Mr Birling Quotes : Older vs Younger Generation

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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 2

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

Answer 2

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