Mr Birling Flashcards
Character summary of Mr Birling
Only cares for business, patriarchal role as owner of B&Co - employs young women at extortionately low wages. Embodiment of the corruption of capitalism.
Microcosm for capitalism. Ignorant & bigot behaviour implies Priestley’s socialist views on capitalism as a whole
Key quotes of Mr Birling
“Heavy looking” (sign of wealth) “portentous man” - greed, wealth
Toasts to “lower costs & higher prices” rather than to daughter’s marriage
“Nothing to do w this wretched girl’s suicide”
“A man has to look after himself” - individualism, contrasts to I’s social resp message
“I cant accept any responsibility” - det “any”
Constantly refers to lower class as “these people” - distal deixis further emphasises class division
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” - 1945 audience would be aware of this dramatic irony (titanic of course did actually sink). MB & capitalists as a whole ridiculed & satirised by Priestley
