Mr Birling

Mr Birling

1. "Rather portentous"

   • Suggests that he is important
     • He may actually be important
     • This may be the way he sees himself
       • Due to his social class and wealth

2. "There isn't a chance of war"

   • War breaks out 2 years after the play is set
     • 1914
   • His predictions are all wrong.
     • Priestley does this to make him look stupid
       • Audience do not trust him about anything
         • War
           • regre
         • Titanic
         • Eva Smith

3. "A man has to mind his own business"

   • Very selfish
     • Only cares about himself
   • Strongly disagrees with social responsibility
     • Believes in every man for himself
     • Audience holds a negative judgement against him

4. "Just a knighthood"

   • This is very important in the Crofts' eyes as well as his own
     • Trying to impress the Crofts
       • links to theme of Appearances
   • Higher status
     • Moving up socially

5. "Provincial in his speech"

   • Has an accent
   • Isn't well-spoken

6. "Don't...start a scandal - eh?"

   • Foreshadows the things that are about to happen

7. "Titanic...absolutely unsinkable"

   • Titanic sinks
   • Dramatic Irony
   • self-assured
   • Foolish
   • Overconfident
   • Arrogant

8. "They both laugh"

   • They both take it as a joke and laugh it off
     • But it may be more serious

9. "One of the happiest nights of my life"

   • Hyperbole
     • His best interest at heart is money
       • This marriage will bring him great profit to business
         • Links to theme of Power and Greed
           • Very selfish
           • Only cares about money
           • Only cares about climbing the social ladder
   • Irony
     • Going to change
       • Into one of the worst nights of his life