'An Inspector Calls': Mr Birling Character Analysis (animated)
Summary
TLDRThis video analyzes Mr. Birling's character in J.B. Priestley's play 'An Inspector Calls,' highlighting how small details like his preference for expensive port reflect his social aspirations. The video discusses Birling's flawed capitalist ideology, emphasizing his obsession with wealth over people, as seen in his dismissal of social responsibility. Through dramatic irony, Priestley portrays Birling as out of touch and misguided, contrasting his views with the more progressive younger generation. The video underlines how Birling's unchanged nature by the play's end reinforces Priestley's critique of capitalism and the older generation.
Takeaways
- đ J.B. Priestley highlights the significance of small details in theater, where everything down to furnishings carries meaning.
- đ· The use of port in the opening dialogue of *An Inspector Calls* signifies wealth, as it was a luxury item, showing Mr. Birling's desire to impress.
- đ Mr. Birling's name-dropping of 'Finchley' is a tactic to impress Gerald, who belongs to a higher social class, showcasing Birling's aspirations.
- đŒ Mr. Birling's speech at the engagement meal focuses on economics and self-interest rather than family or love, revealing his materialistic mindset.
- đ° Mr. Birling embodies the capitalist ideology, where profit is prioritized over the well-being of others, as seen in his lack of empathy for the exploited workers like Eva Smith.
- đ€Šââïž Priestley uses dramatic irony to portray Mr. Birling as misguided, with his flawed predictions about war, the Titanic, and the economy undermining his authority.
- đą Mr. Birlingâs misplaced confidence in the unsinkability of the Titanic and the impossibility of war highlights his ignorance, making his views on business equally suspect.
- đ§ The generational contrast in the play illustrates how the younger Birlings are more open to change and social responsibility, unlike their rigid father.
- đž Even after his son Eric's misdeeds, Mr. Birling remains primarily concerned with financial loss rather than the family issues or Eric's alcoholism.
- đ Mr. Birling fails to evolve throughout the play, as he ends with the same capitalist and self-serving beliefs, reinforcing Priestley's critique of the older generation.
Q & A
What is the significance of port in the context of Mr. Birling's character?
-The drinking of port in Mr. Birling's dialogue signifies wealth and status, as port was associated with the upper class due to its high cost. It shows Mr. Birling's desire to impress his future son-in-law and highlight his social aspirations.
How does Mr. Birling's mention of Finchley illustrate his social ambitions?
-Mr. Birling's mention of Finchley, who supplies port to both him and Gerald's father, shows his eagerness to align himself with the upper class and impress his social superior. It's an example of him name-dropping to gain approval and fit into a higher social circle.
What does Mr. Birling's speech about economics and other nations reveal about his character?
-Mr. Birling's speech focuses on his opinions about the country's economic future and the failings of other nations, rather than his love for his family. This demonstrates his self-centered nature, prioritizing wealth and business over personal relationships.
Why does Priestley emphasize Mr. Birling referring to himself as a 'hard-headed business man'?
-The repeated reference to Mr. Birling as a 'hard-headed business man' emphasizes his identity being rooted in his financial success and work, rather than his family. It underscores his materialistic values and lack of empathy for others.
How does Mr. Birling represent capitalist ideology in the play?
-Mr. Birling represents capitalist ideology by focusing solely on profit and reducing labor costs, showing little concern for the well-being of his workers. His views align with the exploitation of labor for personal gain, which is critiqued by the play.
What is the role of dramatic irony in shaping the audience's view of Mr. Birling?
-Dramatic irony is used to highlight Mr. Birling's flawed worldview. For example, his confident predictions about war, the economy, and the Titanic are all proven wrong, making the audience question his judgment on other issues, such as his views on business and social responsibility.
How does Mr. Birling's view on the working class contribute to Eva Smith's death?
-Mr. Birling's capitalist views, particularly his need to keep labor costs low, contribute to Eva Smith's death. His lack of empathy and focus on profit over people directly leads to her being exploited and dismissed, which ultimately plays a role in her demise.
What does Mr. Birling's reaction to Eric's theft and Eva's death reveal about his character?
-Mr. Birling's primary concern after discovering Eric's theft is the financial loss, not the moral implications or the death of Eva Smith and his grandchild. This shows his inability to prioritize human life over money and his lack of responsibility.
How does Priestley contrast the younger and older generations in the play?
-Priestley contrasts the younger generation's openness to change and socialist ideas with the older generation's resistance to learning social responsibility. Mr. Birling refuses to accept blame for Eva Smith's death, while his children begin to recognize their own culpability.
What is the significance of Mr. Birling's unchanged attitude by the end of the play?
-Mr. Birling ends the play with the same attitudes and beliefs he held at the beginning, showing his inability to change or learn from the Inspector's message. This reinforces the idea that the older generation is stuck in its ways and resistant to the idea of social responsibility.
Outlines
đ Theatrical Significance of Small Details in Mr Birling's Character Introduction
This paragraph introduces JB Priestleyâs view on how even the smallest theatrical elements can be significant in shaping a character. Focusing on Mr Birling from 'An Inspector Calls', the analysis begins with his reference to port in the first line of dialogue. The port is a symbol of wealth, establishing Birlingâs desire to impress his future son-in-law, Gerald, a member of the upper class. Birling, who rose from working to middle class through his business success, reveals his aspiration for higher social standing through name-dropping and his fixation on luxury goods like port.
đ· Social Class and Alcohol Consumption in Mr Birling's World
This paragraph explores the deeper meaning behind Mr Birling's choice of port, linking it to social class and the rules of etiquette around alcohol consumption. According to Thora Hands' work on alcohol in Victorian and Edwardian Britain, serving high-quality wines and spirits like port was a display of cultural capital, reinforcing social and gender norms. Birlingâs use of port, and his reference to Finchley, highlights his desire to impress those above him, particularly Gerald Croft, reflecting Birlingâs own insecurity about his social status.
đŒ Mr Birlingâs Capitalist Ideology and Self-Perception
This section analyzes Mr Birlingâs speech at the engagement dinner, where instead of expressing affection for his daughter or future son-in-law, he focuses on his economic beliefs. His repeated self-description as a 'hard-headed business man' emphasizes that his self-worth is tied to wealth and business success. Birlingâs lack of empathy and prioritization of financial gain are showcased when he states that 'a man has to make his own way', embodying the principles of capitalism, which will later be tied to the tragedy of Eva Smithâs death.
âïž Birlingâs Capitalist Views vs. Socialist Criticism
Priestley contrasts Birlingâs capitalist ideals with those of Inspector Goole, who criticizes this selfish mindset. Birlingâs focus on minimizing labor costs represents his disregard for the working class, a mentality that Priestley associates with the death of Eva Smith. The paragraph also introduces the concept of dramatic irony, with Birlingâs confidence in his predictions about world events (such as war and the Titanic) proving incorrect, making the audience distrustful of his views on labor and business as well.
đ Dramatic Irony and Birlingâs Ignorance
This paragraph delves further into the use of dramatic irony to undermine Mr Birlingâs credibility. Priestley sets the play in 1912 but wrote it in 1945, allowing the audience to know that Birlingâs confident predictions about war and the Titanic are entirely wrong. His dismissive tone about potential global conflicts makes him seem naive and misinformed. This early dramatic irony signals to the audience that Birlingâs opinions on social and economic matters, including his treatment of employees, are equally flawed.
đ Mr Birling's Unchanged Attitude by the Play's End
This paragraph focuses on how, despite the dramatic events of the play, Mr Birling remains unchanged by the end. Even when faced with his son Eric's alcoholism, theft, and involvement in Eva Smithâs death, Birling is more concerned with recovering his lost money than with his sonâs issues or the death of his grandchild. Priestley contrasts the older generation's rigid adherence to capitalist ideals with the younger generationâs openness to change, illustrating Birlingâs inability to accept responsibility or learn from the inspectorâs message.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄDramatic Irony
đĄMr. Birling
đĄCapitalism
đĄPort
đĄSocial Responsibility
đĄInspector Goole
đĄFinchley
đĄEva Smith
đĄClass Distinction
đĄThe Younger Generation
Highlights
In a good theatrical production, everything down to the smallest detail is significant, including the shape and color of a room, the way light falls, and even the relation between a chair and stool.
Mr. Birlingâs first line in the play about port highlights his desire to show off wealth, as port was associated with the upper class, and Birling wants to impress his future son-in-law, Gerald.
Birlingâs name-dropping of 'Finchley' emphasizes his need to seek approval from those socially superior, such as Geraldâs family.
Mr. Birling has climbed from working class to middle class through business success, but still looks to socially superior figures, like his wife, for guidance on how to behave in upper-class settings.
In a key speech, Mr. Birling focuses not on family, but on his economic opinions, reinforcing how his self-worth is tied to his business success and wealth accumulation.
Birlingâs repeated description of himself as a âhard-headed business manâ emphasizes his self-perception as being centered around work and money, rather than family or empathy.
Birling's capitalist ideology is portrayed through his dismissal of social responsibility and his belief in looking out for himself, foreshadowing his role in Eva Smithâs death.
The play contrasts Birlingâs capitalist mindset with the socialist views of Inspector Goole, who challenges Birlingâs lack of empathy for the working class.
Priestley uses dramatic irony to criticize Mr. Birlingâs confidence in flawed predictions, like the Germans not wanting war or the Titanic being unsinkable, which discredits his views on business and society.
Dramatic irony devalues Birlingâs opinions from early on, making the audience question his judgment even before the inspector arrives, setting the tone for his characterâs misjudgments.
Birlingâs failure to learn from the playâs events, even after discovering his sonâs alcoholism, theft, and the death of his grandchild, underscores his fixation on money and status over personal relationships.
The generational divide in the play is clear, as Mr. Birling and his wife represent the older, rigid capitalist mindset, while their children are more open to socialist ideas and change.
Mr. Birlingâs inability to accept responsibility for Eva Smithâs death, contrasted with his childrenâs more progressive views, highlights the tension between the older and younger generations.
Priestley critiques the older generationâs stubbornness and reluctance to change, implying that societal progress rests with the younger, more impressionable generation.
The final moments of the play reveal Mr. Birlingâs unchanging attitude, as he is more concerned with recovering stolen money than reflecting on his familyâs moral failures.
Transcripts
In this 1947 book âTheatre Outlookâ, JB Priestley wrote: âIn a good theatrical production
we are offered a piece of life so shaped and coloured and contrived that everything in
it, down to the smallest detail, is significant.â He continues: âThe shape and colour of a
room, the way the light falls through a window, the choice of furnishings, the very relation
between a chair and a stool, all mean something.â
So in this video weâre going to analyse the character of Mr Birling, starting by looking
at one of those small details: the use of port.
In the playâs first line of dialogue, Mr Birling says: âGiving us the port, Edna?
Thatâs right... You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finchley told
me it's exactly the same port your father gets from himâ. The drinking of port is
significant due to its cost. It is something that was associated with the wealthy in society:
the price alone would have been prohibitive and therefore out of reach for the working
class â and letâs not forget the characters have been drinking champagne before the play
begins.
In her fascinating book âDrinking in Victorian and Edwardian Britainâ, Thora Hands states:
âThe domestic context of alcohol consumption was governed by rules of social etiquette,
which both demonstrated and reinforced social class and gender values. Within middle- and
upper-class homes, purchasing, serving and consuming good quality wines and spirits were
key ways to demonstrate levels of cultural capital and good tasteâ.
Instantly, the audience sees Mr Birling as someone who wishes to show off to others,
and Priestley uses the name dropping of âFinchleyâ to illustrate how Birling is keen to impress
his future son-in-law. Itâs important to note that, in speaking to Gerald, the son
of upper-class Lord and Lady Croft, Birling is actually speaking to his social superior.
This imbalance of power has reduced him to name-dropping in an attempt to endear himself
to a family whose social position is one to which he personally aspires. Birling himself
has moved from working class to middle class through the success of his business. Thatâs
why he occasionally has to be told how to behave socially by Mrs Birling, his âsocial
superiorâ as the stage directions put it.
Early in Act One, Priestley surprises the audience when Birling delivers a speech to
his family during the engagement meal that does not â as you would have thought â focus
on his love for his daughter or his fondness of his future son-in-law. Instead, his speech
centres around his opinions on the economic future of the country and the failings of
neighbouring nations. This speech is an excellent example of Priestley presenting Mr Birling
as a flawed, misled and pompous man. He refers to himself twice in very similar ways, first
as a âhard-headed business manâ and then moments later as a âhard-headed, practical
man of businessâ. This deliberate repetition on Priestleyâs part emphasises how Mr Birlingâs
self-perception is entirely built upon how he sees himself in terms of work and money.
Mr Birlingâs priorities are not with people or family, but with how much wealth he can
accumulate. This results in a lack of empathy for those he exploits in order to grow his
fortune. As he himself puts it, âa man has to make his own way â has to look after
himselfâ.
Mr Birling can be seen to represent the ideology of capitalism â a system where business
is privately owned for the sole purpose of making profit. Of course, to make this profit,
business owners have to âkeep labour costs downâ as Birling explains. As we go on to
learn, Birlingâs capitalist agenda will be one of the causes of Eva Smithâs death.
Birlingâs viewpoint will be directly contrasted by the message soon to be delivered by Inspector
Goole, who Birling himself will dismiss as being âProbably a Socialistâ.
Priestley uses an almost ridiculous amount of dramatic irony to criticise the character
of Mr Birling. Dramatic irony is where the audience knows something the character on
stage does not. Given that the play was set in 1912 but first performed in 1945, the audience
knows that much of what Mr Birling asserts in the playâs opening moments is simply
incorrect. His confidence that âThe Germans donât want warâ, for example, is doubly
wrong, given that not one, but two world wars would in fact take place in the coming years.
Like many others in the early 1900s, Mr Birling claims the idea of war is ânonsenseâ and
âfiddlesticksâ. His dismissive tone reveals how confident he is in his ideas. His error
filled predictions about war, economic growth, and the Titanic being âabsolutely unsinkableâ
do not simply make the character seem ill informed and ridiculous. No, the errors about
war, the economy and the Titanic mean that, when we hear Mr Birlingâs views on the treatment
of his own employees and on business, we consider his opinions on these matters to be just as
incorrect. Priestleyâs effective use of dramatic irony here means Mr. Birlingâs
opinions are instantly devalued. Structurally, these examples of dramatic irony occur so
early on in the play â even before the arrival of the inspector â to make it very clear
that Mr Birling and everything he stands for is wrong.
Initial impressions of Mr Birling are not good, but that can be also said of other characters
(for example, see my video on Sheila). However, what is so noticeable about Mr Birling is
how he ends the play in the same manner in which he started. For example, near the end
of the play, Birling discovers that his son, Eric, is an alcoholic who has stolen money
from the office and impregnated Eva Smith. It might therefore be surprising to the audience
that the majority of his dialogue with Eric focuses solely on recovering his lost money.
Ericâs slight against him and the impact upon his business causes Mr Birling consternation
â not the death of his grandchild or the alcoholism of his son.
Priestley employs contrast between the older and younger generations to make a point about
capitalism and socialism. Unlike his children, Mr. Birling fails to accept responsibility
for the death of Eva Smith, telling Eric âThereâs every excuse for what both your mother and
I didâ. Birling fails to learn the inspector (and Priestleyâs) lesson of social responsibility,
reinforcing the inspectorâs earlier comments about how it is the âyoung onesâ are âmore
impressionableâ. Priestley is criticising the behaviour of the older generation, implying
that they are fixed in their ways. In contrast, the younger generation of the Birling family
are open to new socialist ideas.
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