Mr Birling Flashcards
1
Q
“Hard-headed practical man of business.”
A
- thinks highly of himself, needs approval so repeats the phrase. “Hard headed” = realistic/ practical but not sentimental.
- views are not thought through with empathy
- has had business experience (not moral)
- Priestley using language of the Labour Party manifesto to turn it into a drama his audience can relate to. allusion to the language of Sir Stanley Baldwin (priminister during period play covers) attack on capitalism
- treats Sheila’s marriage as a business, she is his property
2
Q
“There isn’t a chance of war…impossible.”
A
- arrogance and complacency made clear by his confident views
- audience are manipulated to dislike him from his pompous nature
- audience lose trust in him as WW1 begins contradicting his views and many others such as the Titanic being ‘unsinkable’
3
Q
“Lower costs and higher prices.”
A
- driven by money and capitalistic values
- does not consider the impact of ‘higher prices’ as he is selfish and wants money
- he sees his daughter’s engagement as a chance to push for ‘lower costs and higher prices’ shows his greed which is one of the 7 deadly sins.
- ‘working together’ ironic and he is only benefiting wealthy businesses, he thinks he is doing a deed of justice
4
Q
“Are you listening, Sheila? This concerns you… I don’t often make speeches at you.”
A
- selective about what he presents to Sheila, speeches he makes are peppered with propaganda indoctrinating her. wants to sculpt her as his capitalist daughter.
- direct address shows he demands utmost attention to his materialistic ideologies.
- presented as manipulative/calculated. + dominant over Shiela.
5
Q
Looks down on the Inspector “I don’t like your tone.”
A
- stage directions highlight how patronising he is
- feels threatened by Inspector’s authoritive presences. feeling as thought masculinity is undermined
6
Q
“Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along.”
A
- imperative statement shows how he views Sheila and puerile and insignificant.
- could display how he doesn’t want Sheila to be mixed with business, wants to preserve her ‘child-like aura’
7
Q
“That was the police. A girl has just died - on her way to the infirmary.”
A
- in context of Frey-tag’s dramtice arc, could be said Arthur doesn’t have a denouement (final story) as he could stand firm in viewpoint on social standing + doesn’t change when inspector arrives. (or did he learn his lessson?)
- he might not change his ways but audience can reflect on their actions.
- priestley warning them of not learning lesson of taking responsibility. must adapt themselves to change and moral responsibility within society.
8
Q
“(unhappily) Look Inspector - I’d give thousands - yes, thousands -“
A
- shows how he is fixated on reputation. attempts to appear congenial eventhough he means none of it.
- appears unsympathetic and pseudo claiming he would pay thousands now eventhough he refused to pay Eva a minimal amount of shillings before.
-conveys irresponsibility, thinks bribe can allow him sympathy.
- (unhappily) = vastly insincere + hypocritical making character more unlikable.
9
Q
“Silly little war scares.”
A
’- silly little’ is not the way you would describe WW1/2, dramatic irony.
- audience who first watched this play would have had their family members killed in the war - it would not be ‘silly’ or ‘little’ to them.
10
Q
“Wretched girl’s suicide.”
A
- calls her “wretched” in a derogatory manner, implying she is unworthy of sympathy
11
Q
“A man has to look after himself - and his family.”
A
- “himself” before “family” to show a physical representation of a typical capitalist’s egotistical manner.
1946 audience learned the hard way with wars because they didn’t look after each other
12
Q
“Exactly the same port your father gets.”
A
- sycophant when speaking to Gerald because of his status and parents, fickle
13
Q
“Provincial in his speech.”
A
- adj ‘provincial’ shows low-class origins so he has to compensate his low class accent with material possessions showing insecurity.
14
Q
“I can’t accept any responsibility.”
A
- adverb ‘any’ shows complete lack of morality, his involvement has no impact on driving Eva to suicide
15
Q
“Asking for the earth.”
A
- hyperbole attempt for him to explain rejection of Eva’s pay rise but the absurdity of the statement reflects the absurdity of his refusal to pay a decent wage
16
Q
“Socialist or some sort of crank.”
A
- concrete noun ‘crank’ attempt for Arthur to condemn socialism but the dramatic irony causes audience to oppose his views and sympathise with socialists
17
Q
“Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war.”
A
- ‘Everything’ and ‘nothing’- vague pronouns, showing Birling is ignorant about specific worldly knowledge
- ‘war’- dramatic irony of WW1-2 happening- both naive/accurate- has Britain gained anything from going to war?
- ‘lose’ and ‘gain’ juxtapose one another. Can link to loss of life- Eva and soldiers in WW1-2.
- verb- ‘gain’ has connotations of wealth and status- it is all about consumerism with Mr Birling. Always looking for the advantage to take.
18
Q
“The whole damned thing can be a piece of bluff.”
A
- ‘damned’- pun: swearing, showing frustration but also religious connotations- going to hell- damning himself or Eva- suicide?
- tone- aggressive but relieved: quite vague language, feeling guilty?
- ‘bluff’= trying to deceive someone. But piece implies it is only part of it subconsciously thinking there is some truth?
