Mr Birling Quotes Act 1 Flashcards
”a heavy-looking…”
”a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties”
The Personification of Capitalism:
After the wars in 1945, a plumper frame was synonymous with affluence and indulgence. The adjective “portentous” is used to expose the superficiality of capitalism.
[his home is] “substantial…”
[his home is] “substantial and heavily comfortable but not cosy or homelike”
The Personification of Capitalism:
This portrays the cosmetic nature of Birling’s wealth. The unorthodox phrase “heavily comfortable” is almost an oxymoron to present the luxury of the social elite as a façade.
”hard-headed…”
”hard-headed practical man of business”
The Personification of Capitalism:
This is a political allusion to Sir Stanley Baldwin who accused ”hard-faced men” of profiting from the wars, Mr Birling stands to represent these affluent businessmen who callously took advantage of the suffering of war for financial gain.
”rather provincial…”
”rather provincial in his speech”
Insecure and Unacquainted with Aristocratic Life:
His voice is tainted by a regional accent, in 1912 this would be perceived as a sign he is unrefined and comes from lower-class roots. He is a member of the Noveau Riche.
”Finchley told me…”
”Finchley told me it’s exactly the same port your father gets from him”
Insecure and Unacquainted with Aristocratic Life:
His use of name-dropping exposes that he is trying to impress. Mr Birling embarked on a sycophantic investigation to copy Gerald’s
father’s taste in port. Port is used as a metonym for wealth, highlighting how superficial it is. Mr Birling is obsessive in his attempts to assert his status which likely comes from a place of insecurity.
[Mrs Birling tells Mr Birling] “you’re not supposed to…”
[Mrs Birling tells Mr Birling] “you’re not supposed to say such things”
Insecure and Unacquainted with Aristocratic Life:
He is scolded by his wife for committing social indiscretions showing he is not well versed in aristocratic life. His attempts to assert his status are rendered futile as his true nature will always shine through.
”as it happened more than eighteen months ago…”
”as it happened more than eighteen months ago – nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide”
Denying Responsibility:
His reasoning is ignorant and illogical, yet his use of the adverb “obviously” shows his arrogant defensiveness. His inability to display any kind of remorse is reflective of the stubbornness of the older generations, he doesn’t allow there to be any question of him being responsible.
