mr birling

• MR BIRLING

  RESPONSIBILITY

  • "For lower costs and higher prices"

  links - capitalist, greedy, ignorant

  sees engagement party as business opportunity

  • "community and all that nonsense"
  • "socialist or some sort of crank"
  • "a man must make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course"

  links - selfish

  family is an afterthought
• MR BIRLING

  AGE

  • "I'm a hard headed practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war"
  • Absolutely unsinkable"

  links - arrogance, pompous, untrustworthy, undiscerning

  audience dislikes him

  technique - dramatic irony
• MR BIRLING

  GENDER

  • "clothes mean something quite different to a woman. Not just something to wear and not something make 'em look prettier"

  links - patronising, old fashioned, stereotyping, objectifying

  context - women's roles, rigid gender divisions
• MR BIRLING

  Reputation

  • "I've got to cover this up as soon as I can"
  • "There'll be a public scandal"


  Uncaring

  • "We were having a nice little family celebration tonight. A nasty mess you've made of it now."
• MR BIRLING

  Patronising

  • "Just keep quiet, Eric, and don't get excited"

  doesn't want Eric to say something he shouldn't since he knows he's drunk - cares about reputation

  • "You youngsters"