Mr Birling Analysis

Birling dominates the majority of the conversation and likes to have control over the situation at hand, this can be seen where he tells the inspector to sit, it may be seen as a kind gesture but can also be interpreted as him trying to take control and shutdown the inspectors huge presence and present himself as the leading figure in the house. This is further shown where he asks the inspector if he is new, stating that he has close connections to the police suggesting his presence in the community, he then goes on to say that he was Lord Mayor two years ago and is awaiting a possible knighthood. Within only a few minutes of meeting the inspector Mr Birling has already listed his titles and shown his status in society to establish himself to the Inspector in an attempt to impress him. This portrays him as an upper middle class egotistical character who is …show more content…
This is shown in the line in which Mr Birling describes himself as a “Hard headed practical business man”, at first glance it’s clear to see that Birling is showing his social status to Gerald in order to impress him. This paints him as a selfish, self-obsessed, big headed man, he’s portrayed in this way purposely by Priestley to make the audience dislike him as a character as Birling’s views are those that Priestley disagrees with. He thinks that family is an afterthought and that you should put yourself first always, he is shown as the typical wealthy snob that Priestley despised as they disagreed with equality and the labour movement which would eventually bring balance to the class system. The repetition of the line further emphasises Mr Birling’s ego as he repeats to Gerald that he he’s ‘Practical’, this can also be seen when Mr Birling is talking to the inspector and repeats that he was lord mayor showing his position in society in order to impress the