Mr Birling Flashcards
Ts1: Birling is constructed by Priestley as the embodiment of capitalist individualism, a foil for the Inspector’s socialism.
‘Titanic-unsinkable’
‘A man has to look after himself’
‘Like bees in a hive’
Ts2: Birling illustrates the class prejudice prevalent in the Edwardian era.
‘She’d had a lot to say… she had to go’
‘Get into trouble?Go on the streets?’
‘If you don’t come down sharply on these people… they’d be asking for the earth’
Ts3: Birling is constructed to illustrate to the audience the dangers of failing to accept social responsibility for others.
‘Crank’
‘There’ll be a public scandal’
‘A hoax… the whole thing’s different now’
‘Titanic- unsinkable’
L= metaphor for upper middle classes. Reflects Mr B’a complacency and that of his class that their position of privilege will remain unchallenged. R= in 1946 knows the class system has changed irrevocably following two world wars. I= Alternatively, dramatic irony because titanic sank. R= makes him figure of ridicule for audience.
‘She’d had a lot to say…she had to go’
C= WC and women not allowed a voice, challenged by the rise of unionism and suffragette movement.
Little power WC have to challenge their dismissal.
‘If you don’t come down sharply on these people… they’d be asking for the earth’
L= adverb, hyperbole and metaphor- WC demands unreasonable to Mr B. WC demands need to be crushed in his capitalist view.
‘Get into trouble? Go on the streets?’
Mr B assumes she will be a troublemaker.
C= reflects UMC prejudice against WC- they are considered immoral and troublesome.
Irony= Birlings are exposed as immoral not Eva.
‘A man has to look after himself’
C= Mr B set up as foil to Inspector to allow Priestley to present his political debate. He represents capitalist individualism.
‘Crank’
L= noun. Mocks capitalism R/I= ironic as by end of play, it is Mr B who is exposed as a fool and implicitly his capitalist principles as well.
‘Like bees in a hive’
L= simile D= suggests Mr B feels socialism strips people of their individuality and makes them drones of the state working together for the common good of society (represented by hive)
R= performed first in Russia 1945. Priestley= socialist. Audience lack of sympathy for Mr B increases sympathy for P’s socialist argument.
Contrasts with Eric’s socialist views.
‘There’ll be a public scandal’
C= reflects Edwardian society’s concern with public reputation. Mr B feels no guilt for his behaviour and has no sense of social responsibility for other. He is concerned only to protect his reputation.
‘A hoax… the whole thing’s different now’
L= noun ‘hoax’- Mr B thinks he is off the hook if I is not real. Irony= nothing is different including Mr B. He does not change his behaviour and attitudes or learn responsibility for his actions.
Topic sentences:
Ts1: foil to I as he is embodiment of capitalist individualism.
Ts2: illustrates class prejudice prevalent in Edwardian era.
Ts3: illustrate dangers to audience of not accepting social responsibility for others.
