Arthur Birling - Act 3 Key Quotations

Question 1

Birling’s viewpoint about women being more fragile and inferior to men; discredits Birling due to the rise of the Suffragettes and Priestley’s belief in women empowerment as part of socialism:

Answer 1

“Sheila, take your mother along to the drawing-room”
- Imperative tone exemplifies his desire to assert authority over others; he feels that women should be sheltered rather than treated as equal members of society.

Question 2

Eric says this to Birling, showing that he has failed as a parent to provide him with emotional support; perhaps he is too concerned with himself to care about his children:

Answer 2

“You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”

Question 3

Birling’s obsession and concern over public appearance rather than the morality and consequences of his actions (he offers money to cover up):

Answer 3

“I’d give thousands - yes, thousands”

Question 4

Birling’s highly selfish approach to life; he is overly concerned over his social status:

Answer 4

• “I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List”
• “who here will suffer from [the public scandal] more than I will?”

Question 5

Disrespectful towards the Inspector (condescending, dismissive tone exemplifying his self-important attitudes):

Answer 5

“Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank”

Question 6

Birling’s sudden change in mood, to overjoyed, after hearing the news about the Inspector not being a real officer (theme of appearances, perhaps dual lives):

Answer 6

“(excitedly) By Jingo! A fake!”

Question 7

Birling clearly has not learned his lesson:

Answer 7

“In fact, it makes all the difference”
- Birling is only concerned about the prospect of a public scandal tarnishing his public image and reputation, rather than accepting responsibility for his actions and learning to realise the importance of morality and the effects of actions on others who are less fortunate.

Question 8

Birling feels that the entire event should be taken as a joke:

Answer 8

• “just a lot of moonshine”
• “elaborate sell”
• “we’ve been had”

Question 9

Sheila voices her own opinion about Birling’s attitudes:

Answer 9

“It frightens me the way you talk”
- Alludes to the generational divide; Priestley’s target is the younger generation, hence he discredits Birling and portrays him negatively to discourage the audience from supporting capitalism, to contribute to a movement towards socialist views.

Question 10

Birling disrespects and mocks Sheila and Eric, who have actually changed for the better, exploring the theme of the generational divide within the play:

Answer 10

“the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke”