characters quote and analyse Flashcards
(49 cards)
How does Mr. Birling describe himself?
As a ‘hard headed business man’
This indicates his capitalist values and prioritization of business over moral concerns.
What do the adjectives ‘heavy looking’ and ‘portentous’ symbolize?
Greed
These descriptions highlight Mr. Birling’s character traits.
What does Mr. Birling say about the Germans?
‘The Germans don’t want war’
This statement is characterized by irony and an imperative tone, showcasing his delusion.
What does Mr. Birling’s statement ‘Will make war impossible’ illustrate?
His delusion and certainty
The use of absolutes emphasizes his misguided confidence.
What does the repetition of ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ indicate?
Mr. Birling’s delusion and confidence
This phrase also contains irony related to the Titanic.
What ideology does Mr. Birling express with ‘A man has to make his own way’?
Capitalist ideology
The use of gendered language and a declarative tone reflects upper-class views.
What does the simile ‘Like bees in a hive’ represent?
Socialism as chaotic
This comparison reflects Mr. Birling’s disdain for socialist views.
What does Mr. Birling’s command ‘sit down’ signify?
His attempt to assert dominance
The imperative reveals his authoritative nature.
How does Mr. Birling describe Eva Smith?
‘Wretched’
This adjective shows his lack of empathy towards the lower class.
What does Mr. Birling mean by saying ‘I can’t accept any responsibility’?
Emphasizes capitalist attitudes
The short sentence reflects his self-centered perspective.
What does Mr. Birling mean by ‘it’s my duty to keep labour costs down’?
His belief in prioritizing profits
The modal verb ‘duty’ and euphemism suggest his justification for unfair practices.
What does Mr. Birling imply with ‘If you don’t come down sharply on these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth’?
Dehumanization of the lower class
The hyperbole illustrates his contempt for the working class.
What does Mr. Birling’s phrase ‘look here’ convey?
His attempt to assert authority
This imperative reflects his need to control the conversation.
What does Mr. Birling mean by ‘I was quite justified’?
His self-centered perspective
The pronoun ‘I’ emphasizes his lack of accountability.
What does the verb ‘cutting in’ reveal about Mr. Birling?
His anger and impatience
This action indicates his emotional state.
How does Mr. Birling refer to Eric and Sheila?
‘As child’ or ‘run along’
This infantilizes them, reflecting his dismissive attitude.
What does Mr. Birling’s reaction to the inspector reveal?
He becomes ‘frightened’ and ‘bewildered’
This marks a shift in his confidence.
What does Mr. Birling mean when he says ‘I’m a public man’?
Claims of status and authority
This statement reflects his belief in his own importance.
What does the adjective ‘thunderstruck’ indicate about Mr. Birling?
His shock and distress
This reveals a change in his emotional state due to the inspector’s questioning.
What does Mr. Birling’s repetition of ‘thousands’ imply?
Desperation to maintain reputation
This cyclical structure suggests he has not changed.
What does Mr. Birling mean by ‘There’s every excuse for what both me and your mother did’?
Tone of certainty
This shows he has not learned from the situation.
What does the inspector’s name ‘Goole’ suggest?
Mystery and connotations of death
This reflects the inspector’s role in the play.
How does the lighting change when the inspector arrives?
From ‘pink and intimate’ to ‘sharp’
This signifies the impact of the inspector’s presence.
What does the stage direction ‘[impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness]’ convey?
The inspector’s authority
This rule of three emphasizes his commanding presence.
