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An Inspector Calls - Mr Birling Summary

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This detailed summary explores the character of Arthur Birling in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls, focusing on his role as a symbol of capitalism, social class, and generational conflict. Perfect for GCSE students, it analyses how Mr Birling is presented as a self-important, dismissive businessman whose arrogance and lack of social responsibility highlight Priestley’s critique of Edwardian society. Covering key quotes, character development, and dramatic techniques, this resource clearly explains how Priestley uses Mr Birling to represent the flaws of the upper classes and the dangers of ignoring social responsibility. Ideal for revision, essay planning, and boosting grades in the Literature exam.

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Institution
GCSE
Module
English








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Uploaded on
April 12, 2025
Number of pages
1
Written in
2023/2024
Type
Summary

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-
English-Mr Birling J = ·

go

S personality-Arrogance and pride




3
Guotes
Birling Frequently boasts about his social stance
,
including
/ 1
his
upcoming knighthood and his connections with
// The Eitanic influential
...
absolutely unsinkable
ble ·
people
Y Howeve his
oasting only highlights
"
public men... have responsibilities .




"Hard headed practical men of business. inse further, and reveals his
cravings for
/
/ con and respect
The
way some of these cranks talk and write now
after
You'd think
everybody has to look
everybody else....
In his interactions Goole
and all that nonsense
1 with , he
community .




tries to use his social status
"Arthur Birling -
is a
heavy looking ,
rather portentous man in his to intimidate the Inspector
I
middle fifties with but rather
fairly easy manners provincial in his
speech .





, Still I can't accept any responsibility. If every thing How do
, we were all responsible for
you get On with our

that happened to
every

boby we'd had
anything to do with it it would be
, very Chief Constable e... I
ought to
awkward Wouldn'tIt (Act 1) warn that he's an old
you
·




friend of .
mine

E
-
-
Theme One -


-
Moral Responsibility 1 This does not work
,
as Goole is
not impressed by money or status,
Mr
Birling's
role is to expose the moral responsibility and is just there to
expose their
dirty
of the others in the death of Eva Smith .
Secrets .




how would have been
Priestley Cleverly shows their
guilt Birlings' arrogance is
evidently when
seen
hidden if it was not for Mr
Birling he lectures everyone considering himself
,


to be the chief
authority every subject on .




He reinforces his opinions by using phrases
As a socialist , priestley believed that those in power, hav like "listen to this" , "Of Course", "I tell you"
wealth
without and "naturally, while putting down others
a moral
responsibility towards those or powe

whodon't
And his this
play is a way of addressing
feel thesamewaywhileusingone
.




/I



"nonsense"

Birling lacks
responsibility for others
, he is
"The
a Capitalist
and an individualist .



Billing says , Way some of these cranks Mr
Birlings' arrogance however
, makes him
talk and You'd after he cannot
write now . think
everybody has to
I
look short
sighted , possibility
see of a


everybody

else.... Community and all that nonsense . different future that
changes way things are
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