Mr Birling Quotes

In J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," Mr Birling is portrayed as a wealthy businessman and a prominent member of the community. He is the head of a family that represents the upper class of Edwardian society, and his views and opinions reflect the prevailing attitudes of his time.

Mr Birling's views on gender are typical of the patriarchal and conservative attitudes of his time. He believes that women should be submissive and should not have a say in political or economic matters. He tells his daughter Sheila,
"We employers have to look after ourselves and our own interests" implying that women should not be involved in business decisions.
The use of "we employers" highlights Mr Birling's position and authority, while the phrase "look after ourselves and our own interests" emphasises their selfish motives and lack of concern for others. Furthermore, the use of the pronoun "ourselves" implies a sense of exclusivity and

Employers believed that they were entitled to protect their own interests and profits, often at the expense of their workers.

Mr Birling's views on socialism and capitalism reflect the class divide of his time. He is a staunch capitalist who believes in the free market and the pursuit of profit. He tells Sheila and Gerald "The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else" implies that, through Mr Birling’s eyes, he believes that socialism is a dangerous and misguided ideology. Furthermore, The use of the word "cranks" suggests that he views those who believe in collectively looking after each other as strange and irrational, which further emphasises his opposition to socialism. In 1912, individualism and self-interest were highly valued. The idea of looking out for others and sacrificing personal gain for the benefit of the community was not as widespread as it is