Arthur Birling Flashcards
What is Mr Birling presented as?
Pompous, arrogant, and misguided
What’s Mr Birling used to highlight?
the greed and prejudice of the middle and upper class
How is Mr Birling first introduced as?
“Heavy looking, rather portentous man”
What does his appearance represent?
Capitalist greed
What has he benefited from?
the Industrial Revolution
What is Mr Birling?
‘A prosperous manufacturer’
What gives us the idea that he’s from the middle class?
Because he’s got a regional accent
What did the Industrial Revolution mean to the industry?
That they could become of a higher class due to the wealth they had created
What is Mrs Briling to Mr Birling?
‘Her husbands social superior’
What causes tension in their marriage?
Their classes
Why does he want Gerald’s upper class family to like him?
So they can join businesses in order to become more profitable
What does Mr Birling want them to know?
His potential knighthood
What’s the importance to his character that the play is written in 1945, but set in 1912?
Because it allows him to be wrong in his confident speeches about the future
What does Mr Birling despise?
Being interrupted and loosing control of conversations
What quote is used when talking about war?
“I say there isn’t a chance of war”
What quote is used when talking about the titanic?
“The titanic is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
What word does Mr Birling use to describe socialism?
“nonsense”
What does the sinking of the titanic foreshadow?
The sinking of the Birling family
What is Mr Birlings priority?
Making money and having a hugely successful business
What does Mr Birling lack?
Empathy towards his workers
What quote proves his lack of empathy towards his workers?
“A man has to look after himself”
What does the quote “A man has to look after himself” show?
Capitalist benefits that profits are more important than worker’s rights
What quote shows that Mr Birling is responsible for his family and his business?
“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
What’s Mr Birlings view of the working class?
“Cheap labour”
What does he call socialists?
“Cranks”
What’s he worried about after the Inspectors visit?
a ‘public scandal’
What does his offer of “thousands-yes, thousands” show?
His capitalist values rather than genuine regret
What context can back up the fact that Mr Birling is consistently wrong?
The audience in 1945 would be more likely to side with the younger generation’s socialist views, as this was the generation who voted for a new labour government and social reform
What is Mr Birling finally concluded to be?
An arrogant and foolish capitalist who cares for no one but himself and his status
What does Priestley repeatedly show through his character?
He’s a man with no social conscience
What happens to Mr Birlings power throughout the corse of the play, and why?
It weakens - as the Inspector reveals that he’s a selfish man who ignores the needs of others to keep his profit and reputation
