Mr Birling - Character Profile

Question 1

How is Mr. Birling’s social status depicted in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 1

Mr. Birling is firmly situated within the 1912 English social elite, showcasing his dominance and influence within the setting of the play.

Question 2

What role does Mr. Birling play in the household, and how does he exert control?

Answer 2

As the owner of Birling and Co., Mr. Birling maintains a patriarchal position, employing young women at low wages. His dominance extends to his marriage, where he controls his wife Sybil, relegating her to the sidelines during important discussions.

Question 3

How does Mr. Birling’s indifference affect the family dynamic?

Answer 3

Mr. Birling’s disregard for his daughter Sheila’s concerns about Gerald’s affair reflects his prioritization of economic interests over familial relationships, highlighting his self-serving nature within the household.

Question 4

How does Priestley portray Mr. Birling as a symbol of capitalism?

Answer 4

Priestley presents Mr. Birling as embodying capitalist ideology through his appearance, demeanor, and actions, reflecting greed, self-absorption, and profit-centric behavior.

Question 5

How does Mr. Birling prioritize business over family?

Answer 5

Mr. Birling values business success over familial relationships, as evidenced by his focus on profit during his daughter’s engagement celebration and his willingness to sacrifice his daughter’s happiness for business connections.

Question 6

How does Mr. Birling’s behavior towards the Inspector demonstrate his capitalist mindset?

Answer 6

Mr. Birling attempts to bribe the Inspector to avoid legal consequences, showcasing his individualistic pursuit of self-preservation and wealth, regardless of the consequences for others.

Question 7

How does Mr. Birling’s speech reflect his insecurity about his social position?

Answer 7

Mr. Birling’s provincial speech, characterized by his noticeable accent and lack of sophistication, betrays his humble origins and reveals his insecurity about his social status.

Question 8

How does Mr. Birling attempt to assert his social status?

Answer 8

Mr. Birling frequently mentions his past roles, such as being Lord Mayor, and hints at the possibility of receiving a knighthood to convince others of his high social standing.

Question 9

How does Mrs. Birling’s attitude towards Mr. Birling’s speech reflect their social dynamic?

Answer 9

Mrs. Birling, who comes from a wealthier background, is embarrassed by Mr. Birling’s provincial speech and lack of refinement, highlighting her superiority in social etiquette and upbringing.

Question 10

How does Priestley depict Mr. Birling’s wealth?

Answer 10

Priestley describes the Birling household as “substantial and heavily comfortable but not cosy or homelike,” indicating their significant wealth but lack of genuine warmth.

Question 11

What social background does Mr. Birling come from?

Answer 11

Mr. Birling comes from a lower-class background.

Question 12

How is Mr. Birling perceived by higher-class individuals?

Answer 12

Mr. Birling is viewed as a class imposter due to his nouveau riche status.

Question 13

How does Mr. Birling exercise control over the lower class?

Answer 13

Mr. Birling maintains control by denying pay rises and enforcing poor working conditions, revealing his self-centered nature and desire to uphold an appearance of affluence.

Question 14

How does Priestley utilize the character of Mr. Birling in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 14

Priestley uses Mr. Birling to critique capitalism and highlight the cycle of oppression caused by social divisions and classism.

Question 15

How does Mr. Birling validate his superiority?

Answer 15

Mr. Birling validates his superiority by denying pay rises, maintaining poor working conditions, and exercising control over lower-class workers.

Question 16

What drives Mr. Birling’s self-centered behavior?

Answer 16

Mr. Birling’s self-centered behavior is driven by his determination to uphold an appearance of affluence, even at the expense of his employees.

Question 17

Why does Priestley focus on Mr. Birling’s insecurities?

Answer 17

Priestley focuses on Mr. Birling’s insecurities to establish a connection with the middle-class audience and exploit the genuine insecurities they faced.

Question 18

How does Mr. Birling respond to the Inspector’s accusations regarding Eva Smith’s suicide?

Answer 18

Mr. Birling dismisses and trivializes the Inspector’s accusations, eager to reject any responsibility for Eva’s death.

Question 19

What motivates Mr. Birling’s dismissive attitude towards the Inspector’s message?

Answer 19

Mr. Birling’s desire to maintain his public image and avoid social rejection motivates his dismissive attitude towards the Inspector’s message of social responsibility.

Question 20

Why does Mr. Birling resist societal changes and reject socialism?

Answer 20

Mr. Birling opposes societal changes and rejects socialism because it threatens the profiteering methods and exploitation of laborers that benefit him financially. He is resistant to sacrificing his own interests for social responsibility.

Question 21

How does Priestley contrast the attitudes of the younger and older generations in the play?

Answer 21

Priestley contrasts the acknowledgment of moral failings by the younger generation, such as Eric and Sheila, with the older generation’s focus on preserving their social status and disregarding moral duty.

Question 22

How does Priestley depict Mr. Birling’s attitude towards change?

Answer 22

Priestley portrays Mr. Birling’s attitude as resistant to change, intending to continue living in the same fashion as before the Inspector’s arrival.

Question 23

What is the significance of the cyclical structure of Mr. Birling’s outlook?

Answer 23

The cyclical structure highlights Mr. Birling as a static character who cannot change, reflecting the flaws of the current society and the upper-classes’ resistance to change.

Question 24

How does Priestley use Mr. Birling’s character to critique societal flaws and capitalism?

Answer 24

Priestley critiques societal flaws and capitalism through Mr. Birling’s uncaring, self-absorbed, and manipulative traits, which maintain unfair privileges for the upper-classes.

Question 25

What message does Priestley convey through the cyclical ending of the play?

Answer 25

Through the cyclical ending, Priestley warns the audience about the consequences of not embracing social responsibility and the importance of considering alternative ideologies like socialism.

Question 26

How does Priestley establish a divide between Mr. and Mrs. Birling?

Answer 26

Priestley creates a divide between Mr. and Mrs. Birling by describing Mrs. Birling as “her husband’s social superior.”

Question 27

What does the theme of capitalism reveal about Mr. and Mrs. Birling’s marriage?

Answer 27

The theme of capitalism shows that Mr. Birling married Mrs. Birling for her social status rather than love, turning their marriage into a transaction based on financial stability and social reputation.

Question 28

How does Mrs. Birling’s response to Mr. Birling indicate the lack of love and intimacy in their relationship?

Answer 28

Mrs. Birling’s “reproachful” response to Mr. Birling suggests her disappointment and unhappiness in the marriage, highlighting the dissatisfaction caused by prioritizing status and wealth over love and fulfillment.

Question 29

How does Eric feel about his father’s business practices?

Answer 29

Eric opposes his father’s business practices and is disgusted by the exploitation of employees at Birling & Co.

Question 30

What does Eric’s opposition to capitalism suggest about his character?

Answer 30

Eric’s opposition to capitalism suggests that he is more aligned with socialist ideals, indicating a generational divide between him and his father.

Question 31

How does Priestley create an immediate divide between Mr. Birling and Eric?

Answer 31

Priestley creates an immediate divide between Mr. Birling and Eric through a dialogue where Mr. Birling promotes capitalist notions, which Eric challenges with socialist ideals.

Question 32

Despite their differences, what do Eric and Mr. Birling have in common?

Answer 32

Despite their differences, both Eric and Mr. Birling exploit Eva in some way, showing similarities in their actions.

Question 33

How does Priestley contrast Mr. Birling and the Inspector?

Answer 33

Priestley contrasts Mr. Birling and the Inspector by presenting Mr. Birling as representative of capitalism and individualism, while the Inspector embodies socialism and social responsibility.

Question 34

What idea does Mr. Birling represent, and how does it differ from the Inspector’s ideology?

Answer 34

Mr. Birling represents rugged individualism and the idea that “a man has to look after himself,” while the Inspector promotes social responsibility and the concept that “we are all one body.”

Question 35

How does the Inspector challenge Mr. Birling’s appearance of a reputable family?

Answer 35

The Inspector plays on Mr. Birling’s appearance of a reputable family by stating “you seem like a nice well-behaved family,” but emphasizes the superficiality of their appearance by using the verb “seem.”

Question 36

What significance does the Inspector’s appearance hold in contrast to Mr. Birling?

Answer 36

The Inspector’s appearance, described as an “impression of massiveness,” contrasts with Mr. Birling’s obsession with public image, portraying socialism as a more powerful idea. The Inspector’s minimal attire reflects his lack of need for material objects to validate social status.

Question 37

How does the Inspector’s appearance reflect his confidence?

Answer 37

The Inspector’s confidence is reflected in his appearance of “massiveness” and his plain darkish suit, which contrasts with Mr. Birling’s obsession with social status and material possessions.

Question 38

How does the Inspector’s speech style differ from Mr. Birling’s?

Answer 38

The Inspector speaks carefully and weightfully, presenting compelling arguments supported by evidence like Eva Smith’s diary and photograph. In contrast, Mr. Birling’s speech is portrayed as ignorant and arrogant, filled with dashes and hesitations, and his arguments are invalidated by dramatic irony.

Question 39

How does dramatic irony affect Mr. Birling’s speech?

Answer 39

Dramatic irony invalidates Mr. Birling’s arguments, such as “the Germans don’t want war” and “the Titanic is unsinkable,” as the audience knows the opposite to be true. This highlights his ignorance and arrogance in contrast to the Inspector’s compelling arguments.

Question 40

How does the Inspector respond to Mr. Birling’s attempts to assert authority?

Answer 40

The Inspector remains unaffected by Mr. Birling’s attempts to intimidate him with references to his social status, resisting Mr. Birling’s assertions of authority.

Question 41

How does Mr. Birling’s insecurity manifest in his interactions with the Inspector?

Answer 41

Mr. Birling’s insecurity is masked by attempts to condescend the Inspector with rhetorical questions and assertions of authority over his children, reflecting his oppression of the lower classes in the workplace.

Question 42

How does Mr. Birling’s attitude towards Gerald Croft reveal his insecurity?

Answer 42

Mr. Birling exhibits insecurity in his interactions with Gerald by hesitatingly suggesting that Gerald “ought to like” the port, indicating his wariness of giving orders to someone of higher social status.

Question 43

What motivates Mr. Birling’s attempts to impress Gerald?

Answer 43

Mr. Birling’s attempts to impress Gerald stem from his desire to compensate for his lower social status compared to the Crofts, as well as to promote himself in order to unite the Croft and Birling families and potentially increase his ranking on the social hierarchy.

Question 44

What does Mr. Birling symbolize in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 44

Mr. Birling symbolizes the selfishness and resistance to change inherent in the capitalist higher middle-class. He embodies the lack of remorse and acceptance of responsibility, exemplified by his relief upon believing the Inspector wasn’t real and his jovial display of happiness afterward.

Question 45

Why does Priestley portray Mr. Birling as a static character?

Answer 45

Priestley presents Mr. Birling as static to serve as a vehicle for capitalism and opposition to societal change. By keeping Mr. Birling unchanging and dislikeable, Priestley aims to critique capitalism and persuade the younger generation towards a more socialist mindset.

Question 46

How does Priestley use the audience’s dislike of Mr. Birling to convey his message of socialism in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 46

Priestley leverages the audience’s disdain for Mr. Birling to challenge their own social responsibility and conduct. By portraying Mr. Birling’s capitalist views negatively, Priestley encourages the audience, particularly the younger middle-class, to reflect on their own potential for change and advocate for a less divided society.

Question 47

What audience does Priestley target to convey his message of socialism?

Answer 47

Priestley aims his message primarily at the contemporary middle-class audience, especially the younger members who have wealth and influence. By portraying Mr. Birling’s insecurities and flaws, Priestley prompts this audience to reflect on their own social responsibility and drive positive societal change.

Question 48

How does Priestley use dramatic irony in “An Inspector Calls” to portray Mr. Birling?

Answer 48

Priestley employs dramatic irony to depict Mr. Birling as foolish and unlikable. For example, Birling’s confident assertions about the Germans and England’s prosperity are met with disdain by the audience, who are aware of historical events like World War I and the Great Depression.

Question 49

How does Priestley utilize dramatic irony to create relief in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 49

Priestley introduces relief through dramatic irony by contrasting Mr. Birling’s flawed perspectives with the arrival of the Inspector. The audience’s favorable perception of the Inspector and his socialist ideologies provides a sense of relief from Mr. Birling’s capitalist views.