Mr Birling Quotes with Explanation and Analysis
Welcome to a new exploration of literature and philosophy as we delve into the powerful character of Arthur Birling from J.B. Priestley’s classic play ‘An Inspector Calls.’ As a successful businessman, Mr. Birling is portrayed as the quintessential capitalist, his dialogue brimming with statements that reflect his staunch belief in capitalism.
From his dismissive attitude towards collective responsibility — “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own” — to his unflinching faith in industry and progress — “the world’s developing so fast that it’ll make war impossible,” Mr. Birling serves as a mouthpiece for capitalist ideology.
In this series of posts, we will dissect some noteworthy quotes from Mr. Birling that showcase his unwavering support for capitalism, providing context, explanation, and how these views hold up in today’s society.
Get ready to revisit 1912 England (as imagined in 1945) through the lens of this intriguing character! Stay tuned for more insightful discussions on #BirlingCapitalistQuotes.”
1. Mr Birling Quotes and Analysis
Arthur Birling, a character in “An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley, is a wealthy factory owner and local politician with firmly capitalist views. Here are some of his notable quotes with analysis:
1. Quote: “The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war… I say there isn’t a chance of war.”
Analysis: Mr. Birling displays ignorance about the impending World Wars, reflecting his naïveté and overconfidence in progress and stability under capitalism.
2. Quote: “A man has to make his own way — has to look after himself — and his family too.”
Analysis: This quote embodies Mr. Birling’s self-centered capitalist philosophy where individual interests come before collective responsibility or empathy towards workers or lower classes.
3. Quote: “If you don’t come down sharply on these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
Analysis: Mr.Birling’s dismissive attitude towards workers’ rights shows his lack of empathy for their plight, viewing them as greedy rather than desperate for fair treatment.
4. Quote: “I can’t accept any responsibility.”
Analysis: His refusal to acknowledge any wrongdoing in Eva Smith’s death underscores his belief in individualism at the expense of social responsibility — a key tenet of capitalism.
5. Quote: “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
Analysis: This showcases Mr.Birling’s concern over profits rather than worker welfare, illustrating how he prioritizes financial gain over fair wages or decent working conditions.
These quotes collectively paint a picture of Arthur Birling as Priestley’s critique of capitalism personified — unfeeling, self-interested, and short-sighted.
2. Mr Birling Capitalist Quotes
Arthur Birling, a character in J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls,” is often seen as a representation of capitalism due to his views on business and society. Here are some quotes that demonstrate his capitalist perspective:
1. “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”
2. “A man has to make his own way — has to look after himself — and his family too, when he can manage it.”
3. “We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests — and the interests of Capital — are properly protected.”
4. “The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive — community and all that nonsense.”
5. “I can’t be expected to take any responsibility.”
6. “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
7. “Still, I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward.”
These quotes reflect Mr Birling’s staunch belief in individuality over collective responsibility and profits over people — key aspects of capitalist thinking.
Mr Birling titanic Quote
In “An Inspector Calls,” Mr. Birling does make reference to the Titanic but there isn’t a wide variety of quotes, as it is a specific point in the play. However, the key quote regarding the Titanic is:
1. “The Titanic — she sails next week — forty-six thousand eight hundred tons — New York in five days — and every luxury — and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”
This quote is significant because it showcases Mr. Birling’s naivety and blind faith in progress and technology, emblematic of his capitalist mindset. His assertion that the Titanic is ‘absolutely unsinkable’ and its subsequent sinking becomes an ironic symbol of his own downfall later in the play.
Mr Birling Responsibility Quotes
In “An Inspector Calls,” Mr. Birling offers several quotes on the theme of responsibility, particularly reflecting his lack of it. Here are some key quotes:
1. “Still, I can’t accept any responsibility.”
2. “A man has to make his own way — has to look after himself — and his family too.”
3. “We employers at last are coming together to see that our interests — and the interests of Capital — are properly protected.”
4. “If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward.”
5. “The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive — community and all that nonsense.”
6. “I can’t be expected to take any responsibility.”
7. “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down.”
8. “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
9. “[Lower costs and higher prices] are the kind of general remarks that every business man has lodged in his memory”
10.”There’s a fair chance that the girl committed suicide.”
Mrs Birling Responsibility Quotes
Sybil Birling, Mr. Birling’s wife in “An Inspector Calls,” also has strong views on responsibility, reflecting her high social status and lack of empathy for those less fortunate.
1. “I must say, we are learning something tonight.”
2. “I accept no blame for it at all.”
3. “I did nothing I’m ashamed of.”
4. “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
5. “She had only herself to blame.”
6. “First, the girl herself…I wasn’t satisfied with her manner…so I used my influence to have it refused”.
7. “If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon me…then you’re mistaken.”
8. “[The father of Eva/Daisy’s child] ought to be dealt with very severely”.
9. “Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have…He should be made an example of.”
10.”Yes, he [Eric], ought to be dealt with severely.”
Mr Birling Character Analysis
Arthur Birling, a central character in J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls,” is presented as a prosperous factory owner and former mayor of his town. He is proud of his status, which he believes is the result of his hard work and business acumen.
Mr. Birling embodies the capitalist ideology and lack of social responsibility often associated with the upper class during pre-World War I England. He is primarily concerned with maintaining his family’s social position and protecting his own interests.
Birling is depicted as being pompous, arrogant, and somewhat ignorant. This is most evident in his speeches at the start of the play where he confidently predicts there will be no world war and that technology like the Titanic represents progress that cannot fail — predictions we know to be drastically incorrect.
His interactions with Inspector Goole reveal him to be unrepentant and dismissive of any responsibility for Eva Smith’s death, reflecting Priestley’s critique of capitalism through this character. Even when it becomes clear that each member of the Birling family has had a role in Eva Smith’s demise, Mr. Birling remains more worried about a potential public scandal than about his moral accountability for her death.
Mr. Birling’s reluctance to learn from or acknowledge his mistakes reinforces Priestley’s message regarding society’s need for collective responsibility rather than individualistic self-interest — a value that Birling fails to embody throughout the play.
