Mr Birling
The Lesson
Dramatic Irony
Important Views
General
Strikes - Birling said that there would be no more striking, but the striking only got worse after 1912.
War - Arthur says there's no chance of war but we know that there is two more wars to come after the 1912 (when the play is set)
Titanic - Mr Birling says that the Titanic was completely unsinkable, When In fact, we know it sinks,
Middle class but Mrs Birling was higher class before she married him.
'Quotes'
Prefer Gerald as a son, rather than Eric
First Priority is to make money
Capitalism
People should look after themselves and family only
'a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own'
Social Climber
Likes to be in control. Seems confident but secretly insecure.
Priestley and the Inspector
Represents Priestley's hatred of rich businessmen who are only interested in money.
Mr Birling tries to threaten the Inspector by mentioning his friends in the police force
Business minded - he talks about business even at the celebration of Sheila and Gerald's engagement
The Inspector seriosuly intimidates Birling as soon as he comes into their house, he is no longer in charge
He completely refuses to take responsibility for his part in Eva's death
He disregards the Inspector's lesson as a joke/hoax and doesn't learn from it
'You've got a lot to learn yet'
'Giving us the port Edna?'
'a hard-headed, practical man of business'
‘The famous younger generation who know it all'
‘There’ll be a public scandal’
‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’
‘I can't accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward