Mr Birling Flashcards
Stage Directions: ‘‘h— h——’’ ‘‘p–t–t—’’ ‘‘pro——’’
’‘hard headed’’ ‘‘potentous’’ ‘‘provincial’’
What does the stage direction, ‘hard headed’ and ‘‘portentous’’ imply?
There’s the implication that he won’t change - foreshadows his inability to change his mind and beliefs.
Mr Birling on the Engagement ‘‘you’ve b—— us — t——-‘’ ‘‘l—– c—–, h—— pr—-‘’
’‘you’ve brought us all together’’ ‘‘lower costs, higher prices’’
What can, ‘‘lower costs, higher prices’’ suggest?
The punctuation could be highlighting the disparity between the the ruling classes and the working classes. Priestley shows that the endgame of capitalism is to make as much money as possible. Also, Mr Birling is seeing his daughter’s engagement as a business arrangement
Dramatic Irony (explain why) ‘‘soon it’ll – – —- ——- —–’’ ‘‘l—– t—–’’
’‘soon it’ll be an even better time’’, set in 1912 but first audience in 1945. The audience knows that after WW1, ‘‘labour trouble’’ - Mr Birling believes that labour is just causing ‘‘trouble’’ and isn’t something to worry about, however in 1945 they win on a landslide.
Hubris (excessive pride) ‘Speech about ‘‘ae——–’’ and ‘’s—-‘’ ‘‘un——–, completely un——–’’ ‘‘l—- s— in 19–’’
Speech about ‘‘aeroplanes’’ and ‘‘ships’’ demonstrates advances in technology - the irony is that these things make war easier and more dangerous. However, it allows the ruling classes and industries to profit more from the suffering ‘‘unsinkable, completely unsinkable’’ dramatic irony ridicules Birling - pride before a fall. Do the ruling classes see themselves as ‘‘unsinkable’’? Well, according to Priestley, yes they do. ‘‘lets say in 1940’’ - low point of Britain in WW2, with Blitz, Dunkirk prior the USA aid
'’She’d had - — – – - for — —- - so she — – –’’
’‘She’d had a lot to say - for too much - so she had to go’’ As the play progresses, we see the breaking down of his powerfulness under the Inspector’s questioning. Lots of punctuation and hesitation gives the implication that he is not as powerful as he may think.
Callous Man - Birling is described as ‘‘p—- - s—–’’ as the play progresses.
’‘panic-stricken’’. Birlings bravado and defiance are gone and the audience see someone who is blindly wrong and we wonder if he was really ever in control.
Ending ‘‘y–‘ll h—- - —- —– —- – —’’
’‘you’ll have a good laugh over it yet’’ We can see the return of the old Mr Birling
Stage Direction ‘‘tr——–’’
’‘triumphantly’’ reflects his inability to sympathise, triumphantly as if they have won something. What have they actually achieved?
