An Inspector Calls - Mr Birling

An Inspector Calls - Mr Birling

1. "I say there isn't a chance of war"

   • From the start Mr Birling is shown arrogant, in his ways and speech
   • From the start audience can't trust his judgement
   • Page 6
   • THEME

2. "Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable"

   • We see from the start that Mr Birling is very font of himself and throughout the play he gets more big headed and tries to cover instead of taking responsibility
   • Dramatic Irony
     • Referring to the titanic, which sank
   • Page 7
   • Repetition of the adjective "unsinkable"

3. "The time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together- for lower costs higher prices"

   • Is less bothered about his daughter's engagement but more bothered about business
   • Capitalism
     • All he cares about is himself and how to improve his reputation/business
   • He doesn't care about anyone but himself
   • Generation Gap
     • Sheila and Eric represent the younger generation they wouldn't think like this they would differently people are people not just cheap labour
       • Capitalism Vs Socialism
       • "I refused of course"
   • Puts work in front of family shows he's a uncaring man that has no empathy towards others
     • The audience can see that the family isn't very close with each other
   • Page 4
   • The adjectives "lower" and "higher"

4. "You'd think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense"

   • Capitalism
     • Capital views in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. outlines the wrong in society through Mr Birling
       • The audience would disagree with Birling and agree with the sub moral of the story
   • Capitalism Vs Socialism
     • The inspector and Mr Birling have different views upon how people should be treated. Priestly is showing the immorally wrong opinions of Mr Birling
       • The audience see Mr Birling more erroneous rather than a rich intelligent man
   • Generation Gap
     • Eric and Sheila represent the younger generation in which they believe the opposite. They both have socialist views and believe you should treat people better
   • Simile
   • Page 7
   • Noun "community"
   • "A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself"

5. "(rather impatiently)"

   • "Yes, yes. Horrid business. But I don't see why you should come here inspector-"
     • Repetition of the minor sentences "Yes,yes"
       • Capitalism
         • Values his reputation over someones life. Priestly is telling us this Capitalist attitude is unjustifiably wrong
     • Generation Gap
       • If we juxtapose Sheila's reaction and Birling we can see that Sheila is more caring and has some empathy towards Eva smith's death
         • "recognises it, with a little cry gives a half-stifle sob, and the runs out"
           • Stage direction
           • Shows how emotional Sheila was compared to Birling
         • "What's the matter with her?"
           • Page 23
       • Shows a younger more open minded generation
     • Page 12
   • Stage direction
     • Suggests he isn't bothered about anyone but himself
   • Lack of compassion
     • Makes the audience feel angry about his capitalist view points of every man has to look after himself

6. "This makes a difference, y'know. In fact , it makes all the difference"

   • "Repetition of "difference"
   • Birling takes no responsibility even at the end he carries on with his capitalist views
     • Not even at the end of the play
   • no responsibility
   • Capitalism
   • All he cares about is his reputation, has no sympathy towards others
   • Can juxtapose the other characters and see how his capitalist views are impacting others he doesn't care about Eva Smith's death
     • After realising in act 3 that the inspector isn't real officer he is very excited because he can cover and keep his good reputation
       • "There'll be a public scandal"
         • Noun "Scandal"
       • Even though he knows the inspector wasn't real he still doesn't see the main problem and carries on taking no responsibility by blaming his own son Eric
         • "You're the one to blame for this"
           • The audience expect this behaviour from Mr Birling and find ironic he calls Eric a child because he's the one acting like a child by not taking responsibility
           • Pronoun "you're"
   • Page 63