Mr. Birling Quotes - Context and Analysis

When does he say it? AO3?

‘I’m talking as a hard headed, practical man of business’

Mr. Birling - Act 1

• Reflects his capitalist mindset in Edwardian society

• Favours profits and social eye

• Illustrates his dismissal of social responsibility

• Foreshadows the eventual downfall of his values

‘There isn’t a chance of war’

‘The Titanic… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’

‘Russia, which will always be behind naturally’

Mr. Birling - Act 1

• Represent his arrogance/ignorance as a capitalist

• Shows care only for his own

• Lack of responsibility

• Dramatic irony

‘a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family of course’

Mr. Birling - Act 1

• Self-centred worldview

• Neglects socialism and compassion for others

• Hubricated tone

• Trying to lecture his children

• Patriarchal views of Edwardian society

• Capitalism vs. socialism

‘He can’t do anything to your mother and Sheila and me except perhaps make us look a bit ashamed of ourselves in public’

Mr. Birling - Act 3

• His arrogance makes him believe he is immune to being look down upon in society because of his status and place in the social hierarchy (upper class male)

• Most fears a damage to his reputation, that would bring his sales down (Edwardian upper class men prioritise business and profit)

‘you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together likes bees in a a hive - community and all that nonsense’

Mr. Birling - Act 1

• repetition of ‘everybody’ = society and togetherness

• ‘hive’ = microcosm of the working class in society

• ‘bees’ = workers (working class)

• active dismission of compassion, community and workers

• dehumanises the working class, links them to insects

• Ironically, humans and society would not function without bees, further showing his relentless ignorance and harsh treatment of the working class

‘He was prejudiced from the start. Probably a socialist or some crank’

Mr. Birling - Act 3

• Looking down on fairness and equality

• Dislike based off of no facts

• Astonished that his power and status was challenged by a socialist

• Edwardian upper class capitalists believe the working class and socialism are weak