Mr. (Arthur) Birling

Question 1

FINISH THE QUOTE (Stage directions/ACT 1)
‘hard-…

Answer 1

…headed, practical man of business’

Question 2

Stage direction/ACT 1: ‘hard-headed, practical man of business’

Answer 2

• hard-headed = stubborn, unemotional, not easily influenced
• practical = focused on facts, profits, real-world concerns
• Shows Mr Birling’s capitalist attitude & priority on business success
• Stage direction = first impression, sets tone for his character
• Suggests resistance to empathy/social responsibility

Question 3

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘As if we were all…

Answer 3

…mixed up together like bees in a hive’

Question 4

ACT 1: ‘As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive’

Answer 4

• simile (‘like bees in a hive’) compares society to a beehive (community)
• Tone: dismissive, mocking the idea of social responsibility
• ‘mixed up together’ suggests he dislikes equality/social mixing
• Shows Mr Birling’s individualist, capitalist views — rejects collective care
• Reflects his rejection of socialism & fear of losing social hierarchy/control

Question 5

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘There’ll be…

Answer 5

…a public scandal’

Question 6

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘A man has to make…

Answer 6

…his own way- has to look after himself’

Question 7

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘What’s the…

Answer 7

…matter with that child?’

Question 8

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘Is there any reason…

Answer 8

…why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?’

Question 9

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘I’m a…

Answer 9

…public man-‘

Question 10

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘this makes…

Answer 10

…a difference, y’know’

Question 11

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘I was almost…

Answer 11

…certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List’

Question 12

ACT 1: ‘A man has to make his own way- has to look after himself’

Answer 12

• Repetition of ‘has to’ = emphasises his rigid belief in self-reliance
• ‘A man’ = gendered language, reflects patriarchal mindset
• Promotes individualism — believes success is personal, not communal
• Rejects social responsibility; no duty to others
• Reinforces his capitalist, anti-socialist ideology

Question 13

ACT 2: ‘What’s the matter with that child?’

Answer 13

• ‘child’ = patronising, dismisses Sheila’s maturity & opinions
• Suggests he sees younger generation, esp. women, as irrational or emotional
• Reflects patriarchal attitudes & lack of respect for women
• Highlights the generational divide — he fails to understand Sheila’s moral growth
• Dismissive tone = refusal to take responsibility or acknowledge change

Question 14

ACT 2: ‘I’m a public man-’

Answer 14

• Said to the Inspector — Mr Birling trying to assert status & authority
• ‘public man’ = proud of his reputation and influence in the community
• Believes his position should protect him from scrutiny or blame
• Priestley criticises arrogance of the upper classes who think they’re untouchable
• Shows conflict between capitalist power & moral justice (Inspector represents the latter)

Question 15

ACT 2: ‘Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?’

Answer 15

• ‘socialist’ used as an insult; shows Mr Birling’s deep opposition to socialism
• ‘crank’ = dismissive, mocks anyone with different (especially progressive) views
• Shows his closed-mindedness & arrogance
• Priestley presents him as a symbol of capitalist ignorance
• Reinforces political theme of capitalism vs socialism & the flaws of the upper class mindset

Question 16

ACT 3: ‘this makes a difference y’know’

Answer 16

• Said after finding out the Inspector might not be real
• Shows he only cares about reputation, not responsibility
• ‘a difference’ = focuses on his family’s public image, not the moral consequences
• Priestley criticises the upper class’s shallow values — image > morality
• Highlights Mr Birling’s lack of development; he’s learned nothing

Question 17

ACT 3: ‘there’ll be a public scandal’

Answer 17

• Immediate concern = how it looks, not what actually happened
• ‘scandal’ links to Birling’s obsession with social status & reputation
• Priestley uses this to show capitalist selfishness — Birling is more upset about disgrace than death
• Reinforces dramatic irony — audience sees how little he has changed

Question 18

ACT 3: ‘I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List’

Answer 18

• Prioritises social advancement over justice or remorse
• Irony: he’s morally unworthy of honour — Priestley mocks his ego
• Reflects obsession with titles, recognition, hierarchy
• Honours list’ = symbolic of the elite class system Priestley critiques