Inspector Calls (Arthur Birling Quotes) Flashcards
Quote 1
“Arthur Birling is a heavy looking rather portentous man.”
He is not described as fat, but “heavy looking” this is a subtle way of calling Birling who is a rich middle class man overweight compared to other workers who would be thin. This quote shows his quality of life.
Quote 2
“Giving us the port Edna?”
He acts as if having port around the house is normal, but in reality he just wants to impress Gerald.
Quote 3
“I’m a hard headed practical man of business.”
Quote 4
“You ought to like this port Gerald. As a matter of fact Finchley told me it’s the same port your father gets from him.”
This is Birling trying to relate to Gerald and improve relations between their businesses. Birling is a lower class to Gerald and is trying to impress him with expensive drinks.
Quote 5
“Man has to mind his own business and look after himself.”
His narrow-minded capitalist view are shown and he doesn’t believe in “community and all that nonsense.” He look after himself and is unwilling to share with others.
This is Priestley trying to show how little the higher classes cared for the working class.
Quote 6
“The Titanic, she sails next week! Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable!”
This is dramatic irony that we as the audience know the Titanic will sink. It also shows perhaps how gullible Birling is into believing everything he reads or hears.
“One line of….”
Inquiry at a time.”
Goole makes out that he has a methodical and systematic approach to his detective work which is evident as he deals with each of the Birlings in his own time and doesn’t rush or try to take on too much.
This increases the effectiveness and thorough process of his work.
“Why you fool he…
Knows of course he knows!”
Shelia has realised the omniscient knowledge of the Inspector. His power through an all seeing eye is inevitable and the family will be unable to escape the lies that they’ve caught themselves up in and Goole is like a spider catching the flies caught in the web of deceit and treachery.
“The Germans will…
Never invade.”
More dramatic irony by Priestley as we see Birling doubt about the force of Germany and their ability to takeover countries and this ultimately exposes Arthur’s naivety about the world despite him being mayor of Brumley and wanting to be knighted. This would supposedly make him seem powerful and knowledgeable but his ignorance is displayed within the closed doors of his family home.
