How does Priestley use the character of Birling to convey his views in "An Inspector Calls?"
How does Priestley use the character of Birling to convey his views in "An Inspector Calls?"
Priestley was born in 1894; his father was a teacher, but his mother died young. After he left grammar school, at the end of his childhood education, he worked in the wool trade, on low wages. Priestley had a socialist view during the 1930s Priestley became very concerned about the consequences of social inequality in Britain, and in 1942 he and others set up a new political party, the Common Wealth Party which argued for public ownership of land, greater democracy, and a new "morality" in politics. The party merged with the Labour Party in 1945, and Priestley was influential in developing the idea of the Welfare State which began to be implemented at the end of the war. An Inspector Calls was written in 1945, but was set in 1912. This meant that Priestley had the benefit of hindsight when putting events into the play, such as the time of uncertainty, class system, and the sinking of the Titanic. An Inspector Calls was written for audiences in 1945, after World War II, but was set before The First World War. There were a lot of changes during this 33-year period: this is also portrayed in the characters of the Birling family. For example, Birling dismisses the idea of World War I happening, but two years later the war starts; this shows how not only he was optimistic, but the rest of England were. Arthur Birling is shown to be capitalist and old-fashioned, and is in favour of things such as the distinctions between upper and lower classes and that women were of a lower status than men. Priestley uses this and hindsight (also showing Birling to be foolish, like others may have been) to affect the audience in such a way that they feel that they themselves may have been too optimistic, and can look back and find faults.
Birling is made an unlikable character by Priestley through many of his characteristics and appearance. He is described at the start as a "heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." Birling is proud of his achievements and status, and boasts about them, but mainly fails to impress the Inspector when talking to him.
Although Birling thinks that he has a very high status in society, he is still aware of his superiors: "it's exactly the same port your father gets." This phrase is said when Birling is showing off to ...
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Birling is made an unlikable character by Priestley through many of his characteristics and appearance. He is described at the start as a "heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." Birling is proud of his achievements and status, and boasts about them, but mainly fails to impress the Inspector when talking to him.
Although Birling thinks that he has a very high status in society, he is still aware of his superiors: "it's exactly the same port your father gets." This phrase is said when Birling is showing off to Gerald, whose father owns Crofts Ltd. Crofts Ltd is about to merge with Birling's company, so Birling tries to show off to Gerald, ensuring that the merge will take place.
He seems very optimistic, but in fact Birling also shows himself to be arrogant in his views, single- minded, and sometimes foolish (e.g. when he talks about there being no war, and the Titanic being "unsinkable"). However, the audience know he is wrong, and start to doubt Mr Birling's judgement.
He is selfish, and uses phrases such as "look after number one" and "a man has to make his own way". He does not care about Eva Smith's suicide, only about Birling and Co. When he finds out about Eric stealing the money, he says "I've got to cover this up as soon as I can", showing he only cares about his own reputation. "I'd give thousands, yes, thousands." shows how he put a price on life and does not care about anyone else, he is happy as long as his reputation is unharmed.
At the end of the play, he still seems ignorant and cannot admit that he had something to do with Eva's death - "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all". This statement was said when Birling was speaking to Eric and Sheila; he cannot admit what he did was his fault, he is instead stating that what he did was right, but it just turned out "unfortunately". Birling is shown as hypocritical through some of the words he speaks: "You're the one I blame for this" (Birling speaking to Eric (Eric is seen as an embarrassment to Birling)). "The fact is you allowed yourself to be bluffed - yes, bluffed." (Birling speaking to his family). This is partly to connected to the fact that he cannot admit he was in the wrong. He is trying to use all his family (especially Eric and Sheila) as scapegoats, blaming them for what has happened.
These characteristics all contribute to him becoming unlikable with the audience. They see him to be a stubborn, ignorant old-fashioned man who doesn't listen to other people's views, and a lot of the time uses other people as scapegoats. Birling's characteristics that make him unlikeable are backed-up by the views of other characters in the play.
Sheila, for example, knows how ignorant and old-fashioned her father is, however she comes to terms with it. Sheila says "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people" which gives the impression that she has matured during the course of the play. The quotation also implies that she understands that, no matter what your background or position in the world, you are still a human being. Sheila, throughout the play, not only matures, but also becomes more caring for others. This is a major contrast of her father, Birling, who remains stubborn and self-centred during the play.
Likewise, Eric is appalled by his parent's inability to admit responsibility. He tells them "I'm ashamed of you", and when Birling threatens him in Act 3, he returns "I don't care now". After Eric states his disappointment of his parents, Birling responds angrily, but only stating about how the events could become public, and how it could affect his chances of getting a knighthood. This response was written by Priestley to show how still he is stubborn, and that he is only thinking about himself, causing the audience to dislike him even more.
Priestley uses other devices to portray his views. The main device is the juxtaposition of the Inspector. As his antithesis, the Inspector over-powers and belittles Birling; although Birling tried to win the battle with the Inspector, the Inspector proved too powerful for him, and so he failed. The Inspector's victory can be shown in one of the last sentences he says: "You made Eva Smith pay a heavy price for that. And now she'll make you pay a heavier price still". Birling responds by saying (unhappily) "Look, Inspector - I'd give thousands - yes, thousands -". This response by Birling shows that he knows he has lost the battle, but still he tries to get out of it by offering money: one of the only things he still has left. Birling lost his dignity and pride when he found out the death of Eva Smith was partly, if not mostly, his fault.
Priestly also used dramatic irony within An Inspector Calls. This can be seen though Birling's comments on the "Impossible War" and the "absolutely unsinkable Titanic". Another device is shown at the differences in the time period. In 1912, there was a big gap in social status between the younger and older generation. This is shown in the way Sheila and Eric were brought up (i.e. their personalities and actions now). They are sympathetic and adaptable, whereas the older generation (Sybil and Birling) are opinionated and they are lacking compassion.
Priestley's choice of ending helps to emphasise his views further still. The very last sentence by the inspector (We are responsible for each other. If men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish".) makes the audience think about it; it reinforces Priestley's views that we do not look after each other enough, and that people are generally too self-centred. It is a cliff-hanger, and makes the audience think about the play. It enables them to talk about the play after it finishes, asking questions such as "Was the inspector real?" or "Who was the inspector?". This means it stays in their memory much longer than if the end was quick and expected (a break from "and they all lived happily ever after")
Priestley uses Birling as his antithesis: Priestley's views are mirrored by Birling's comments. He uses this to put his message across to the audience. The Inspector is also used to put Priestley's messages across, but as a mouthpiece. The Inspector has the highest authority in the play, out of all the characters. His last few words are "We are responsible for each other. If men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish". This is a warning that if they do not pay attention to what he has taught them, they will be punished. This is also Priestley's view: if the world does not learn from past experiences, such as war, then the world will learn in great pain (i.e. the hard way).
An Inspector Calls - English GCSE Coursework
