MR BIRLING quotes

Question 1

• Beliefs/decisions are thought through with practicality not empathy
  .
• Thinks of himself highly (repeats this description of himself)

Answer 1

“I speak as a Hard-headed practical man of business” -Mr Birling (Act 1)

describing himself

Question 2

• Dramatic Irony –> audience questions his judgement because we get know he is so wrong.
  .
• Priestley is mocking his foolish arrogance/capitalism at the same time.

Answer 2

“Unsinkable. Absolutely unsinkable” -Mr Birling

talking about the titanic

Question 3

• Dramatic irony used to undermine Birling and present him as foolish & overly confident.
  .
• “Nobody”suggests he is arrogant enough to speak for all people, despite knowing very little about the wishes of
  others.

(We know there will be a war)

Answer 3

“The Germans don’t want war. Nobody
wants war.” -Mr B (Act 1)

Question 4

• Discussing the effects of socialism in a
  negative and dismissive manner.
  .
• ‘Mixed up’ suggests belief that social
  classes should not interact.

.

• ‘Bees’ implies a fear that socialism will
  crush individuality and reduce humans to
  mindless drones.

[He makes this comment just as the doorbell rings and hte inspector arrives –> foreshadowing]

Answer 4

“Mixed up together like bees in a hive” -Mr Birling (Act 1)

(during his speech to Eric & Gerald just before the Inspector arrives)

Question 5

• ‘Wretched’ is callous and uncaring.
• ‘Girl’ is dismissive and patronising : Refusal to use her name, despite knowing it

–> shows a reluctance to see the working classes as individuals.

Answer 5

“wretched girl’s suicide” -Mr Birling Act 1

Question 6

• ‘Far too much’ suggests he wants to
  silence the working classes, particularly
  the women.
• He feels they should be
  voiceless and is not impressed when they
  stand up for themselves

.
* ‘Had to go’ shows his certainty that his
actions were correct.

Answer 6

“She had a lot to say – far too much – so
she had to go” -Mr Birling (Act 1)

talking about Eric

Question 7

• Dismissive and patronising tone (rooted in sexism and infantalisation of the younger generation)

Answer 7

“Nothing to do with you Sheila, now run along” -Mr Birling (Act 1)

Question 8

• Shows his pitiful attempt at trying to show remorse through offering to pay hypothetical money to wish it didnt happen

.

• Ironic because he refused to pay Eva “3 shillings a week” and now hes offering to pay ‘thousands’

.

• Shows how middle/upper classes first instinct is to try to throw money at a problem.

Answer 8

“Id give thousands, yes thousands” -Mr Birling (Act 3)

he says this ‘unhappily’

Question 9

• A derogatory way of expressing his opinion on another ecanomic ideology
  .
• ‘crank’ - suggests crazy or radical –> Showing how Capitalists viewed any other ideology that was different to their own.

Answer 9

“Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank” -Mr Birling (Act 3)

–>talking about the Inspector once he left (when they are discussing if he was actually with the police or not)