Mr Birling

• Mr Birling is presented as an injudicious character
• Mr Birling assumes that he has all the knowledge
• Mr Birling: '"I say there isn't a chance of war"'
• Mr Birling: '"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"'
• Mr Birling is referring to the Titanic and WW1 at Sheila's engagement party
• He tends to think positive which shows how his life has been spoiled with money. His optimism and confidence comes from his privileged background
• He doesn't struggle in life indicates his lack of understanding of the struggles of others
• Repetition of 'unsinkable' shows how he's very certain and confident with his choices
• He's very optimistic and he glorifies the future which suggest he's got all the money and power (but he's wrong).His confidence blinds him to the realities of the world
• He's very dramatic and over confident. This highlights his arrogance and lack of self-awareness
• Believed he is right and everyone else is wrong which demonstrates his inflated sense of self-importance
• Use of dramatic irony as audience we know that the WW1 did occur but the character don't know
• The titanic sinking foreshadows the birlings sinking fate after the inspectors arrival
• The titanic symbolises the drifting classes during the edwardian era
• The Titanic is a metaphor to the different classes of Edwardian society
• The Upper class thought they were always right
• Theme: Class Division and power