Arthur Birling

Question 1

Conventional view of Mr Birling

Answer 1

• construct to criticise capitalism - corrupt and unfeeling, does not care for those he has power over

Question 2

Symbolism of ‘Arthur’

Answer 2

• symbolises King Arthur - who was an idealistic ruler, symbol of good rule and nobility
• Birling is ironically juxtaposed - has power as a magistrate and rich manufacturer but abuses it and exploits people
• ‘pitiful affair’ - ironic, as he is not chivalrous, shows his lack of feeling - he has contempt for ordinary WC and this is what is wrong with capitalism

Question 3

Political allusion - ‘I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of buisness’

Answer 3

• allusion to ‘hard headed man of business’ - phrase used by prime minister between wars to show business owners profited off suffering
• capitalism is political too, not just financial
• wants public to blame capitalists
• ‘hard-headed’ - said by Sir Stanley Baldwin, known as a political phrase - happy to sacrifice lives for profit
• war was a capitalist dream
• echoed Labour Party Manifesto in 1945 - vote for socialites because Priestley wants capitalists to stop making money out of suffering - it is even further an anti-war play than an anti-capitalist

Question 4

Symbolises how capitalists use women as commodities

Answer 4

• Sheila
• wants her to accept infidelity - ‘you must understand that a lot of young men’
• wants to make a financial alliance for greater social influence by exchanging his daughter
• referred to as an ‘alliance’