Mr. Birling Flashcards
5 words to describe him?
1) Exploitative
2) Prejudice
3) Unsympathetic
4) Insensitive
5) Selfish
What are his major points in the play?
His major points in the play are when he talks about Gerald and Shelia’s engagement, firing Eva Smith and when they figure out that the inspector wasn’t a inspector but still chooses to not accept the blame
What is his significance?
He shows the capitalist society and the difference between the classes and how the upper or middle classes care only for themselves and their family
What does he represent?
He represents the views of the upper classes, older generation and the capitalist society that the play was set in (1912)
What are his beliefs?
he believes in the class system, capitalism and that anyone above him is superior while everyone below him is inferior
How do the stage directions describe him?
A heavy - looking, rather portentous man in his fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech” - portrays how the older generation doesn’t care for people lower classed than them.
5 significant quotes from Mr Birling
- “there’s a fair chance that i might find my way into the next honours list “
- “you’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. And to that I say fiddlesticks.”
- “We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together. “
- “Still, I can’t accept any responsibility.”
- “Well, Inspector, I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business.”