What do we learn about Mr Arthur Birling’s Character and attitude
towards life as the play unfolds?
When Arthur Birling is first introduced we are told he is “Heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.” As the play goes on we begin to understand why Birling is described like this. We also begin to develop our own ideas about him, his upbringing and his values. At the beginning of the play I thought that Birling was an established businessman but he also cared a lot about his family I didn’t however think this towards the end of the play. When Birling did however start talking I did feel that he was self and money obsessed.
I consider the core of Birling to be his political, social and moral opinions. He is involved in local politics “My husband was Lord Mayor only four years ago and he’s still a magistrate.” In this respect Birling is rather conservative in his thinking and his main ethos is that one should be responsible for oneself and only oneself. He expresses this point on several occasions one being when he says “The way these cranks talk and write now you’d think that everybody has to look after every one else, as if we were all mixed up together likes bees in a hives.” This quote would suggest that Birling believes in the social hierarchy that existed in Edwardian England. Birling doesn’t believe in social responsibility and that with his privilege comes responsibility for those less fortunate than himself- I consider this to be a major theme of the play. This theme is social morality and responsibility; I believe this is what the Inspector is trying to make the family see. Social responsibility is a morality and it’s neglect is immoral and therefore a social crime. His attitude that “a man has to mind his own business and look after his own,” is central to to his character. The Inspector expresses his feelings about this when he says “Public men, Mr.Birling have responsibilities as well as privileges.” The Inspector however is outside of the social system; this allows him to have these opinions. Arthur appears unwilling to take responsibility for not only Eva Smith and others like her but even his own children. We understand that he considers himself free from blame for Eva Smith’s suicide when he says, “Still I can’t accept any responsibility.” We come to appreciate his feelings about his responsibility for his children, near the end of the play when he refuses to support his son, Eric. Birling blames Eric for the entire thing “You’re the one I blame for this” he also shows no compassion and love for anything but money when he is dealing with Eric “Until every penny of that money is repaid you’ll work for nothing.” Birling feels he is not responsible for anything but himself and his money.
