Mr Birling - Character Profile Flashcards

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1
Q

How is Mr. Birling’s social status depicted in “An Inspector Calls”?

A

Mr. Birling is firmly situated within the 1912 English social elite, showcasing his dominance and influence within the setting of the play.

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2
Q

What role does Mr. Birling play in the household, and how does he exert control?

A

As the owner of Birling and Co., Mr. Birling maintains a patriarchal position, employing young women at low wages. His dominance extends to his marriage, where he controls his wife Sybil, relegating her to the sidelines during important discussions.

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3
Q

How does Mr. Birling’s indifference affect the family dynamic?

A

Mr. Birling’s disregard for his daughter Sheila’s concerns about Gerald’s affair reflects his prioritization of economic interests over familial relationships, highlighting his self-serving nature within the household.

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4
Q

How does Priestley portray Mr. Birling as a symbol of capitalism?

A

Priestley presents Mr. Birling as embodying capitalist ideology through his appearance, demeanor, and actions, reflecting greed, self-absorption, and profit-centric behavior.

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5
Q

How does Mr. Birling prioritize business over family?

A

Mr. Birling values business success over familial relationships, as evidenced by his focus on profit during his daughter’s engagement celebration and his willingness to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness for business connections.

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6
Q

How does Mr. Birling’s behavior towards the Inspector demonstrate his capitalist mindset?

A

Mr. Birling attempts to bribe the Inspector to avoid legal consequences, showcasing his individualistic pursuit of self-preservation and wealth, regardless of the consequences for others.

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7
Q

How does Mr. Birling’s speech reflect his insecurity about his social position?

A

Mr. Birling’s provincial speech, characterized by his noticeable accent and lack of sophistication, betrays his humble origins and reveals his insecurity about his social status.

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8
Q

How does Mr. Birling attempt to assert his social status?

A

Mr. Birling frequently mentions his past roles, such as being Lord Mayor, and hints at the possibility of receiving a knighthood to convince others of his high social standing.

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9
Q

How does Mrs. Birling’s attitude towards Mr. Birling’s speech reflect their social dynamic?

A

Mrs. Birling, who comes from a wealthier background, is embarrassed by Mr. Birling’s provincial speech and lack of refinement, highlighting her superiority in social etiquette and upbringing.

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10
Q

How does Priestley depict Mr. Birling’s wealth?

A

Priestley describes the Birling household as “substantial and heavily comfortable but not cosy or homelike,” indicating their significant wealth but lack of genuine warmth.

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11
Q

What social background does Mr. Birling come from?

A

Mr. Birling comes from a lower-class background.

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12
Q

How is Mr. Birling perceived by higher-class individuals?

A

Mr. Birling is viewed as a class imposter due to his nouveau riche status.

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13
Q

How does Mr. Birling exercise control over the lower class?

A

Mr. Birling maintains control by denying pay rises and enforcing poor working conditions, revealing his self-centered nature and desire to uphold an appearance of affluence.

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14
Q

How does Priestley utilize the character of Mr. Birling in “An Inspector Calls”?

A

Priestley uses Mr. Birling to critique capitalism and highlight the cycle of oppression caused by social divisions and classism.

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15
Q

How does Mr. Birling validate his superiority?

A

Mr. Birling validates his superiority by denying pay rises, maintaining poor working conditions, and exercising control over lower-class workers.

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16
Q

What drives Mr. Birling’s self-centered behavior?

A

Mr. Birling’s self-centered behavior is driven by his determination to uphold an appearance of affluence, even at the expense of his employees.

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17
Q

Why does Priestley focus on Mr. Birling’s insecurities?

A

Priestley focuses on Mr. Birling’s insecurities to establish a connection with the middle-class audience and exploit the genuine insecurities they faced.

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18
Q

How does Mr. Birling respond to the Inspector’s accusations regarding Eva Smith’s suicide?

A

Mr. Birling dismisses and trivializes the Inspector’s accusations, eager to reject any responsibility for Eva’s death.

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19
Q

What motivates Mr. Birling’s dismissive attitude towards the Inspector’s message?

A

Mr. Birling’s desire to maintain his public image and avoid social rejection motivates his dismissive attitude towards the Inspector’s message of social responsibility.

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20
Q

Why does Mr. Birling resist societal changes and reject socialism?

A

Mr. Birling opposes societal changes and rejects socialism because it threatens the profiteering methods and exploitation of laborers that benefit him financially. He is resistant to sacrificing his own interests for social responsibility.

21
Q

How does Priestley contrast the attitudes of the younger and older generations in the play?

A

Priestley contrasts the acknowledgment of moral failings by the younger generation, such as Eric and Sheila, with the older generation’s focus on preserving their social status and disregarding moral duty.

22
Q

How does Priestley depict Mr. Birling’s attitude towards change?

A

Priestley portrays Mr. Birling’s attitude as resistant to change, intending to continue living in the same fashion as before the Inspector’s arrival.

23
Q

What is the significance of the cyclical structure of Mr. Birling’s outlook?

A

The cyclical structure highlights Mr. Birling as a static character who cannot change, reflecting the flaws of the current society and the upper-classes’ resistance to change.

24
Q

How does Priestley use Mr. Birling’s character to critique societal flaws and capitalism?

A

Priestley critiques societal flaws and capitalism through Mr. Birling’s uncaring, self-absorbed, and manipulative traits, which maintain unfair privileges for the upper-classes.

25
Q

What message does Priestley convey through the cyclical ending of the play?

A

Through the cyclical ending, Priestley warns the audience about the consequences of not embracing social responsibility and the importance of considering alternative ideologies like socialism.

26
Q

How does Priestley establish a divide between Mr. and Mrs. Birling?

A

Priestley creates a divide between Mr. and Mrs. Birling by describing Mrs. Birling as “her husband’s social superior.”

27
Q

What does the theme of capitalism reveal about Mr. and Mrs. Birling’s marriage?

A

The theme of capitalism shows that Mr. Birling married Mrs. Birling for her social status rather than love, turning their marriage into a transaction based on financial stability and social reputation.

28
Q

How does Mrs. Birling’s response to Mr. Birling indicate the lack of love and intimacy in their relationship?

A

Mrs. Birling’s “reproachful” response to Mr. Birling suggests her disappointment and unhappiness in the marriage, highlighting the dissatisfaction caused by prioritizing status and wealth over love and fulfillment.

29
Q

How does Eric feel about his father’s business practices?

A

Eric opposes his father’s business practices and is disgusted by the exploitation of employees at Birling & Co.

30
Q

What does Eric’s opposition to capitalism suggest about his character?

A

Eric’s opposition to capitalism suggests that he is more aligned with socialist ideals, indicating a generational divide between him and his father.

31
Q

How does Priestley create an immediate divide between Mr. Birling and Eric?

A

Priestley creates an immediate divide between Mr. Birling and Eric through a dialogue where Mr. Birling promotes capitalist notions, which Eric challenges with socialist ideals.

32
Q

Despite their differences, what do Eric and Mr. Birling have in common?

A

Despite their differences, both Eric and Mr. Birling exploit Eva in some way, showing similarities in their actions.

33
Q

How does Priestley contrast Mr. Birling and the Inspector?

A

Priestley contrasts Mr. Birling and the Inspector by presenting Mr. Birling as representative of capitalism and individualism, while the Inspector embodies socialism and social responsibility.

34
Q

What idea does Mr. Birling represent, and how does it differ from the Inspector’s ideology?

A

Mr. Birling represents rugged individualism and the idea that “a man has to look after himself,” while the Inspector promotes social responsibility and the concept that “we are all one body.”

35
Q

How does the Inspector challenge Mr. Birling’s appearance of a reputable family?

A

The Inspector plays on Mr. Birling’s appearance of a reputable family by stating “you seem like a nice well-behaved family,” but emphasizes the superficiality of their appearance by using the verb “seem.”

36
Q

What significance does the Inspector’s appearance hold in contrast to Mr. Birling?

A

The Inspector’s appearance, described as an “impression of massiveness,” contrasts with Mr. Birling’s obsession with public image, portraying socialism as a more powerful idea. The Inspector’s minimal attire reflects his lack of need for material objects to validate social status.

37
Q

How does the Inspector’s appearance reflect his confidence?

A

The Inspector’s confidence is reflected in his appearance of “massiveness” and his plain darkish suit, which contrasts with Mr. Birling’s obsession with social status and material possessions.

38
Q

How does the Inspector’s speech style differ from Mr. Birling’s?

A

The Inspector speaks carefully and weightfully, presenting compelling arguments supported by evidence like Eva Smith’s diary and photograph. In contrast, Mr. Birling’s speech is portrayed as ignorant and arrogant, filled with dashes and hesitations, and his arguments are invalidated by dramatic irony.

39
Q

How does dramatic irony affect Mr. Birling’s speech?

A

Dramatic irony invalidates Mr. Birling’s arguments, such as “the Germans don’t want war” and “the Titanic is unsinkable,” as the audience knows the opposite to be true. This highlights his ignorance and arrogance in contrast to the Inspector’s compelling arguments.

40
Q

How does the Inspector respond to Mr. Birling’s attempts to assert authority?

A

The Inspector remains unaffected by Mr. Birling’s attempts to intimidate him with references to his social status, resisting Mr. Birling’s assertions of authority.

41
Q

How does Mr. Birling’s insecurity manifest in his interactions with the Inspector?

A

Mr. Birling’s insecurity is masked by attempts to condescend the Inspector with rhetorical questions and assertions of authority over his children, reflecting his oppression of the lower classes in the workplace.

42
Q

How does Mr. Birling’s attitude towards Gerald Croft reveal his insecurity?

A

Mr. Birling exhibits insecurity in his interactions with Gerald by hesitatingly suggesting that Gerald “ought to like” the port, indicating his wariness of giving orders to someone of higher social status.

43
Q

What motivates Mr. Birling’s attempts to impress Gerald?

A

Mr. Birling’s attempts to impress Gerald stem from his desire to compensate for his lower social status compared to the Crofts, as well as to promote himself in order to unite the Croft and Birling families and potentially increase his ranking on the social hierarchy.

44
Q

What does Mr. Birling symbolize in “An Inspector Calls”?

A

Mr. Birling symbolizes the selfishness and resistance to change inherent in the capitalist higher middle-class. He embodies the lack of remorse and acceptance of responsibility, exemplified by his relief upon believing the Inspector wasn’t real and his jovial display of happiness afterward.

45
Q

Why does Priestley portray Mr. Birling as a static character?

A

Priestley presents Mr. Birling as static to serve as a vehicle for capitalism and opposition to societal change. By keeping Mr. Birling unchanging and dislikeable, Priestley aims to critique capitalism and persuade the younger generation towards a more socialist mindset.

46
Q

How does Priestley use the audience’s dislike of Mr. Birling to convey his message of socialism in “An Inspector Calls”?

A

Priestley leverages the audience’s disdain for Mr. Birling to challenge their own social responsibility and conduct. By portraying Mr. Birling’s capitalist views negatively, Priestley encourages the audience, particularly the younger middle-class, to reflect on their own potential for change and advocate for a less divided society.

47
Q

What audience does Priestley target to convey his message of socialism?

A

Priestley aims his message primarily at the contemporary middle-class audience, especially the younger members who have wealth and influence. By portraying Mr. Birling’s insecurities and flaws, Priestley prompts this audience to reflect on their own social responsibility and drive positive societal change.

48
Q

How does Priestley use dramatic irony in “An Inspector Calls” to portray Mr. Birling?

A

Priestley employs dramatic irony to depict Mr. Birling as foolish and unlikable. For example, Birling’s confident assertions about the Germans and England’s prosperity are met with disdain by the audience, who are aware of historical events like World War I and the Great Depression.

49
Q

How does Priestley utilize dramatic irony to create relief in “An Inspector Calls”?

A

Priestley introduces relief through dramatic irony by contrasting Mr. Birling’s flawed perspectives with the arrival of the Inspector. The audience’s favorable perception of the Inspector and his socialist ideologies provides a sense of relief from Mr. Birling’s capitalist views.