Mr Birling Quotes

Desire for class 1 (stage directions)

“Provincial in his speech”

Desire for class 2 (talking to Gerald)

“You ought to like this port, Gerald. It’s exactly the same port as your father gets”

Desire for class 3 (boasting to inspector)

“Alderman for years-and Lord Mayor two years ago”

Desire for class 4 (After inspector left)

“I was almost certain for a knighthood”

Capitalism 1 (Interrupting marriage)

“Lower costs and higher prices”

Capitalism 2(Monologue)

“Time of increasing prosperity”

Capitalism 3(Talking to inspector about cost)

“It’s my duty to keep labour cost down”

Capitalism 4(Views on socialism)

“Mixed up together like bees in a hive, community and all that nonsense”

Responsibility 1(Interrogation by inspector)

“Obviously it has nothing to do with the wretched girl’s suicide”

Responsibility 2(Individualistic views)

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”

Responsibility 3(After inspector left)

“I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can”