mr b - key quotes Flashcards
‘Well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down, and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate we’d have added about twelve per cent to our labour costs.” - what does this quote show
Negativity of capitalism - Mr Birling is used to show the capitalist viewpoint throughout the play.
His primary aim is to succeed in business, and so he cares about money more so than people.
He argues with Inspector Goole that he could not have raised Eva Smith and the others’ wages, as he needs to run his business effectively - he needs to earn all the money that he can, which he cannot do if he pays the workers more. This highlights the selfishness of capitalism. Capitalism was designed to reward the business owners, not those actually doing the work.
“Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?” what does this quote show
Patriarchal head of the household
This quotation highlights Mr Birling as the patriarchal (male ruling) head of his household. Mr Birling assumes a protective role over his wife. He tries to defend her while treating her as if she cannot defend her. This power struggle returns between the two men, while Mrs Birling not directly addressed, even though the conversation is about her.
Entitled upper-middle-class man
This could be more about Birling highlighting his expectations as a member of the upper middle class - he does not feel that the Inspector’s questions deserve any sort of response from his upper-class wife. He feels that she is above this interrogation. The tone of this seems quite condescending on Birling’s part, and is designed to put the Inspector in his place. Mrs Birling will not even respond to him herself because he is beneath her.
“You! You don’t seem to care about anything. But I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List.” what does this quote show
Disconnects from family
Mr Birling uses the second person pronoun ‘you’ to verbally (with words) attack his son and show how he is separating Eric’s ideas from his own - they have become you’ and ‘I’, two very different people who have completely opposite ideas about life.
Eric wants the family to take responsibility for their actions and think of other people, while Birling is obsessed with his reputation and is desperate to get his knighthood. This shows a huge crack in the façade (fake image) of the Birling family.
Irony
Mr Birling exclaims this at Eric. The irony here is clear - Mr Birling repeatedly says that Eric doesn’t care about anything; in reality, it is Mr Birling who does not care about anyone but himself.
