Mr Birling Quotes

“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”

Act 1- Shows Birlings arrogance as the audience knows that the titanic sunk, repetition emphasises his foolishness. This undermines his credibility and shows undying optimism

“You're ought to like this port gerald“

Act 1- Shows how he wants to gloat and his upper-class obsession. This exposes his shallow character and materialistic nature

“I see no point in mentioning the subject“

Act 2- (regarding Eric) shows how he wants to sweep his familes issues under the carpet, showing his selfishness

“A young unmarried girl brought into this“

Act 2- Shows his hypocrisy and his patriarchal nature, he treats Sheila delicately while having no qualms about Eva smith, treating her like cheap labour

“I was almost certain for a knighthood“

Act 3- Shows his obsession with maintaining his class, and his lack of social responsibility as all of the inspectors messages have gone over his head

“Theres every excuse for what I and your mother did“

Act 3- Separates the older genaration from the rest of the family, passes all the blame to the younger generation

“The younger genaration who cant even take a joke“

Act 3- Shows his failure to learn and calling the suicide a “Joke“ shows he has learnt nothing about human suffering