Mr Birling Quotes

Question 1

Mr Birling Insecurity Quote 1

Answer 1

“Provincial in his speech”

The adjective “provincial” is used to show the low-class origins of Mr Birling. He has to compensate for his lower-class accent with material possessions.

Question 2

Mr Birling Insecurity Quote 2

Answer 2

“You ought to like this port, Gerald It’s exactly the same port your father gets”

The verb “ought” reveals Mr Birling’s insecurities regarding social status; he is hesitant to command Gerald (who is of a higher class) like he would command Eric

Question 3

Mr Birling Insecurity Quote 3

Answer 3

“There’s a fair chance that I may
next honours list.”

Mr Birling’s insecurity is revealed by his feeling of inadequacy due to his lower social status, compared to
find myself into the the Crofts. Therefore, he feels the need to compensate with boasts of a potential knighthood

Question 4

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 1

Answer 4

“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together - for lower costs and higher prices.”

This reveals the true motive behind Sheila’s marriage, which is profit - rather than love.

Question 5

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 2

Answer 5

“as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive
- community and all that nonsense.”

The simile “like bees in a hive” is an attempt by Mr Birling to trivialise the concept of socialism

Question 6

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 3

Answer 6

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself”

Here, Mr Birling speaks in the third person in an attempt to create a philosophical element to his speech.

Question 7

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 4

Answer 7

“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”

Priestley uses the noun “duty” to emphasise Mr Birling’s dedication to capitalism and profit.

Question 8

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 5

Answer 8

“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”

The hyperbole (exaggeration for effect) of “asking for the earth” is an attempt by Mr Birling to explain his rejection of Eva Smith’s pay rise. However, the absurdity of people “asking for the earth” reflects the absurdity of Mr Birling’s refusal to pay a decent wage.

Question 9

Mr Birling Capitalism vs Socialism Quote 6

Answer 9

“Probably a socialist or some sort of crank”

The noun “crank” is an attempt by Mr Birling to condemn socialism, however, Priestley’s use of dramatic irony causes the audience to oppose Mr Birling’s views and therefore sympathise with socialists.

Question 10

Mr Birling Older generation vs younger generation Quote 1

Answer 10

“Why you hysterical young fool - get back-or
I’ll -

Here Priestley uses irony to further create a dislikeable perception of Mr Birling, who insults and threatens violence towards his own child. Therefore, it is clear that it is in fact Mr Birling who is “hysterical”

Question 11

Mr Birling Older generation vs younger generation Quote 2

Answer 11

“now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke”

The use of the noun “joke” is significant as it is ironic. It occurs just before the phone rings and a ‘real’ inspector calls on the telephone. Also, trivialising Eva Smith’s suffering as a “joke” emphasises the static character of Mr Birling.

Question 12

Mr Birling Responsibility Quote 1

Answer 12

“As it happened more than eighteen months ago - nearly two years ago- obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide.”

The adverb “obviously” is used to emphasise Mr Birling’s arrogance and disregard for his own social responsibility. Priestley does this to continue Mr Birling’s unlikable image.

Question 13

Mr Birling Responsibility Quote 2

Answer 13

” I cant accept any responsibility “

The use of the adverb “any” reveals Mr Birling’s complete lack of morality, as he believes sacking Eva Smith had no impact on her life, which drove her to suicide.

Question 14

Mr Birling Responsibility Quote 3

Answer 14

“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody… it would be very
awkward wouldn’t it?”

Priestley’s use of the adjective “awkward”, coupled with Mr Binling’s self-absorbed character reveals that an increased sense of responsibility for everyone would really only be “awkward” for him. This awkwardness extends to the class and ideology that he represents: capitalist middle-class.

Question 15

Mr Birling Responsibililty Quote 4

Answer 15

“Ive got to cover this up as soon as I can”

Priestley uses this sense of urgency as Mr Birling’s reaction to his involvement in Eva Smith’s suicide shows how he is focused solely on the well-being of his own social status, rather than the death of Eva and how his actions contributed to it.

Question 16

Mr Birling Responsibility Quote 5

Answer 16

“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did”

Mr Birling separates himself and Mrs Birling, as the older generation, from Eric and Sheila in the younger generation. This diversion of blame onto his children reveals the selfish core of Mr Birling and inability to develop a sense of social responsibility

Question 17

Mr Birling Responsibility Quote 6

Answer 17

“(jovially) but the whole things different now “

Priestley uses the stage direction “(jovially)” to emphasise Mr Birling’s indifference to the well-being of Eva Smith, as “the whole thing’s different now” due to there being no social or legal consequences affecting Mr Birling.

Question 18

Mr Birling Responsibililty Quote 7

Answer 18

(the Inspector is speaking) “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”

Priestley uses the Inspector as a vehicle for socialism, as Mr Birling is reminded of his “responsibilities” and the need to address them

Question 19

Mr Birling Self - absorbed Quote 1

Answer 19

“It’s one of the happiest nights of my life… your engagement to Shelia means a tremendous lot to me”

The selfish nature of Mr Birling is revealed by the use of the personal pronoun “me” and “my life”. The emphasis on Mr Birling’s own life is due to his own reputation and social status increasing after Sheila’s marriage to Gerald. In reality, it matters not whether Sheila and Gerald are happily married.

Question 20

Mr Birling self - absorbed Quote 2

Answer 20

warn you that that [the Chief
Constable is an old friend of mine.
We play golf together.”

“Perhaps / ought to Mr Birling attempts to intimidate the Inspector through
the verb “warn”. The belief that association with the Chief Constable puts Mr Birling above the law epitomises the need for greater social justice and responsibility.

Question 21

Mr Birling self absorbed quote 3

Answer 21

“I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this enquiry.”

Again, Birling attempts to sway the Inspector and force him to leave by mentioning the irrelevant fact that he doesn’t “like” the Inspector’s tone. This is due to the higher classes, generally, being let off by law enforcement due to association with officers in higher positions.

Question 22

Mr Birling self absorbed quote 4

Answer 22

“I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the next honours list.”

Priestley uses the short sentence “I care” to create a potential turning point, where Mr Birling finally accepts his moral and social responsibility. However, what follows is an anti-climax as Mr Birling’s static nature as a character is reaffirmed. What Mr Birling only cares about is his social position, not the wellbeing of Eva Smith and other employees.

Question 23

Mr Birling self absorbed quote 5

Answer 23

“There’ll be a public scandal… and who here will suffer for that more than I will?”

This rhetorical question is used by Priestley to demonstrate Mr Birling’s self-pity rather than sympathy for Eva Smith. His social status is more valuable to him than his employee’s lives.

Question 24

Mr Birling self absorbed quote 6

Answer 24

“A heavy looking rather portentous man”

The use of the adjective “portentous” in the stage directions gives an immediate indication of Mr Birling’s self-indulged temperament.

Question 25

Mr Birling self absorbed quote 7

Answer 25

“Alderman for
years / Lord Mayor
two years ago”

Priestley uses these high-ranking local roles to reveal Mr Birling’s belief that social status transcends law and order.

Question 26

Mr Birling Dramatic Irony Quote 1

Answer 26

“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable.
And to that I say - fiddlesticks!”

The use of the noun “fiddlesticks”, alongside Priestley’s use of dramatic irony causes Mr Birling to seem overwhelmingly confident in his arrogance. This is due to Britain entering WWl soon after 1912.

Question 27

Mr Birling Dramatic Irony Quote 2

Answer 27

“(the Titanic is) unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”

The certainty shown by Mr Biling’s repetition of
“unsinkable” demonstrates his poor judgement. This is due to the Titanic sinking.

Question 28

Mr Birling Dramatic irony Quote 3

Answer 28

“Time of steadily increasing prosperity”

The Great Depression followed 1912 and engulfed post-war Britain. Therefore, the audience in 1945 would identify Mr Birling as unreliable and thus dislike him.