Mr Birling

Question 1

Purpose and function

Answer 1

Construct of capitalism and demonstrates individualistic nature of this ideology through his appearance and personality
Antithesis to the Inspector
Demonstrate the patriarchy in 1912

Question 2

“heavy looking”

“portentous” (attitude)

Answer 2

Priestly exhibits Mr Birling as the living embodiment of the capitalist ideology
heavy looking - symbolised greed
portentous - tries hard to impress people

Question 3

“lower costs and higher prices”

Answer 3

Birling’s clearly pompous perspective is evident through the immediate reclamation of the spot light after Shiela and Gerald announce their engagement he toast to “lower costs and higher prices”
reveals true motive behind Shiela’s marriage which is profit rather than love

Question 4

“unsinkable absolutely unsinkable”

Answer 4

dramatic irony

the certainty shown by repetition of ‘unsinkable’ demonstrates his poor judgement

Question 5

“time of steadily increasing prosperity”

Answer 5

Dramatic irony
the Great Depression followed 1912 and engulfed post-war Britain
The audience in 1945 would identify Mr Birling as unreliable and foolish therefore dislike him

Question 6

“As it happened more than eighteen months ago […] - obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girls suicide”

Answer 6

Adverb “obviously’ used to emphasise Birling’s arrogance and disregard for his own social responsibility
Priestly does this to continue Birling’s unlikable image

Question 7

“Its my duty to keep labour costs down”

Answer 7

Priestly uses the noun “duty’ to emphasise Mr Birling’s dedication to capitalism and profit

Question 8

“now look at them the famous younger generation who know it all. and can’t even take a joke”

Answer 8

use of noun ‘joke’ is significant as it is ironic - occurs just before the phone call and reveal the real inspector calls on the telephone
Trivialising Eva Smith’s suffering as a ‘joke’ emphasises the static character of Mr Birling