Mr Birling

A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own. Act 1

"Lower cost and higher prices" Act 1

'Germans don't want war.' Act 1

The Titanic... unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable Act 1

hard-headed practical man of business. Act 1

Your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me Act 1

'There's a very good chance of a knighthood - so long as we behave ourselves' Act 1

Summary of him at the start of the play:

-Arrogant and overly confident

-Obsessed with class and business

-Dismissive of social responsibility

-A symbol of outdated capitalist irony

-Critiqued by Priestley through dramatic irony

"I'm a public man" Act 2

"Probably a socialist or some sort of crank" Act 2

"Still, I can't accept any responsibility" Act 2

"If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we'd had anything to do with , it would all be very awkward, wouldn't it?" Act 2

"She had a lot to say- far too much- so she had to go" Act 2

Summary of him in the middle of the play:

-Defensive and irritated by being questioned

-Refuses responsibility

-Clings to status and authority

-Tries to belittle the inspector

-Shows no real empathy or understanding

-Becomes more exposed but does not change

"There will be a public scandal... and who here will suffer for that more than I will?" Act 3

"You're the one I blame for this" Act 3

"The whole story's just a lot of moonshine." Act 3

"The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke" Act 3

Summary of him at the end of the play:

-Unchanged and dismissive

-Obsessed with reputation and public image

-Eager to deny responsibility

-Critical of younger generation

-A symbol of the stubborn, outdated upper class