Mr Birling Priestley's Ideas Flashcards
What does Priestley use Mr Birling as a symbol of
Priestley uses Birling as a symbol of the callous and heartlessness of capitalism. Through his character he is criticizing the complacency of capitalist prosperity.
What is Mr Birling a representation of
He is representative of the older generation who were unwilling to change.
Audience invited to feel sympathy
However, he is presented as a realistic character by Priestley through his use of colloquial language appropriate for the time. Furthermore, he is described as ‘panic stricken’ this indicates that his defiance and bravado have finally been shattered and so Priestley lets the audience see someone who is so blindly wrong and never as really in control of events as he would like himself and others to think. Therefore the audience is invited to feel sympathy.
