Arthur Birling

"I say there isn't a chance of war."

AO1: Shows his overconfidence and flawed judgement.

AO2: Dramatic irony — audience knows WWI happened.

AO3: Reflects complacent capitalist views of 1912 pre-war society.

"A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself."

AO1: Demonstrates Birling’s selfish, individualist ideology.

AO2: Repetition of “has to” shows insistence.

AO3: Capitalist ethos Priestley critiques.

"Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable."

AO1: Another example of his ignorance.

AO2: Repetition intensifies his certainty; dramatic irony.

AO3: Titanic = metaphor for overconfidence of Edwardian elite.

"Community and all that nonsense."

AO1: Dismisses social responsibility.

AO2: Casual, colloquial tone undermines seriousness.

AO3: Opposes Priestley’s socialist message.

"I was Lord Mayor here two years ago."

AO1: Uses status to assert authority.

AO2: Name-dropping to impress.

AO3: Links to hierarchy in Edwardian Britain.

"Look, Inspector – I'd give thousands."

AO1: Attempts to solve guilt with money.

AO2: Hyperbolic “thousands” shows detachment from reality.

AO3: Class divide — money over morality.

"The famous younger generation who know it all."

AO1: Resents younger family members’ change.

AO2: Sarcasm and bitterness in “famous”.

AO3: Reflects generational conflict post-war.

"If you don't come down sharply on some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the earth."

AO1: Believes workers should remain in their place.

AO2: Metaphor “asking for the earth” = greed.

AO3: Mirrors historical resistance to workers’ rights.

"There's a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List."

AO1: Obsessed with social climbing.

AO2: “Fair chance” = calculated ambition.

AO3: Critique of class aspiration.

"It's my duty to keep labour costs down."

AO1: Prioritises profit over people.

AO2: “Duty” twisted to justify exploitation.

AO3: Capitalist priorities of early 20th century.