Mr Birling Quotes Flashcards
“Perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together- for lower costs and higher prices”
This quote is intersting as it shows the business minded approach Mr Birling has at the engagement of his daughter, where his tone should be more emotional and sentimental. Alternatively, it could refer to the human suffering happening in the edwardian era as people worked very long hours for very little pay. The capitalist attitude he has expresses his selfishness, which is seen in disgust by the reader in a time of socialism
“I speak as a hard headed businessman… we’re in for a time of prosperity “
Here Birling engages in self praise commenting on his expertise as a businessman. Alternatively, his fixation on being a” hard headed business man” around Gerald seems to be as if he is trying to show off or impress him. Irony is also seen as he talks about a period of prosperity when in fact the audience knows that a horrific war will take the lives of millions soon after. Priestly has Mr Birling making erroneous predictions like this to show that no matter how immortal they think they are, capitalists can also be wrong.
“Well its my duty to keep labour costs down. And if i’d agreed to this demand for a new rate, we’d have added 12% to our labour costs.
Rather than to talk in genral terms to the inspector, Mr Birling is using precise and actual numbers. This may not be appropriate as it is taking place at his daughters engagement. The fact that he knows these numbers mentally represents capitalist passion for business and their money-obsessed nature. Alternatively, it may not be appropriate as he is responding to the inspector about a young girls death. This defensive and preservative tone suggests a lack of empathy and selflessness, another quality of capitalism.
“Youre the one I blame for this”
Birling is not bothered by the lousy deeds commited by Mrs B or Sheila, but actually blames the one family member that did help Eva by giving her money. Birlings selfishness and indifference to Eva’s suffering is an ugly view of the upperclassman, similar to how an audience would be in disgust of this capitalist attitude within a socialist period. Alternatively ot shows the damaged father son dynamic as he feels ashamed and disappointed in his son, refers back to when Gerald was the “kind of son in law he always wanted”.
“And a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, havent you”
This quote doesnt only refer to the Inspector messing up the dinner but the Birlings seemingly “perfect” family life. Alternatively he places blame on the inspector for the nasty mess but, evidently , the only people to blame are the Birlings as they made a naste mess of Eva Smiths life which the Inspector refers to later.(“A nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it.”)
Other quotes from Mr Birling
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
“Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war”
