Mr Birling

Question 1

stage directions
- “heavy looking”
- “portentous” attitude
- “provincial in speech” (speaks with an accent)

Answer 1

• physical appearance symbolises capitalism
• reveals his humble upbringings and his insecurity that lead him to constantly remind other of his social position
• uncouthness is criticised by Mrs Birling who is his social superior and whose social etiquette is more refined and consistent with upper class behaviours
• shows desire to ensure his status, perhaps foreshadowing the bridge formed between classes during the war.

Question 2

• “one of the happiest nights” of Sheila’s life contrasts with “lower cost and higher prices”

Answer 2

• immediate reclamation of the spotlight highlights his selfish nature and lack of empathy - even his own towards his own daughter
• objectifies Sheila as means to increase his own profits, demonstrating the significant value his business holds over his own daughter’s engagement.
• foreshadows Birling’s indifference to ES’s suicide, implying that he would rather she succumb to a horrific fate that increase his workers abysmal pay.

Question 3

• “Lord Mayor”
• “very good chance of knighthood”

Answer 3

• contrasts with Mrs Birling and emphasises the flaws in Birling’s character
• reveals his humble upbringings and his insecurity that lead him to constantly remind other of his social position
• uncouthness is criticised by Mrs Birling who is his social superior and whose social etiquette is more refined and consistent with upper class behaviours
• early in the play, insecurity has a lasting impression on the audience and remains with Birling throughout the play
• wealth seems artificial, perhaps foreshadowing an inevitable breakdown of the family.
• perhaps also notes that upper class social position is untouchable in the current class system, and that social class is not reliant on wealth, but rigid traditions and values (outdated)
  reveals the social separation within even the top classes

Question 4

the firing of eva smith

Answer 4

• Birling attempts to uphold an appearance of affluence, separating himself form the lower classes due to his own insecurities and lack of noble background.
• demonstrates the extremity of the class system and the inhumanity that it provokes
• Birling attempts to gain full control of the lower class women to make himself appear and feel superior to his background and others that now experience similar conditions - even at the expense of his employees lives.
• reveals the destructive nature of the middle class insecurities, resonating with the audience.

Question 5

• Birlings dismissal of the inspector’s message
• “a man has to make his own way”
• his “impatiently” forced “yes, yes”

Answer 5

• believes that the lower classes should work their way up like he did
• desperate to maintain an image that he worked hard to obtain
• impersonal pronouns convey Birling’s arrogance and generalisation of the lower classes. “man” implies that everyone is capable of working their way out of poverty just as he has done himself. Furthermore, Birling demonstrates his inherent inclination towards a patriarchal society, implying that men should work. (as well as capitalist connotations)

Question 6

• “provincial” speech

Answer 6

• bears connotations of capitalist and unwillingness to change due to the benefits that it brings to the birling family
• reveals humble upbringing, implying an insecurity and over compensation which manifests in inhumane treatment of lower classes- perhaps in an effort to amplify the appearance of his own sophistication.

Question 7

• reluctance to responsibility and change
• “nonsense” (socialism)
• “eagerly” and “triumphantly”
• “starting a scandal”

Answer 7

• rejection of social change early on in the play pairs with the contrast to his children’s pleads in Act 3 to demonstrate his incapacity to change
• no developed argument unlike the inspector, simply brushes the concept away with no consideration makes his opposition appear superficial.
• accepts Gerald’s theory despite his actions being correct, consoling baseless and arrogant perspectives. (link to titanic)
• feels instant catharsis felt, indicating that is worry lay in the possible consequences for himself rather than having any concern for Eva. For Birling to accept social responsibility, he would have to sacrifice profits, thus it is in his interest to oppose the inspector and continue his corrupt ways.

Question 8

relationship with Mrs Birling
- “her husband’s social superior”
- reproachfully”
- “have to get used to it, just as i did”

Answer 8

• immediate divide created between the Birlings, implying fragility and potential for imperfections within their house (and therefore capitalist society)
• transactional relationship (her reputable family for his wealth). Mrs Birling may feel unfulfilled by her marriage (have to get used to it), highlighting the joylessness caused by the capitalist system where wealth and status are paramount.

Question 9

relationship with eric
- “not quite at ease”
- “we try for highest possible prices” - “why shouldn’t they try for higher wages”
- “free country” - “it isn’t if they can’t go and work somewhere else”
- “you’re not exactly the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”
- repetition of eric’s theft rather than acknowledge the death of his future child

Answer 9

• eric not fully comfortable with his profits at the expense of the lower classes (unlike Birling) yet he still accepts it.
• Their relationship is symbolic of the generational divide, highlighting the changing attitudes of society being held back by the stubborn few.
• foreshadows erics opposition to capitalism and inclination towards socialism at the end of the play
• the instantaneous divide between father and son is sustained throughout the play (examples of two disagreements)
• Birling’s attempts to lecture eric fail to resonate, however they do share some similar qualities (exploiting Eva)

Question 10

• Mr Birling and the Inspector
• “a man has to look after himself” vs. “we are all members of one body”
• “you seem like a nice well-behaved family”
• appearance
  “impression of massiveness” “plain darkish suit”
• speech
  “speaks carefully, weight fully” vs “the Germans don’t want war”
• power
  “lord mayor” “you keep quite eric”

Answer 10

• Priestley deliberately presents the Inspector as the antithesis of Birling to compare the ideologies that the two characters symbolise (birling capitalism and the inspector socialism)
• Differences are displayed in their appearances, “seem” implies the inspector has knowledge of the family’s superficiality
• portrays socialism as the more powerful idea, emphasised by the inspector’s true portrayal rather than Birling’s obsession with his perception. The inspector’s minimalism reflects the obsolescence of validation he need for his social status.
• The inspector presents a compelling case, supported by evidence which contrasts with Birling baseless which make him appear ignorant and arrogant through the use of dramatic irony. Additionally, Birling speaks with hesitation ; his lines diluted with dashes. This again demonstrates the strengths of socialism and the weaknesses of capitalism (a system based off of little factual evidence and delaying it’s removal through unfounded claims)
• the inspector is unswayed by Birling’s attempts of intimidation and authority.(e.g. bringing up irrelevant positions). constant rhetorical questions towards the inspector to question his point create a façade of authority to mask his insecurity and lack of power. Towards the end of the play, Birling attempts to asserting authority on Eric, demonstrating his tendency to oppress others in order to elevate himself. However these attempts come across as desperate and petty due to Eric and Sheila’s shift in morals. This also explains Birling’s treatment of ES.

Question 11

Relationship with Gerald
- “ought to like this port … the exact same port your father gets”
- “ very good chance at a knighthood”

Answer 11

• the crofts lie above the Birlings in the social hierarchy, causing a tension and introduces Birling’s ostentatious tendencies.
• “ought” implies a wariness and hesitation due to the social hierarchy - social connections through wedlock were important to the middle classes in order for them to move up the social chain. Birling attempts to conceal this difference by buying the same port as Gerald’s father
• attempts to compensate for Mrs Croft’s disapproval of the marriage, revealing his true motives behind the marriage (social promotion by merging the two families rather than the best interests of his daughter)
• Priestley demonstrates the profound effect of the class system in terms of respect through birling’s treatment of Gerald despite the significant age gap.

Question 12

symbolism of Mr Birling at the end of the play

Answer 12

• static character who shows no change throughout the play
• symbolic of selfish, capitalist upper classes as he “jovially” agrees with Gerald’s theory about the inspector
• demonstrates that once the threat of legal or social consequences is removed, Birling effortlessly returns to his prior stance, perhaps reflecting how the upper classes did not learn form the first world war, and encouraged the second as it benefitted their businesses
• Priestley uses Birling to persuade the younger audience of a changing society by making him completely static and unlikeable, therefore the idea of capitalism and continuity become synonymous with a hated character and become hated themselves.`