ARTHUR BIRLING is a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.
A successful business man, a magistrate and someone who is active in local politics, Mr Birling has also had the honour of being Lord Mayor of Brumley. He hopes that all this will lead to him being given a knighthood and therefore becoming more socially acceptable to Sir George and Lady Croft, particularly considering his humble beginnings. His description is of a ‘heavy-looking and portentous man’. This description helps to give an impression of him being of a threatening appearance. He is pleased about the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, as he believes it will be good for his business. It is central to the play that his attitude to business and the fact that a man should ‘look after his own’ is discredited by the confessions that the inspector brings about.
Mr Birling represents what socialists like J.B. Priestly, felt was wrong with society. He is a man with money, power and social position, but he is totally unaware of the effects of his actions on other people and has no sense of social justice. Priestley describes him as ‘rather portentous’ suggesting he is serious and self–important. He has worked his way up in the world and is proud of his achievements boasting about having been Mayor
- A prosperous factory owner, not the social equal of his wife. He is ‘a self made man’
- First priority is to make money ‘It’s my duty to keep labour cost down’welcomes Croft into his family as he represents a business link between his firm and that of Gerald Croft’s father (a rival)
- Has an honest approach to life, he tells the Inspector that he wouldn’t listen to Eva Smith’s demand for a wage rise ‘I refused, of course’ and is surprised why anyone should question why.
- Strongly believes that ‘a man has to make his own way’. He does not consider the harm he may cause to other people because of his attitude. He is a ‘hard headed business man
- He is a magistrate and former mayor who is looking forward to receiving a knighthood
- He is very aware that Gerald’s mother is rather against her son’s marriage because she believes him to be marrying beneath him socially
- He is optimistic about the future, yet we know that what he predicts will not become true (NB dramatic irony)
- He refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva ‘s death. He becomes increasing annoyed by the Inspector’s questioning and Eric’s unsympathetic attitude he tries to threaten the Inspector by talking about his friendship with the Chief Constable
- The most disturbing part of the play for Birling is the scene in which he learns that his own son is shown to be a thief, a drunkard and is responsible for fathering a child. When he learns of all this he exclaims ‘You damned fool – why didn’t you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?’
- Eric’s reply indicates that Mr Birling was never close to his son ‘Because you’re not the kind of chap a man could turn to when he’s in trouble’. Such a response indicates that things aren’t going to improve much after the play ends
- He represents a very unattractive sort of person. At the end of the play he grudgingly wishes things were better but even here he still thinks in terms of money ‘Look, Inspector – I’d give thousands’
- He continues to ignore the shameful things that his family has done. When it appears that the Inspector might be a hoaxer he is happy to believe that everything is as it was a few hours ago. He copies the Inspector and laughs when he remembers the faces of Eric and Sheila and accuses them of being ‘the famous younger generation who know it all’. This is an example of pride coming before a fall, a moment later of course he is panicking as the phone rings again
- Mr Birling represents Priestley’s hatred of businessmen who are only interested in making money. He will never alter his ways and it is left to the younger generation to learn from their mistakes.
mrcharding 