capitalist is wrong
• It makes all the difference [that IG isn't real]'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling doesn't understand that the point isn't whether or not IG is real
• You'd better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back to him'


  Act Three: Mr. Birling thinks that now they have realised IG wasn't real everything can go back to normal
• "the famous younger generation who think they know it all. And they can't even take a joke"


  Act 3