Mr Birling Quotes

Mr Birling - Key Quote (Act 1)

‘Well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down, and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate we’d have added about twelve per cent to our labour costs.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 1:

Negativity of capitalism

Mr Birling is used to show the capitalist viewpoint throughout the play.
His primary aim is to succeed in business, and so he cares about money more so than people.
He argues with Inspector Goole that he could not have raised Eva Smith and the others’ wages, as he needs to run his business effectively – he needs to earn all the money that he can, which he cannot do if he pays the workers more.
This highlights the selfishness of capitalism. Capitalism was designed to reward the business owners, not those actually doing the work.

Mr Birling - Key Quote (Act 2)

‘Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector?’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 2:

Patriarchal head of the household

This quotation highlights Mr Birling as the patriarchal (male ruling) head of his household.
Mr Birling assumes a protective role over his wife.
He tries to defend her while treating her as if she cannot defend herself. This power struggle returns between the two men, while Mrs Birling is not directly addressed, even though the conversation is about her.

Entitled upper-middle-class man

Alternatively, this could be more about Birling highlighting his expectations as a member of the upper middle class – he does not feel that the Inspector’s questions deserve any sort of response from his upper-class wife.
He feels that she is above this interrogation.
The tone of this seems quite condescending on Birling’s part, and is designed to put the Inspector in his place.
- Mrs Birling will not even respond to him herself because he is beneath her.

Mr Birling - Key Quote (Act 3)

'You! You don’t seem to care about anything. But I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 3:

Irony

Mr Birling exclaims this at Eric.
The irony here is clear – Mr Birling repeatedly says that Eric doesn’t care about anything; in reality, it is Mr Birling who does not care about anyone but himself.

Disconnects from family

Mr Birling uses the second person pronoun ‘you’ to verbally (with words) attack his son and show how he is separating Eric’s ideas from his own – they have become ‘you’ and ‘I’, two very different people who have completely opposite ideas about life.
Eric wants the family to take responsibility for their actions and think of other people, while Birling is obsessed with his reputation and is desperate to get his knighthood.
This shows a huge crack in the façade (fake image) of the Birling family.

1Plot Summary

1.1Act 1

1.1.1Act 1 Summary

1.1.2Act 1 Key Quotes

1.2Act 2

1.2.1Act 2 Summary

1.2.2Act 2 Key Quotes

1.3Act 3

1.3.1Act 3 Summary

1.3.2Act 3 Key Quotes

1.3.3Act 3 More Key Quotes

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Acts 1, 2 & 3

2Context & Key Themes

2.1Context & Key Themes

2.1.1Social Class & Equality

2.1.2Class Tension

2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption

2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism

2.1.5Blame & Responsibility

2.1.6Attitudes to Women

2.1.7Characterisation of Women

2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters

2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 2

2.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes

3Key Characters

3.1Mr Birling

3.1.1Mr Birling Analysis

3.1.2Mr Birling Quotes

3.2Mrs Birling

3.2.1Mrs Birling Analysis

3.2.2Mrs Birling Quotes

3.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Mrs Birling

3.3Sheila

3.3.1Sheila Analysis

3.3.2Sheila Quotes

3.3.3End of Topic Test - The Birlings & Sheila

3.4Eric

3.4.1Eric Analysis

3.4.2Eric Quotes

3.5Gerald

3.5.1Gerald Analysis

3.5.2Gerald Quotes

3.6Inspector Goole

3.6.1Inspector Goole Analysis

3.6.2Inspector Goole Quotes

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Eric, Gerald & Inspector Goole

3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.7.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Authorial Method

4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play

4.1.1Setting, Lighting & Dramatic Irony

4.1.2Structure & Chronology

4.1.3Structure & Chronology 2

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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