Mr Birling Flashcards
Who is Mr Birling?
A character in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley.
What is Mr Birling’s occupation?
He is a wealthy industrialist and the owner of Birling and Co., a successful business.
What is Mr Birling’s attitude towards social responsibility?
He believes that individuals are only responsible for themselves and their own families, and not for the wider community.
How does Mr Birling react to the news of Eva Smith’s death?
He shows little remorse and is more concerned about the potential scandal affecting his reputation.
What is Mr Birling’s political stance?
He is a conservative who values his own success and wealth above all else.
What is Mr Birling’s relationship with his family?
He is the head of the family and often asserts his authority over his wife and children.
How does Mr Birling treat his employees?
He is shown to be exploitative and dismissive of their rights and well-being.
What is Mr Birling’s role in the play’s themes?
He represents the selfishness and lack of social responsibility prevalent in the upper class during the Edwardian era.
What is Mr Birling’s reaction to the Inspector’s questioning?
He becomes defensive and tries to protect his reputation by denying any wrongdoing.
In what ways does Mr Birling embody capitalist values?
He prioritizes profit and success over ethical considerations, reflecting the capitalist mindset of the time.
What does Mr Birling’s character symbolize in the play?
He symbolizes the moral decay and hypocrisy of the upper class in society.
How does Mr Birling’s behavior contribute to the play’s central conflict?
His refusal to take responsibility for his actions leads to a chain of events that ultimately exposes the family’s dark secrets.
What is Mr Birling’s reaction to the Inspector’s departure?
He dismisses the Inspector’s message as a hoax and returns to his self-centered worldview.
What is Mr Birling’s final fate in the play?
He is left feeling shaken and uncertain about the future, as his comfortable world is shattered by the revelations brought by the Inspector.
How does Mr Birling represent the theme of class division?
He embodies the arrogance and disregard for the lower classes often seen in the upper class, highlighting the societal divide.
