Arthur Birling

Question 1

Who is Arthur?

Answer 1

the head of Birling and Company, a manufacturing company situated Brumley, and head of the Birling family. He represents the ​Capitalist businessman​.

Question 2

Is described as being “Provincial in his speech”

Answer 2

The ​adjective​ ​“​provincial​”​ is used to show the low-class origins of Mr Birling. He has to compensate for his lower-class accent with material possessions.
(Nouveau riche)
(Insecurity)

Question 3

“You …….. to like this port, Gerald It’s exactly the same ….. your ……. gets”

Answer 3

“You ought to like this port, Gerald It’s exactly the same port your father gets” - ACT 1

The ​verb​ ​“​ought​”​ reveals Mr Birling’s insecurities regarding social status; he is hesitant to command Gerald (who is of a higher class) like he would command Eric.

(Insecurity)

Question 4

“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and ……. are no longer ……… but are working together – for lower ……… and …….. prices.”

Answer 4

“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices.” - ACT 1

This reveals the true motive behind Sheila’s marriage, which is profit - rather than love.
(Capitalism vs Socialism)

Question 5

“as if we were all mixed up together like …. in a …….. – community and all that ……..”

Answer 5

“as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense.” - ACT 1

The ​simile​ ​“like bees in a hive”​ ​ is an attempt by Mr Birling to trivialise the concept of socialism.
(Capitalism vs socialism)

Question 6

“A man has to mind his own …….. and look after …….”

Answer 6

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself” - ACT 1

Here, Mr Birling speaks in the​ third person​ in an attempt to create a philosophical element to his speech, arguing capitalist idea that its every man for himself.

(Capitalism vs socialism)

Question 7

“If you don’t come down ……. on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the ………”

Answer 7

“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.” - ACT 1

The ​hyperbole​ (exaggeration for effect) of ​“asking for the earth”​ ​ is an attempt by Mr Birling to explain his rejection of Eva Smith’s pay rise. However, the absurdity of people ​“asking for the earth”​ ​ reflects the absurdity of Mr Birling’s refusal to pay a decent wage.

(Capitalism vs Socialism)

Question 8

“Probably a socialist or some sort of ……..”

Answer 8

“Probably a socialist or some sort of crank” - ACT 3

The ​noun​ ​“crank”​ is an attempt by Mr Birling to condemn socialism, however, Priestley’s use of dramatic irony​ causes the audience to oppose Mr Birling’s views and therefore sympathise with socialists.

(Capitalism vs socialism)

Question 9

“Why you ……… young fool – get back – or I’ll – “

Answer 9

“Why you hysterical young fool – get back – or I’ll – “ - ACT 3

Here Priestley uses ​irony​ to further create a dislikeable perception of Mr Birling, who insults and threatens violence towards his own child. Therefore, it is clear that it is in fact Mr Birling who is ​“hysterical”
(Older generation vs younger generation)

Question 10

“now look at the pair of them – the famous …… generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a …….”

Answer 10

“now look at the pair of them – the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke” - ACT 3

The use of the ​noun​ ​“joke”​ is significant as it is ironic​. It occurs just before the phone rings and a ‘real’ inspector calls on the telephone. Also, trivialising Eva Smith’s suffering as a ​“​joke​”​ emphasises the static character of Mr Birling.

(Old vs young)

Question 11

“As it happened more than ……… months ago – nearly two years ago – …….. it has nothing to do with the ……. girl’s suicide.”

Answer 11

“As it happened more than eighteen months ago – nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide.” - ACT 1

The ​adverb​ ​“​obviously​”​ is used to emphasise Mr Birling’s arrogance and disregard for his own social responsibility. Priestley does this to continue Mr Birling’s unlikable image.

(Responsibility)

Question 12

“If we were all ……….. for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very …….. wouldn’t it?”

Answer 12

“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?” - ACT 1

Priestley’s use of the ​adjective​ “a​wkward”​ ​, coupled with Mr Birling’s self-absorbed character reveals that an increased sense of responsibility for everyone would really only be ​“​awkward​”​ for him. This awkwardness extends to the class and ideology that he represents: capitalist middle-class.

(Responsibility)

Question 13

“I’ve got to …….. this up as ……. as I can.”

Answer 13

“I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can.” - ACT 3

Priestley uses this sense of urgency as Mr Birling’s reaction to his involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide shows how he is focused solely on the well-being of his own social status, rather than the death of Eva and how his actions contributed to it.

(Responsibility)

Question 14

“There’s …….. excuse for what both your ……… and I did.”

Answer 14

“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did.” - ACT 3

Mr Birling separates himself and Mrs Birling, as the older generation, from Eric and Sheila in the younger generation. This diversion of blame onto his children reveals the selfish core of Mr Birling and inability to develop a sense of social responsibility.

(Responsibility)

Question 15

“It’s one of the ……… nights of my life… your ……….. to Shelia means a ……….. lot to me” - ACT 1

Answer 15

“It’s one of the happiest nights of my life… your engagement to Shelia means a tremendous lot to me”

The selfish nature of Mr Birling is revealed by the use of the​ personal pronoun​ ​“​me​”​ and ​“​my life”​ ​. The emphasis on Mr Birling’s own life is due to his own reputation and social status increasing after Sheila’s marriage to Gerald. In reality, it matters not whether Sheila and Gerald are happily married.

(Self-absorbed)

Question 16

“Perhaps I ought to warn you that that [the Chief Constable is] an old ……. of mine. We play …… together.”

Answer 16

“Perhaps I ought to warn you that that [the Chief Constable is] an old friend of mine. We play golf together.” - ACT 1

Mr Birling attempts to intimidate the Inspector through the ​verb​ ​“​warn​”​. The belief that association with the Chief Constable puts Mr Birling above the law epitomises the need for greater social justice and responsibility.

(Self absorbed)

Question 17

“There’ll be a public ………. and who here will ……. for that more than I will?”

Answer 17

“There’ll be a public scandal ….. and who here will suffer for that more than I will?”

This​ rhetorical question​ is used by Priestley to demonstrate Mr Birling’s self-pity rather than sympathy for Eva Smith. His social status is more valuable to him than his employee’s lives.

(Self absorbed)

Question 18

“I care. I was almost certain for a …………… in the next ………… list.”

Answer 18

“I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the next honours list.” - ACT 3

Priestley uses the ​short sentence​ ​“I care​”​ to create a potential turning point, where Mr Birling finally accepts his moral and social responsibility. However, what follows is an ​anti-climax​ as Mr Birling’s static nature as a character is reaffirmed. What Mr Birling only cares about is his social position, not the wellbeing of Eva Smith and other employees.

(Self-absorbed)

Question 19

“A ……… looking, rather ……….. man” - ACT 1

Answer 19

“A heavy looking, rather portentous man”

The use of the ​adjective​ ​“​portentous​”​ in the stage directions gives an immediate indication of Mr Birling’s self-indulged temperament.

(Self absorbed)

Question 20

“You’ll hear some people say that ………. is inevitable. And to that I say – ………..!” - ACT 1

Answer 20

“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks!”

The use of the ​noun​ ​“f​ iddlesticks​”,​ alongside Priestley’s use of dramatic irony causes Mr Birling to seem overwhelmingly confident in his arrogance. This is due to Britain entering WWI soon after 1912.

(Dramatic irony)

Question 21

“time of steadily increasing …..”

Answer 21

“time of steadily increasing prosperity” - ACT 1

The Great Depression followed 1912 and engulfed post-war Britain. Therefore, the audience in 1945 would identify Mr Birling as unreliable and thus dislike him.

(Dramatic irony)

Question 22

“(the Titanic is) ………. , absolutely …………”

Answer 22

“(the Titanic is) unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” - ACT 1

The certainty shown by Mr Birling’s ​repetition​ of “​unsinkable​” demonstrates his poor judgement. This is due to the Titanic sinking.

(Dramatic irony)

Question 23

Speaks the most

Answer 23

Represents his male authority in the household in a patriarchal capitalist society (head if the household)

Question 24

Resistance to change

Answer 24

Represents the older Upper/middle class population that fails to accept socialism

Question 25

Topic sentences

Answer 25

Priestley uses the character of Mr Birling as a construct for capitalism and demonstrates the individualistic nature of this ideology through Mr Birling’s appearance and personality.
● However, Priestley explores the initial insecurity demonstrated by Mr Birling, in his own social position within the social hierarchy of 1912 British society.
● Priestley explores the static nature of Mr Birling, as this insecurity is maintained throughout the play - unaffected by the Inspector’s anti-class-system message of socialism.
● Priestley explores the stark contrast between the younger and older-generation, regarding their attitudes to responsibility. Mr Birling’s initial rejection of any responsibility remains constant throughout the play, as Priestley confines the
character of Mr Birling to a static development.
● The character of Mr Birling is the antithesis to the Inspector. Priestley explores the ideologies that these characters represent - capitalism and socialism, respectively - and how these are also in direct
opposition.

Question 26

Structure

Answer 26

Intro- construct for capitalist upper class

Capitalist ideas/speech

• ‘heavy-looking’ - overindulgence
• Socially insecure because of his class (upper middle)- you ‘ought’ to like this port Gerald- modal verb demonstrating his inability to command the upper class Gerald.- shows his strong belief if the capitalist class system
• ‘lower costs and higher prices’ (reveals his true intentions)
• Dramatic irony (titanic) - causes the audience to disagree with his views
• Every man for himself
• Condemns socialism ‘cranks’
• talks a lot demonstrating patriarchal dominance
• Silenced by the inspector (metaphorically rejecting the capitalist upper class)

During the inspectors visit
revealing corruption he tries to assert his dominance (colonel roberts is an old friend of mine’)
-‘rather impatiently’ replies to hearing Eva’s death, possibly concerned that the inspection could damage his reputation
Strangely indifferent to the lower class despite being nouveau riche
- critique the progression system in capitalism (you need to be a hard headed businessman, every man from himself - capitalism encourages selfishness)
- Contrast the morals of Eva smith who fails to accept stolen money, or marry Eric because he ‘didn’t love her’

Character foil of the inspector and stubborn character
Can’t talk as much after the inspector comes due to loss of power (str)
-elements of the inspector speech juxtapose Birling’s (we are all responsible for each other contrasts every man has to look after himself and his family)
-justifies what he and mrs b have done (your mother and I had every reason to do what we did)
-‘pay every penny back’ ‘I was almost certain for a knighthood’, cares more about money and status in Act 3 after the inspectors departure
-celebrating finding out that the inspector isn’t real
-ring of the phone, creates a cyclical structure (suggesting a luspenski’s theory of time structure where he will keep getting taught until he learns), makes him seem very foolish in contrast to his earlier celebratory mood