Mr Birling

Question 1

In Act 1, what are Mr Birlings key words?

Answer 1

Capitalist, selfish, superficial, portentous, insecure

Question 2

What is Mr Birling the personification of?

Answer 2

Capitalism. He stands to represent the British social elite

Question 3

What is a quote that proves Mr Birling is the personification of capitalism?

Answer 3

“A heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties”

Question 4

Mr Birling: analyse “heavy-looking”

Answer 4

-Held weight for Priestley’s contemporary audience as a generation emerging from a period of rationing and war; a plumper frame was synonymous with affluence and indulgence.
-Mr Birlings heaviness is deeply metaphorical - it is a physical assertion of the solidity of his status whilst also standing to represent his undisciplined tendencies.

Question 5

Mr Birling: analyse “portentous”

Answer 5

used to expose the superficiality of capitalist. Birling is desperate to assert and justify his status showing he can only see value in wealth and status

Question 6

Priestly uses Mr Birlings character to satirise capitalism. What does satitise mean?

Answer 6

the use of humor to ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity

Question 7

How does Mr birlings character critique politics? (quote ends in “business”)

Answer 7

“hard-headed practical man of business” –> Sir Stanley Baldwin, the prime minister at this time between world wars accused “hard-faced men” of profiting out of the war.
Mr Birling stands to represent these affluent businessmen who took advantage of the suffering of war for financial gain.

Question 8

What is a political diatribe?

Answer 8

A piece of text that aims to criticize politics at the time

Question 9

How does Mr Birlings character critique politics? (quote ends in “__able”)

Answer 9

“Heavily comfortable” –> oxymoron to present pseudo-luxury of the social elite as a façade (e.g. Eric is an alcoholic, Sheila only marrying Gerald for fathers status)
“Heavily” connotates exhaustion, implying relentlessly upholding an overt radiation of wealth

Question 10

How is Mr Birlings character insecure and unacquainted with aristocratic life?

Answer 10

“rather provincial in his speech” –> meaning his voice is tainted by regional accent - superficial trope of how status was established, sense that he doesn’t really belong to this class. His voice stands as a barrier between people who made their own money and the likes of Gerald- an aristocrat

Question 11

How is Mr Birling guilty of social indiscretions?

Answer 11

He wants to compliment the chef on the food but is scolds by his wife who reminds him “you’re not supposed to say such things” –> his status doesn’t come naturally to him

Question 12

How does Mr Birling deny responsibility?

Answer 12

“That fellow obviously didn;t like us. He was prejudiced from the start. Probably a socialist or some sort of crank” –> complex sentence used to deceit himself, the preface of argument doesnt hold much logic

Question 13

Who is Arthur Birling?

Answer 13

A self-made businessman, patriarch of the Birling family, proud of his accomplishments and wealth

He exhibits a lack of self-awareness.

Question 14

What is Arthur Birling’s primary concern?

Answer 14

Maintaining a high social status

He is eager to receive a knighthood and achieve more societal prominence.

Question 15

What kind of beliefs does Arthur Birling display?

Answer 15

Capitalist views, prioritizing self-interest over community responsibility

He often lectures others about these beliefs during family gatherings.

Question 16

How does Arthur Birling demonstrate recklessness regarding employee welfare?

Answer 16

He fired Eva Smith for asking for higher wages

This act shows his lack of empathy.

Question 17

What does Arthur Birling symbolize?

Answer 17

Capitalism and its faults

He represents the older generation resistant to change.

Question 18

Fill in the blank: Arthur Birling is eager to receive a _______.

Answer 18

knighthood

Question 19

True or False: Arthur Birling is depicted as having a strong sense of community responsibility.

Answer 19

False

He prioritizes self-interest over community welfare.

Question 20

What is Arthur Birling’s attitude towards change?

Answer 20

Resistant

He represents the older generation’s reluctance to adapt.

Question 21

How does Arthur respond to Inspector Goole’s insinuations?

Answer 21

Arthur is resistant and often defends his actions while asserting his social standing to intimidate the Inspector.

This highlights his arrogance and refusal to accept accountability.

Question 22

What name does Arthur drop to try to threaten the Inspector?

Answer 22

The name of his friend, a high-ranking police official.

This act demonstrates Arthur’s reliance on his social connections to assert power.

Question 23

What does Arthur’s lack of responsibility and repentance signify?

Answer 23

It represents the unwillingness of the upper classes to accept their role in the exploitation of the working classes.

This theme is central to the play’s critique of social responsibility.

Question 24

How does Arthur react to the revelations about his involvement in Eva Smith’s misery?

Answer 24

He is unrepentant and fails to acknowledge his wrongdoing.

This reflects his character’s moral failure and detachment from the consequences of his actions.

Question 25

What is Arthur’s eventual reaction to the Inspector?

Answer 25

He dismisses the Inspector as a hoax and feels relief at maintaining his public image.

This reaction indicates that his priorities have not changed throughout the play.

Question 26

What does Mr Birling embody?

Answer 26

ignorance and arrogance of the privileged class, and serves to critique the lack of social responsibility and empathy often associated with capitalism.