Mr Birling

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

horrid epitome of the capitalist upper class, opposite of the ideal recipient through the resistance to change

Question 2

Para 1

Answer 2

Presented as a construct for the capitalist businessman through his description and ideologies–

• stage directions ‘heavy-looking’ - overindulgence, wealth, ‘portentous’- self-absorbed
• Socially insecure because of his class (upper middle)- you ‘ought’ to like this port Gerald- modal verb demonstrating his inability to command the upper class, Gerald. - shows his strong belief in the capitalist class system
• talks a lot demonstrating patriarchal dominance
• ‘this is the happiest night of my life’ ‘lower costs and higher prices’ (reveal his true intentions, greed, and dealt indulgence through personal pronoun ‘my’,Priestley criticizing how capitalism encourages greedy intent- marriages were more strategic business partnerships
• ’Every man for himself’ – contrasts the inspector’s final speech ‘we are all responsible for each other’ position Birling as the character foil- the exact opposite of what Priestley wants his audience to be
• idealistic views-‘interests of capitalism’-reflected by the pink lighting (rose tinted spectacles)
• Condemns socialism ‘cranks’, but Dramatic irony (titanic) - causes the audience to disagree with his views
• Silenced by the inspector (metaphorically silencing the capitalist upper class)

Question 3

Para 2

Answer 3

Socially irresponsible character
-“I can’t accept any responsibility.” and “As it happened more than eighteen months ago – nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide.”- The adverb “obviously” is used to emphasise Mr Birling’s arrogance and disregard for his own social responsibility, as does the adverb ‘any’.The adective ‘wretched’ exposes Birling’s lack of sympathy for the girl who has just died in ‘great agony’ , developing him as a heartless character.

Strangely indifferent to the lower class despite being nouveau riche

• ’come down on some of these people sharply, they’d soon be asking for the earth- exaggeration reveals his view of the lower classes are greedy- ironic in the light of his own greed- prejudice
• critique the progression system in capitalism (you need to be a ‘hardheaded’ businessman, every man from himself - capitalism encourages selfishness), coldness)
• Contrast the morals of Eva smith who fails to accept stolen money, or marry Eric because he ‘didn’t love her’
• use of euphemism perhaps to make himself feel better

Question 4

Para 3

Answer 4

Priestley exposes his corrupt behaviour; ‘id pay thousands- yes- thousands’ - criticizing how the upper class can simply use money and power to get away with crimes - but this money could be better spent giving the lower classes better lives, buying his way out, blackmailing the inspector

stubborn character through his inability to change

• justifies what he and Mrs. b have done (your mother and I had every reason to do what we did), seeming childish in not taking the blame
• ‘pay every penny back’ ‘I was almost certain for a knighthood’, cares more about money and status revealing his superficiality
• celebrating finding out that the inspector isn’t real- goes back to his old self- ‘(jovially) but the whole thing’s different now’- there are no social consequences so Birling is acting like nothing has happened , sees this as a joke- “Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke,”
• ring of the phone, creates a cyclical structure (suggesting an Ouspenski’s theory of time structure where he will keep getting taught until he learns), makes him seem very foolish and myopic in contrast to his earlier celebratory mood