How does J.B Priestley use Mr Birling in ‘‘An Inspector Calls’’?
...and power. He is a very independent and self-made businessman, he also speaks to Gerald of a possible knighthood in the near future, he says this because the Croft Family are already Lord and Ladies and Mr Birling wants to be as good as they are. When the Inspector is interrogating him he seems reluctant to talk about his business life, but finally cracks and he talks about his involvement with Eva’s death. Eva was working for Mr Birling, a few years ago, but after the Christmas holidays asked Mr Birling for a rise in wage from twenty two and a six pence to around twenty five shillings a week, however Mr Birling’s refused to Eva’s demand. He told her, ‘if they didn’t like those rates they could go work somewhere else’ she was then later sacked . Mr Birling’s involvement with Eva’s death develops his character into the harsh, uncaring man he is. Also Gerald agrees with Mr Birling’s actions towards Eva, as Gerald wants to try and be accepted by Mr Birling. Mr Birling tries hard to impress Gerald, as Gerald comes form a upper class family, and Mr Birling is only middle class. In Mr Birling’s eyes he doesn’t think that his daughter Shelia is good enough for Gerald, for Gerald’s family have status where the Birling has none. Mr Birling doesn’t think much of his only son Eric. He butts in when Eric speaks. Mr Birling’s also puts any blame on Eric as Mr Birling hates to be in the wrong. Mr Birling’s excuse for Eric’s actions is he was spoilt as a child, ‘Your trouble is you’ve been spoilt’, this shows you how much of a great father Mr Birling is, because he was the one that spoilt Eric but it isn’t his fault the same with Eva’s death, Mr Birling’s hates to accept any responsibility for his actions. Mr Birling’s is angered by Eric and often shouts at him. But this side of Mr Birling’s, the selfish, uncaring side is what J.B Priestley wanted to get rid of in society, he wanted to show people that we are all the blame for are actions, and to accept his involvement something that Mr Birling finds hard to do. Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility towards his actions that lead to Eva’s death. He still denies that him firing Eva didn’t have any effect for the reasons for Eva to commit suicide. The Inspector however says differently, ‘ But each of you help to kill her’, here the inspector is putting the blame on every single one of them, even Mr Birling. Mr Birling also refuses to take in the warnings and accusation of the Inspector, and it is thought that people like Mr Birling, who is so narrow mindlessness lead us into the World Wars. Mr Birling’s relationship changes with the different characters in the book. Mr Birling’s and Gerald’s family have a strong business rivalry, that’s Mr Birling’s hopes to finish when Gerald and Shelia get married. Mr Birling wants to join with Gerald’s fathers company, so they can work for, ‘ higher profits and lower costs’. Mrs Birling shares the same views as her husband, however Mrs Birling is Mr Birling’s social superior, but they seem to get on well and have a close relationship, even though Mrs Birling is upper class and Mr Birling is only middle. Mr Birling and Shelia do not always see eye to eye, Shelia often disagrees with her farther. Shelia has a completely different view to life and the people around her, then her father. When Shelia finds out about her involvement with Eva’s death, she naturally feels sorry and disgraced with her self, where her farther accepts no responsibilities, this different in opinions that pulls them apart. Eric and Mr Birling do not get on well at all even from the start. Mr Birling’s still treats Eric like a five-year-old boy. Eric and Shelia share the same views, and his also feels responsible for Eva’s death. Mr Birling and the Inspector do not get on in the slightest. Mr Birling is intimidated by the Inspector presence. The Inspector takes control of Mr Birling’s home, ‘Look here Inspector’ we can see her that Mr Birling’s is trying to get on top of the situation again, it’s the Inspector that makes Mr Birling feel weak and not in control. Mr Birling and the Inspector views are totally opposite. All of Mr Birling’s views are opposed and judged by the Inspector. The play is spilt up into four parts. The play starts with the celebration on the marriage proposal of Shelia Birling and Gerald Croft, we also are introduced to the main character here and get to know a little about each of them. When the ‘Inspector Calls’, the integrations are done in chronological order, each person is asked individually, one after another, until we are left with the main culprit, Eric. Then we have the Inspector leaving, and his final speech that sums up J.B Priestley’s philosophy, when he leaves the characters have their chance to change their ways, and as we see Eric and Shelia do, but when Gerald proves that the Inspector was a hoax. The older Birling’s and Geral...