How is Mr Birling presented in An Inspector Calls?
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley presents Birling as an arrogant and greedy capitalist, who is driven by the desire to make money (prizing profit over people). Moreover, his use of the word ‘fiddlesticks’ suggests that Mr Birling does not have much respect for those who believe war might break out.
How is Mr Birling arrogant?
At the start of the play he comes across as being arrogant, making long speeches about his predictions for the future. He also makes assertions about how a man should look out for number one and not waste time helping others. It is at this exact moment that the Inspector arrives.
What is Mr Birling wrong about?
Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mr Birling look unreliable and foolish as he is wrong about the Titanic, war and labour.
Why is Mr Birling an important character?
Mr Birling is a capitalist who values business and profit above all else. He makes his views clear in the early speeches in Act 1, and these do not change. Priestley uses Mr Birling as a symbol to represent the selfishness and arrogance of capitalists in Edwardian society.
How does Mr Birling change in An Inspector Calls?
Mr Birling has not changed by the end of the play – he refuses to learn/take on board the Inspector’s lesson. As a result, the play ends with another phone call and the announcement of a second visit – perhaps from a ‘real’ Inspector.
How is Mr Birling presented as ignorant?
In this extract Mr Birling is shown as being ignorant; he makes a joke out of young peoples’ behaviour, suggesting “you don’t know what some of these boys get up to nowadays” but he does not know that his own son has been drinking heavily and mistreating Eva Smith. Finally, Mr Birling shows that he can be quite sexist.
Why does Priestley make Mr Birling unlikeable?
This presents her as unlikeable because she is showing no sympathy for Eva and JB Priestley has intentionally made the character of Mrs Birling unlikeable to show that there is no hope in the older generation for changing and accepting moral views, but there is hope in the younger generation.
How far does Mr Birling change in An Inspector Calls?
How is Sheila Birling presented in An Inspector Calls?
She shows an assertive side by standing up to her mother and father and she also shows that she is insightful and intelligent – she can see where the Inspector’s investigation is going and tries to warn the others. Sheila shows her naivety and lack of maturity in the way she reacts to her father.
What happens in an inspector calls?
An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley, is a play that revolves around the apparent suicide of a young woman called Eva Smith. In the play, the unsuspecting Birling family are visited by the mysterious Inspector Goole. The Inspector reveals that a girl called Eva Smith, has taken her own life by drinking disinfectant.
What is Birling trying to teach audiences about responsibility?
Social responsibilityis the most obvious theme in ‘An Inspector Calls’. The Inspector goes to the Birlings’ to encourage them to be accountable for their actions, and to take responsibility for others. Many people in society are vulnerable or mistreated through no fault of their own, just like Eva Smith.
How did Mr Birling make his money in an Inspector Calls?
Mr Arthur Birling in An Inspector Calls Mr Arthur Birling is a hard-headed business man Mr Birling is the head of the Birling household. He has made himself very wealthy by being a ‘hard-headed’ business man.
What is the theme of an Inspector Calls Part 3?
‘An Inspector Calls’, themes part 3: Age. Mr Birling, a character analysis. The role/function of the Mr Birling character in the play. To really understand Mr Birling and his role and function in the play, we need to understand what his ‘creator’ , J.B. Priestley is trying to do and why he ‘created’ Mr Birling.
How would you describe Mr Birling’s character in the play?
Then, he will have a formal title in the community and be considered an aristocrat, like the Crofts. Mr Birling’s character remains very stagnant. At the beginning of the play, he is very opinionated and demands respect from the younger generation.
What does Mr Birling represent to Priestley?
Mr Birling represents greedy businessmen who only care for themselves. Priestley uses him to show the audience that the Eva Smiths of the world will continue to suffer if people like Birling remain in positions of power.