Mr Birling
Responsibility:
Stage directions:
“Arthur Birling is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties
with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.”
(explosively) (angrily) (sharply) (very sharply) (furious)
Quotes by him:
“Its one of the happiest nights of my life… your “I can’t accept any responsibility.”
engagement to Shelia means a tremendous lot to me.”
“ If we were all responsible for everything that
“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and happened to everybody… it would be very awkward
Birlings are no longer competing but are working wouldn’t it?”
together – for lower costs and higher prices.”
“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”
“Just because the miners came out on strike, there’s a
lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these
future. Don’t worry.” people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
“We employers are coming together to see that our “Perhaps I ought to warn you that that [the Chief
interests – and the interests of Capital – are properly Constable is] and old friend of mine. We play golf
protected.” together.”
“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. “I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this
And to that I say – fiddlesticks!” enquiry.”
“There’s a fair chance that I may find myself into the “I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can.”
next honours list.”
“Why you hysterical young fool – get back – or I’ll – “
“By the way some of these cranks talk and write now,
you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, “I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the
as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive next honours list.”
– community and all that nonsense.”
“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I
“A man has to mind his own business and look after did.”
himself and his own – and –
We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling “There’ll be a public scandal… and who here will suffer
stops to listen.” for that more than I will?”
“As it happened more than eighteen months ago – “(jovially) But the whole thing’s different now”
nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do
with the wretched girl’s suicide.”
, Mrs Birling
Responsibility:
Stage Directions:
“[Mrs Birling] is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social
superior.”
(grandly) (bitterly) (with sudden anger) (alarmed) (severely)
Quotes by Mrs Birling:
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand
why the girl committed suicide.” ”I’ll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of
the child. It’s his responsibility.”
“That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent Inspector.”
“It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment
“I realise that you have to conduct some sort of inquiry, – which probably began it all.”
but I must say that so far you seem to be conducting it
in a rather peculiar and offensive manner.” “In the circumstances I think I was justified.”
“We are learning something tonight.” “She was giving herself ridiculous airs. She was
claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were
“I beg your pardon!” simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
“What business is it of yours?” “She said the father was only a youngster – silly and
wild and drinking too much.”
“It was simply a piece of gross impertinence”
“You’re quite wrong to suppose I shall regret what I
“Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced did.”
me against her case.”
“But I accept no blame for it at all.”
“I didn’t like her manner”
“He should be made an example of. If the girl’s death
“If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon is due to anybody, then it’s due to him.”
me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other
three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear “He ought to be dealt with very severely”
investigation.”
“Eric, I can’t believe it. There must be some mistake.”
“In spite of what’s happened to the girl since, I
consider I did my duty.”
Responsibility:
Stage directions:
“Arthur Birling is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties
with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.”
(explosively) (angrily) (sharply) (very sharply) (furious)
Quotes by him:
“Its one of the happiest nights of my life… your “I can’t accept any responsibility.”
engagement to Shelia means a tremendous lot to me.”
“ If we were all responsible for everything that
“We may look forward to the time when Crofts and happened to everybody… it would be very awkward
Birlings are no longer competing but are working wouldn’t it?”
together – for lower costs and higher prices.”
“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”
“Just because the miners came out on strike, there’s a
lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these
future. Don’t worry.” people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
“We employers are coming together to see that our “Perhaps I ought to warn you that that [the Chief
interests – and the interests of Capital – are properly Constable is] and old friend of mine. We play golf
protected.” together.”
“You’ll hear some people say that war is inevitable. “I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this
And to that I say – fiddlesticks!” enquiry.”
“There’s a fair chance that I may find myself into the “I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can.”
next honours list.”
“Why you hysterical young fool – get back – or I’ll – “
“By the way some of these cranks talk and write now,
you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, “I care. I was almost certain for a Knighthood in the
as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive next honours list.”
– community and all that nonsense.”
“There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I
“A man has to mind his own business and look after did.”
himself and his own – and –
We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling “There’ll be a public scandal… and who here will suffer
stops to listen.” for that more than I will?”
“As it happened more than eighteen months ago – “(jovially) But the whole thing’s different now”
nearly two years ago – obviously it has nothing to do
with the wretched girl’s suicide.”
, Mrs Birling
Responsibility:
Stage Directions:
“[Mrs Birling] is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social
superior.”
(grandly) (bitterly) (with sudden anger) (alarmed) (severely)
Quotes by Mrs Birling:
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand
why the girl committed suicide.” ”I’ll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of
the child. It’s his responsibility.”
“That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent Inspector.”
“It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment
“I realise that you have to conduct some sort of inquiry, – which probably began it all.”
but I must say that so far you seem to be conducting it
in a rather peculiar and offensive manner.” “In the circumstances I think I was justified.”
“We are learning something tonight.” “She was giving herself ridiculous airs. She was
claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were
“I beg your pardon!” simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
“What business is it of yours?” “She said the father was only a youngster – silly and
wild and drinking too much.”
“It was simply a piece of gross impertinence”
“You’re quite wrong to suppose I shall regret what I
“Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced did.”
me against her case.”
“But I accept no blame for it at all.”
“I didn’t like her manner”
“He should be made an example of. If the girl’s death
“If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon is due to anybody, then it’s due to him.”
me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other
three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear “He ought to be dealt with very severely”
investigation.”
“Eric, I can’t believe it. There must be some mistake.”
“In spite of what’s happened to the girl since, I
consider I did my duty.”
