Birling Quotes

Question 1

how is he described

Answer 1

B – “hard-headed business man,” - 1.6

Question 2

what does he say in response to chance of war

Answer 2

· B – “fiddlesticks!” – 1.6

· B – “there isn’t a chance of war.” – 1.6

Question 3

what does he believe about titanic

Answer 3

· B – “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” – 1.7

Question 4

some socialists he name calls

Answer 4

· B – “We can’t let these Bernard Shaws and H. G. Wellses do all the talking.” – 1.7

Question 5

his capitalistic views

Answer 5

· B – “a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself – and his family too, of course, when he has one” – 1.9

Question 6

what does he call socialists

Answer 6

· B – “cranks” – 1.10

Question 7

what does he think socialism is like

Answer 7

· B – “bees in a hive” – 1.10

Question 8

does he take responsibility

Answer 8

· B – “Still, I can’t accept any responsibility.” – 1.14

Question 9

what does he think about responsibility

Answer 9

· B – “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” – 1.14

Question 10

why does birling believe he was justified for sacking Eva Smith

Answer 10

· B – “it’s my duty to keep labour costs down,” – 1.15

Question 11

what does birling believe people would do if you allow them

Answer 11

· B – “Rubbish! If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.” – 1.15

Question 12

what does the inspector say in response to birling’s reasoning to firing Eva Smith

Answer 12

· I – “better to ask for the earth than to take it.” – 1.15

Question 13

Birling has made it out the trenches

Answer 13

· B - “That’s something this public-school-and-Varsity life you’ve had doesn’t seem to teach you.” – 1.16 – Eric is educated at an expensive university unlike his father who made it out the trenches. Blames the school system instead of taking responsibility as being a bad parent.

Question 14

birling - responsibilty

Answer 14

· B – “I’m a public man-” – 2.41

Question 15

inspector response to birling - responsibility

Answer 15

· I – “(massively) Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” – 2.41

Question 16

does birling feel sorry for Eva Smith’s death? How does he want to repay it

Answer 16

· B – “(unhappily) Look, Inspector – I’d give thousands – yes thousands-” – 3.56

Question 17

what is Birling worried about after Eva Smith’s death

Answer 17

· B – “There’ll be a public scandal.” – 3.57
· B – “I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List-” – 3.57

Question 18

does Birling believe he’s justified for his actions

Answer 18

· B - “(angrily) Drop that. There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did – it turned out unfortunately, that’s all-” – 3.57

Question 19

has Birling learnt anything

Answer 19

· B – “Nothing much has happened!” – 3.57
· B – “it matters a devil of a lot. Makes all the difference.” – 3.58 – response to Sheila’s question of if the inspector was a real inspector or not
· B – “We’ve been had, that’s all.” – 3.71

Question 20

mr birling - proud

Answer 20

· B – “you allowed yourselves to be bluffed. Yes – bluffed.” – 3.60