Mrs. Birling Character Analysis

Mrs. Birling embodies the social snobbery and hypocrisy of the upper classes in "An Inspector Calls". Her character serves as a stark representation of the societal issues Priestley aims to critique.

Key Quotes and Language Features

Quote: "girls of that class"

This quote exemplifies Mrs. Birling's classist attitudes and her belief in her moral and social superiority.

• Her language is often abrupt and dismissive, using phrases like "that class", "that sort", and "the type" to distance herself from those she considers beneath her.

Example: Mrs. Birling's stage directions change from "grandly" and "haughtily" to "rather cowed" and "distressed", illustrating her character's transformation as her pretenses are stripped away.

Character Development

As the play unfolds, Mrs. Birling's speech becomes increasingly fragmented, mirroring the collapse of her self-confidence and complacency. This transformation is particularly striking given her initial portrayal of unshakeable superiority.

Highlight: The breakdown in Mrs. Birling's language reflects not only her personal disintegration but also the crumbling of the rigid class structure she represents.

Priestley's Ideas

Priestley uses Mrs. Birling to epitomize the flaws in society, particularly the upper classes' lack of empathy and understanding for those less fortunate. Her unwillingness to accept blame or show remorse for her treatment of Eva Smith underscores the author's critique of social inequality and injustice.

Mr. Birling Character Analysis

Mr. Birling is portrayed as a quintessential capitalist businessman in J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls". His character serves as a critique of the complacency and callousness associated with capitalist prosperity.

Highlight: Mr. Birling represents the older generation's resistance to social change and their blind faith in the status quo.

Key Quotes and Language Features

• "I'm talking as a hard-headed practical man of business": This quote emphasizes Birling's self-perception as a pragmatic businessman.

Quote: "you'll hear some people say war is Inevitable... fiddlesticks!"

This dismissive language showcases Birling's overconfidence and lack of foresight, setting up dramatic irony for the audience who knows about the impending World Wars.

• Birling's use of long monologues and dismissive language like "Fiddlesticks!" and "silly" illustrates his tendency to belittle others' ideas.

Example: Birling's reference to the Titanic as "unsinkable" symbolizes his belief in his family's invulnerability, which is shattered by the Inspector's arrival.

Character Development

As the play progresses, Birling's language shifts from confident assertions to fragmented speech, reflecting his crumbling authority and the breakdown of his worldview.

Vocabulary: Euphemisms - Birling's use of mild or indirect expressions for harsh or unpleasant subjects, indicating his discomfort with confronting reality.

Priestley's Ideas

Priestley uses Birling to criticize capitalist complacency and the older generation's resistance to social progress. However, the author also presents Birling as a realistic character through his use of period-appropriate colloquial language.