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Mr Birling is the ……… of Social responsibility
Antithesis
Mr Birling’s key traits
Only cares about himself even when it means harming others
Completely oblivious about what other people go through
Never accepts responsibility
His lack of compassion and responsibility are a result of his class and capitalistic ideologies
Quote about community (Act 1)
“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
Analysis of community quote (Act 1)
His intolerance for socialism reflects the political climate of the 1910s suggesting he is narrow minded
Harsh and insensitive language - ‘all that nonsense’ would make the audience think that Mr B is heartless and is disgusted by the idea of looking out for others
he simile “like bees in a hive” implies social responsibility is primitive and demeaning. The phrases “you’d think” and “as if” show Mr Birling finds the idea preposterous
Quote about labour costs (Act 1)
“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
Analysis about the labour costs quote (Act1)
He tells the inspector this which implies his business requires him to exploit workers. He feels a ‘duty’ to his business but not society
Quote about man has to make……
“man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course …….. and so long as he does that he won’t come to much harm”
Analysis of a man has to make………
Denies social responsibility
The use of ‘of course’ shows this is an afterthought and Mr Birling is not that interested in his family so this shows even his own family suffers from his selfishness.
‘to much harm’ - He is selfish as he doesn’t realise that even though he wont be harmed society and people around him will. And this is the reason the inspector arrives to show that people will be harmed.
Quote about responsibility
“I can’t accept any responsibility”
Analysis of the quote about responsibility
Continued rejection of responsibility seems to be result of arrogance and disrespect for others. Accepting blame would be a sign of weakness and imperfection.
He doesnt want to be accused of making a mistake and the modal verb ‘cant’ suggests that accepting blame goes against his nature
