Mr. Birling - An Inspector Calls
Mr. Birling - An Inspector Calls
Mr. Birling - An Inspector Calls
Birling
Mr Birling is a construct
o Embodiment of capitalist views which Priestley creates to discredit
The antithesis of the Inspector
Context
Mr Birling is firmly entrenched within 1912 ante-bellum (before the war) social elite
o Reflective of life at the time
o High levels of unemployment meant that employers could take advantage of
their workers
Exploited them for greater profit
o The middle class of 1912 could not become upwardly socially mobile without
connections to respected families
Play first published in 1945
o By this time Labour had won the election by a landslide
Distinct lean towards socialist ideals
o Mr Birling’s approach to business would thus appal the audience
"...we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but
are working together - for lower costs and higher prices."
Toasts to “lower costs and higher prices” rather than to his daughter’s health
o Values prospect of increased profit over daughter’s joy in the engagement
o Treats Shelia’s marriage as a “business opportunity”
Mercantile language objectifies Sheila as a bargaining chip
Values her on her capacity to further the family company
o Hypocritical – think of “his own” as his family but also his property
Directly links her to business in this patriarchal society
The emphasis of “lower” exaggerates the impression that Mr Birling is a selfish man
o Suggests that he wants to reduce his costs even further than they stand
o Meanwhile does not consider the impact that “higher prices” might have on
anyone else
o Just wants more money
“provincial in speech”
Mrs Birling: (reproachfully) Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things
Priestley uses almost a ridiculous amount of dramatic irony to criticise the character
of Mr Birling
o Play set in 1912 but written in 1945
Since then: two world wars, sinking of the Titanic, Great Depression
and huge general strikes (1912 and 1926)
o Dismissive tone reveals how confident he in his ideas
But error-filled predictions makes the character seem ill informed
Means we also consider his opinions on business and his employees
to be just as incorrect
o Structurally, this occurs so early in the play
Makes it clear from the beginning that everything Mr Birling stands
for is wrong
You'll stay here long enough to give me an account of that money you stole – yes, and to pay
it back too.
(triumphantly) There you are! Proof positive. The whole story's just a lot of moonshine.
Nothing but an elaborate sell! (He produces a huge sigh of relief.) Nobody likes to be sold as
badly as that – but – for all that - (he smiles at them all) Gerald, have a drink.