Act 3

What themes does Mr Birling reflect through Act 3?

Designed to be condemned

Moment of catharsis

Cylclical structure

What is the first quotation?

‘know it all’ ‘can’t even take a joke’

Analyse the first quotation

.His callousness is made apparent through his acerbic tone by undermining the notion of suicide and worker exploitation as a joke

.Him claiming the younger generation don’t know it all and he does is dramatic irony as he previously claims the titanic is ‘unsinkable’ and the dismisses signs as ‘silly little war scares’

.The contemporary and modern audiences knowledge disproves his claims makes them feel superior to the older generation

What is the second quotation?

After finding out the Inspector doesn’t exist ‘He speaks and behaves triumphantly’

Analyse the second quotation

.The adverb triumphantly connotes to the likes of winning a battle

.Here Priestley presents capitalist ideas as synonymous with a propensity (inclination to) warfare something to be greatly condemned by a contemporary audience

What is the 3rd evidence

The play both begins and ends with Mr Birling offering Gerald a drink

Analyse the third quotation

.Priestley presents Mr Birling as stagnant within his capitalism to metaphorically represent the cycle of immorality in the older generation

.Alcohol is used as a motif of superficial wealth and materialism as well as irresponsibility