Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Mr Birling
- Proud of his reputable
social standing.
- Concerned that he does not
have the same social
standing as the Crofts.
- See's the engagement as a
business deal
- "Crofts limited are both older and bigger
than Birling and Company ... perhaps we
may look forward to the time when (we)....
are working together for lower costs and
higher prices"
- He seems to frequently remind
people of his social standing
- "I was Lord Mayor here over two
years ago ... There is a very good
chance of knighthood"
- J.B Priestly seems to be criticising
Mr Briling because it becomes
obvious that he actually has no
interest in helping the community
- "Community and
all that nonsense"
- Unsympathetic
- Mr Birling sacked Eva because she
demanded a higher (fair) wage and
went on strike.
- Rather than considering her personal
circumstance or what she was contributing
to the business, he sacked her with little
thought, despite admitting she was a hard
worker.
- "She's had a lot to say
- far too much - so she
had to go"
- HIs lack of regret makes it
hard to sympathise with him
- We see he is ignoring his
responsibility and trying to
exert his authority onto the
Inspector as a threat, even
though it has no effect.
- Reminding him of his position in
society - chief constable, Colonel
Roberts is "an old friend of his".
- Eventually Inspector
makes it clear that
"Public men .. have
responsibilities as well as
privileges"
- Makes him more dislikable
- Does not believe in social responsibility
- His opinions of "community and
all that nonsense" come directly
after he claims that "The
German's don't want war" and
"The Titanic ... is absolutely
unsinkable"
- Dramatic Irony
- The titanic symbolises is own family
- he believes they are untouchable
until the Inspector arrives, giving
them rude awakening.
- Undermining Birling's
future opinions - they
are devalued
- Therefore when Birling
follows up by saying
"community and all that
nonsense" the audience
believes his opinions are
false.
- Priestley gets the audience to
agree with his own socialist
views that community is, in
fact, far from nonsense.
- Structure
- He often uses the pronoun
"I", conveying his selfish
attitude.
- I was an alderman for years
– and Lord Mayor two years
ago – and I’m still on the
Bench – so I know the
Brumley police offers pretty
well
- However as the play continues he
switches to the including
pronoun "we" to diminish the
scale of the problem (Eva's death)
and shift blame.
- He is selfish, only uses others (inc. his own family) for his benefit,
- Willing to tell Eric off for what
he did, but not willing to
acknowledge the wrong in his
actions.
- HOW DOES THIS REFLECT THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY?
- Realistic character
- Colloquial language appropriate for the time.
- "y'know"
- His authority
is breaking
down
- Described as "panic stricken"
- His defiance and
bravado have finally
been shattered
- Priestley lets the audience
see someone who is so
blindly wrong and never as
really in control of events as
he would like himself and
others to think.
- Audience feels a slight
sense of sympathy, but also
glad that Mr Birling's
confidence is starting to
break down.