Mr Birling Flashcards
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“As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense.”
Priestley personifies Mr Birling to represent capitalist attributes. The use of zoomorphism degrades and mocks the lower class, and overall dehumanises them due to their social status. Furthermore, the use of the hyphen prompts a theatrical pause, making the actor of Mr Birling hesitate before saying “community” reflecting his physical repulsion of the concept. Acting as a microcosm for capitalist ideologies, Mr Birling becomes vilified for his rejection of “community”, and his preference of materialism over human relationships.
“The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke.”
This is ironic, as he mocks the younger generation by labelling them as “knows it all” but ironically he thinks he knows it all, with his claim that the “titanic is unsinkable , absolutely unsinkable” and “war being inevitable and to that i say fiddlesticks”. Priestley purposely set the play in 1912, to make capitalist and older gen views seem ridicule and non-sense. Furthermore, after his callous dismissal of the suicide as a “joke”, he is abruptly interrupted with the telephone This irony symbolises Mr Birling’s views and capitalist views in general should be removed from society.
“one of the happiest nights of my life” and toasts to “lower costs and higher prices”
His selfish attributes are highlighted when he claims the spotlight after the engagement of his daughter and Gerald. Here it is clear that he is willing to sacrifice his daughter as a bargaining chip to increased wealth and profit, rather than her happiness’”
[Impatiently] “yes, yes, horrible business”
● His desire to dismiss Eva’s suicide is catalysed by the pressure of maintaining his public image and ensuring that he is not rejected from the society he worked so hard to enter. ● His determination to reject the Inspector’s message of social responsibility is portrayed through his dismissive response to Eva’s death. Furthermore, Gerald’s theory of the Inspector not being real is “eagerly” and “triumphantly” accepted by Mr Birling, despite his actions being real. ● Instant catharsis (relief from strong emotions) is felt by Mr Birling, when the prospect of a criminal record is no longer apparent, due to the Inspector not being real. ● Therefore,, it is clear Mr Birling did not care for Eva Smith’s suicide, but simply for his own chances of attaining a knighthood by avoiding “the police court or start(ing) a scandal” ● For Mr Birling to accept social responsibility, he would have to sacrifice the profiteering methods of exploiting labourers and paying subsistence wages (just enough to live on). Thus, it is in his best interests to oppose the Inspector and attempt to discredit his message of social responsibility. ● Priestley’s use of the adverb “eagerly” to describe both Mr Birling’s denial of the Inspector’s existence and also Sheila’s agreement with Eric that “this girl’s still dead” emphasises the divide between the generations.
