Mr Birling Flashcards
Introduction
- Symbol of capitalism, middleclass + older generation
- Priestley uses him to ridicule the middleclass + present anticapitalistic views
Errors of capitalism/middleclass
-Priestley present Birling as arrogant + foolish
ERRORS OF CAPITILISM/MIDDLECLASS , ‘A practical man of business’
-establishes his middle class status
ERRORS OF CAPITILISM/MIDDLECLASS , ‘Titanic is unsinkable’ + ‘German’s don’t want war’
- using DRAMATIC IRONY to ridicule Birling, who represents Capitalism + shows how unknowledgeable he is
- 1945 audience, who have been through 2 wars, recognise the irony in Birling’s speech + associate him with negative connotations, which helps push Priestley’s intention of DISCREDITING CAPITALISM
Gender
- Birling reinforces the patriarchal Edwardian stereotype of women being COMMODITIES of men through his treatment of Sheila, Eva + Mrs Birling
- Priestley showing gender roles to highlight the oppressive attitudes of women + warn audience about falling into the 1912 habits.
Gender (Marriage)
- Pushes his daughter into a strategic marriage to boost his business + help his pursuit up the social ladder
- cares more that her marriage ‘brought’ Birlings + Croft’s ‘together’- than Sheila’s happiness
Gender, ‘She had a lot to say, far too much’
-women don’t have a voice
GENDER, ‘Run along Sheila’
-Dismissive of her daughter + Inspector’s visit does ‘not concern’ her
Lack of responsibility
-His lack of willingness to take responsibility for his actions highlights the middle/upper classes lack of responsibility + making a change. Capitalism benefits them, despite being CORRUPT
LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY, ‘thousands yes thousands’
-Birling willing to pay ‘thousands yes thousands to protect his reputation + conceals Eva’s suicide- hasn’t learnt anything from inspector’s visit + believes inspectors visit is ‘moonshine’
What does Priestley show through Birling’s lack of responsibility?
-Priestley show’s audience that change is required in politics + society + Birling’s presents what will happen if people don’t take COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY and CONVERT TO LABOUR
LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY, ‘done nothing wrong’
- He believes he has ‘done nothing wrong’ juxtaposing with his children who know ‘It’s my own fault’.
- Significant contrast highlights how younger generation are the hope for change
Abusual of power/Exploitation of working class
-Birling’s exploitation of the working class shows the dichotomy between the classes
ABUSUAL OF POWER/ EXPLOITATION OF WORKING CLASS , ;duty to keep labour costs down’, a man has to ‘look out for himself and his own’
-Priestley wishes to convey that these selfish capitalist ideologies shouldn’t be tolerated
ABUSUAL OF POWER/ EXPLOITATION OF WORKING CLASS, ‘She had a lot to say- far too much-so she had to go’
- fired Eva for asking for better pay, despite her being a good worker
- His DEHUMANISING CAPITALIST APPROACH + REVOLTING ABUSE OF POWER sets an example for the middle class audience on how not to behave
