AIC CHARACTERS

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ARTHUR BIRLING:

Basic overview:

Happy with the capitalist, static society (rich stays rich, poor stays poor) he lives in, strongly capitalist views.

Dominant place in the society shown through: Patriarchal role as owner of Birling and Co, (mainly employs young girls for low wages), his indifference to Gerald's affair due to his focus being more on how it can benefit himself with her marriage.

Living embodiment of capitalist ideology (everything revolves around profit):

"Heavy looking" - which symbolises greed, frequently displays portentous (tries very hard to impress people) attitude.

"One of the happiest nights of my life" and toasts "to lower costs and higher prices" this displays his pompous perspective as he is focused on himself and profits and toasts to that rather than his daughters marriage or health (clear that Mr Birling values the prospect of increased profit rather than his daughters happiness) - emphasises individualistic nature of capitalism

Business of greater importance than his own family - foreshadows his indifference to Eva Smith's suicide - emphasises individualistic nature of capitalism