Arthur Birling- An Inspector Calls

Summarise his role in the play

-Celebrating engagement of his daughter Sheila to Gerald Croft- sees it as a business opportunity.
-Fired Eva Smith because she went on strike for higher pay.
-He doesn't accept responsibility for her death.
-To save his reputation he would give up most of his fortune.

'Hard-headed practical man of business'

-'Hard-headed'- adjective, practical and rational.
-Repeats this about himself- shows his arrogance and self-obsession.
-Embracing his negatives- could show him as a thoughtless fool.

'The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke-'

-Shows the divide between old and young.
-Doesn't care or feel remorse at all.
-Mocking his children, isn't seen as a loving father figure.

'Absolutely unsinkable!'

-Dramatic irony- the audience know the titanic sinked as it was written in 1945.
-Shows him as being wrong about many events that did take place.
-Titanic- symbol of capitalism- unequal treatment of classes. Class prejudice.
-Inspector could be the iceburg which destroys the Birlings.

Mr Birling's links to context

-Head of the family- patriarchal society.
-Capitalist.
-References to titanic, war and the labour government in speech.

Preistley's intentions

-Represents capitalism and the older generation.
-Represents power in a negative way.
-Personification of capitalist views. Anti-socialist views.