Arthur Birling ACT 1 Flashcards
’ a hard headed practical man of business’
displays Arthur’s capitalistic mindset from the beginning
’ there isn’t a chance of war’
DRAMATIC IRONY
two years later war begins
supposed to show the audience that Arthur believes he is much smarter than he is
‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’
DRAMATIC IRONY
again titanic sinks later that year Arthur thinks he’s all intelligent but he is not
‘the next honours list’
Arthur craves status and wealth very much aligned with his capitalistic views
‘Just a Knighthood of course!’
Arthur craves status and wealth
‘Don’t get into the police court’
‘start a scandal’
FORESHADOWING
foreshadows the events in the play that WILL lead them into the police court and a public scandal
‘make his own way’
‘look after himself’
CAPITALIST VIEWS
extremely self centred does not care about anyone else but himself and family
‘you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else’
birling does not agree with socialist views instead finds them outrageous and cannot comprehend them
‘As if we’re all mixed like bees in a hive’
SIMILE
representation of socialist views that Arthur does NOT have.
although he’s criticising them he doesn’t realise that “bees in a hive” work extremely efficiently and have a great society so it also JUXSTAPOSES what he says and makes him look stupid
’ I can’t accept any responsibility’
KEY THEME: RESPONSIBILITY
Arthur does not accept that he is in the wrong
‘it’s my duty to keep labour costs down’
a duty is a MORAL OBLIGATION Arthur’s duty is to keep “labour costs down” makes not a very moral person and his whole life is almost dedicated to capitalism
‘she had to go’
disposes of his employees if they cause him any trouble - not moral at all
’ i was quite justified’
he truly believes that his actions were justified- because he is OLDER GENERATION
