Social responsibility

• Mr Birling represents the antithesis of Priestley's message on social responsibility

  • only cares about himself
  • oblivious of others problems
  • never accepts responsibility
  • upper class capitalist businessman
• "you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else" - Mr Birling
• "We as employers at last are coming together to see that our interests - and the interests of Capital - are properly protected"

  • responsibility to make profit but not responsibility to their workers
  • shocking to Priestley's audience
• "Its my duty to keep labour costs down"