Mr Birling Flashcards
Character summary of Mr Birling
Only cares for business, patriarchal role as the owner of Birlings & Co - employs young women at extortionately low wages. He is the embodiment of the corruption of capitalism.
He is a microcosm for capitalism. His ignorant & bigot behaviour reflects Priestley’s socialist views on capitalism as a whole
Key quotes of Mr Birling
“Heavy looking” (sign of wealth at the time as it showed you were able to afford plenty food) “portentous man” - implies his greed
Toasts to “lower costs & higher prices” rather than to daughter’s marriage. This shows where his priorities are set
“Nothing to do with this wretched girl’s suicide”
“A man has to look after himself” - he preaches individualism, contrasting to Inspector’s social responsibility message
“I cant accept any responsibility” - the determiner, “any”, emphasises his inability to take accountability for his actions
Constantly refers to lower class as “these people” - distal deixis further amplifies the class division
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” - 1945 audience would be aware of this dramatic irony (titanic ofc did in fact sink). Mr Birling & capitalists as a whole are ridiculed & satirised by Priestley through this
