Arthur Birling Flashcards
Birling’s presentation
Birling represents capitalism and is, therefore, a construct that Priestly uses to bring forward this point of view.
“that a man has to mind his own business, and look after himself and his own”
-Birling
This is the view that Priestly writes the play to discredit, and prove Birling wrong.
Priestley wants to discredit capitalist views
Inspector arrives immediately after this is said, as though Birling’s words has summoned him, like a supernatural power, like am incantation.
Refers to Sheila’s marriage as a business opportunity, and treats Sheila like property
-Hypocritical
“Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for some time now”
“She means a tremendous lot to me”
Exposes Birling’s motives that the whole wedding is a facade to him and that he views the wedding as a business deal for financial security. The wedding is like a contract.
“She will make you happy, and I’m sure you will make her happy”
Portrays Birling as misogynistic, objectifying Sheila and using her for his financial benefit.
Stage Directions Act 1:
Edna and “men in tails and white ties”
Edna presents the contrast between the working and upper class. The tail suits and white ties show their discomfort at the table, yet still keep formal to present their status
Stage Directions Act 1:
“no cloth”
No cloth presents the lack of understanding/ etiquette the family stands, although being upper class. Also shows the lack of purity in the home, meaning secrets and lack of truth.
What is the effect of Birling’s long speeches
The effect of Birling’s long speeches is that it presents Birling as the more dominant person within the family. Furthermore, he is shown as arrogant
How does Priestley use Dramatic Irony
Priestley uses Dramatic Irony to present Birling as being arrogant, unreliable, and foolish to his wrong predictions. This makes the audience lose their trust in him, which manipulates our view on capitalism which Priestley intended to do.
“I’m talking as a hard headed, practical man of business”
Presents Birling to be heartless, inferring capitalism is also heartless
(link to -“man has to mind his own business, and look after himself and his own”)
Allusion to Sir Stanley Baldwin
-Accused people of profiting from war
-Priestley is deliberately using the language of the Labour Party manifesto, to turn it into a drama his audience can relate to.
(making people vote Labour)
