Mr Birling

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own.” (Act 1)
👉 His speech is the opposite of the Inspector’s message. Priestley is directly criticising this attitude.

“I can’t accept any responsibility.” (Act 1)
👉 Repeated denial of guilt. He refuses to change, even when the consequences are clear.

“If you don’t come down sharply on these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.” (Act 1)
👉 Views the working class as greedy and inferior—typical of capitalist thinking.

“She had a lot to say—far too much—so she had to go.” (Act 1)
👉 Shows how the upper class silences the working class when they try to speak up.

“The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke.” (Act 3)
👉 He mocks the younger generation’s conscience. Priestley uses him to highlight how out-of-touch the older generation is.

(Implied): He learns nothing, while Sheila and Eric evolve.

“The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else.” (Act 1)
👉 He mocks socialism, but Priestley frames this to make him look foolish.

“Community and all that nonsense.” (Act 1)
👉 Selfish individualism—Priestley critiques the lack of compassion in capitalist views.

“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did.” (Act 3)
👉 Makes excuses, justifying immoral actions to protect his reputation.

(Inspector) “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” (Act 2)
👉 Priestley directly attacks Birling’s moral blindness through the Inspector.

“Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along.” (Act 1)
👉 Dismisses his daughter. Reflects patriarchal attitudes—men make decisions, women stay uninvolved.

(About Eva) “She’d had a lot to say – far too much.”
👉 Suggests women should be quiet and obedient—gendered class control.

“Still, I can’t accept any responsibility.” (Act 1)
👉 Repeats this line—shows how unwilling he is to reflect or grow.

(After discovering Inspector might not be real)
👉 He’s relieved not because of Eva, but because his reputation is safe.

“There’ll be a public scandal.” (Act 3)
👉 He’s more afraid of embarrassment than ethics—justice to him means avoiding social consequences.

“I speak as a hard-headed business man.” (Act 1)
👉 He sees himself as wise, but Priestley undermines his authority with dramatic irony.