Mr Birling

Question 1

What are the steps to writing an essay on Mr Birling?

Answer 1

1) Read and highlight question
2) Read extract and select 5-8 quotes
3) Write introduction - mention author
4) Analyse extract (2-3 paragraphs)
5) Analyse presentation of character in the rest of the play ( eg relationship with Eva Smith)
6) How character reacts to inspectors speech
7) How character reacts to hoax inspector

Also obligatory scene if it is not in the extract

Question 2

Quotes for Mr Birling + Eva Smiths relationship

Step 5

Answer 2

‘Country - bred’
‘Wretched girl’
‘I discharged her’
‘ I can’t accept any responsibility’

Question 3

Significance of ‘country-bred’ and ‘wretched girl’

Answer 3

‘country-bred’ -> Crude, gentlemens club, eva = only good for sex, diminishes women’s worth

‘Wretched girl’ -> misogynistic

dismissive of Eva Smith as a person as in context of sex, Birling was joking about her but also calls her ‘wretched’ aaaaa idk how to word this

Question 4

‘I discharged her’

Answer 4

Harsh, clinical verb dismissive of Eva Smith and the lower classes
Alienates

Question 5

‘I can’t accept any responcibility

Answer 5

Avocation of capitalist ideologies / selfish / doesn’t think of others
Self assured and set in his ways
Close minded

Question 6

Quotes for Mr Birling’s reaction to Inspector’s final speech

step 6

Answer 6

‘members of one body’
‘taught in fire and blood and anguish’
‘I was almost certain for a knighthhood’

Question 7

‘Members of one body’

Answer 7

Juxtaposed with Birling’s derogatory slang of ‘Cranks’ as those who want societal change
Inspector = Priestley’s mouthpiece / who audience is aligned with and so further presents Mr Birling as self important, stupid, close minded, the institutionalised older generation with no hope for change

Question 8

‘Taught in fire and blood and anguish

Answer 8

Juxtaposed Birling’s opening speech ‘ peace and prosperity’ in the future
Preistley wants audience to align with Inspector
‘fire and blood and anguish’ -> World war two, the titanic?

Question 9

’ I was almost certain for a knighthood ‘

Answer 9

Only thing Birling cares about is his social status, or the scandal this event has caused
He has not learnt his lesson

Society was balanced so delicately that one scandal could send you to the bottom of the heap, (and those at the bottom were not treated too well)
Understandable Birling’s need to keep up a good pretense?
Highlights corrupt society?

Question 10

Quotes for hoax inspector

step 7

Answer 10

‘You’d better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back’
‘You’re ready to go in the same way’
‘(amused) and you’re not eh?’

Question 11

‘You’d better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back’

Answer 11

Learnt no lesson
Still strives to excel in society
highlights play as a construct to illuminate society troubles relevant to this day

Question 12

'’you’re ready to go in the same way’

‘(amused)’

Answer 12

amused -> it is laughable to him that Sheila thinks he should change his ways
The idea hasn’t even crossed his mind