An Inspector Calls Study Essay Example

affairs. This is exemplified in Mr. Birling's speech to his family regarding the future, where he asserts, "I'm speaking as a pragmatic, astute businessman."

The text argues that there is no possibility of war, highlighting both the author's arrogant attitude and the prevailing attitude of Britain at the time. The scene is set with a depiction of a wealthy family in 1946, amidst rationing and scarcity, as they exchange dessert plates and champagne glasses for a decanter of port, cigar box, and cigarettes. This display of luxury serves to emphasize the family's affluence. Mr. Birling, described as a middle-aged man with relatively relaxed manners but a provincial manner of speech, is portrayed as being eager to impress Gerald Croft because Gerald's father is Mr. Birling's business rival. As a result, Mr. Birling seizes every opportunity to gain Gerald's admiration.

"You should enjoy this port, Gerald... It's the exact same port your father receives," demonstrates his attempt to influence and impress Gerald. His desire to impress Gerald might be one of the reasons for his immense pride in his daughter, who is marrying into the Croft family.

The audience perceives Arthur Birling as a wealthy individual who strives to make a good impression. Birling seems to constantly seek opportunities for profit. He even turns his daughter's engagement speech into a discussion about his and his competitors' businesses, much to his daughter's disappointment. "Perhaps we may envision a future where Crofts and Birlings cease competing and instead collaborate - for reduced costs and increased prices!" This clearly highlights his obsession with money, as he is eager to incorporate a business proposition into a speech about his own daughter. Birling is

undoubtedly a shrewd businessman, demonstrated by his willingness to dismiss competent workers solely because they ask for a slight wage increase. He feels delighted that his daughter is marrying into the Croft family for several reasons. Firstly, it brings him closer to the Crofts, who are his primary business rivals, and he hopes that they may join forces one day. Additionally, the Crofts possess a higher social status compared to him, so he believes that associating with them will boost his own social reputation.

Once again, Mr Birling is perceived by the audience as a wealthy man who desires to make an impression. They also see him as someone who has worked hard to achieve his current status in life. Although Mr Birling is unaware of the future events of World War 1 and 2, he jokingly delivers a speech about war, proclaiming, "Fiddlesticks!" His dismissive attitude mirrors his ignorance and opinion regarding the likelihood of war. Furthermore, he asserts that only "Some half-civilized folk in the Balkans" desire war, again showcasing his lack of understanding. However, he acknowledges that there is too much to lose and nothing to gain from war, displaying a more thoughtful and less biased perspective. The audience may dislike him upon witnessing the play, as they have personally experienced the atrocities of two world wars. Consequently, they would not appreciate his thoughtless disregard for such possibilities.

Mr. Birling continues his speech, stating that men in their 20's have no reason to worry. Ironically, the men he refers to would soon be drafted into the army. This exemplifies dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of information that the characters are not. Additional

instances of dramatic irony occur as Mr. Birling mentions "The Titanic" in his speech. This serves to highlight Mr. Birling's beliefs, as the audience already knows that the Titanic did indeed sink, contradicting his claim that it was "Absolutely unsinkable." These examples underscore Mr.

Birling is blindly trusting, having believed the Titanic to be unsinkable simply because someone told him so. He also holds strong opinions about other countries, referring to the people in the Balkans as "Half-civilised folk" and claiming that "Russia will always be behindhand naturally." However, his insulting remarks towards Russia become unkind when Britain ends up fighting alongside them in the war. At this point, the audience's perception of Birling would likely have shifted. It becomes evident that he is desperately trying to impress Gerald, as he confides in him confidentially, wanting him to be aware before his own family.

This could also be an attempt to demonstrate Gerald's trustworthiness in keeping the secret. Another illustration of Mr. Birling's efforts to impress Gerald is when he proudly informs him, "You see, I was Lord Mayor here." Mr. Birling treats his wife and daughter in the typical manner that men treated women during that era. He persuades his wife to have some port despite her initial reluctance and interrupts his daughter's admiration of her new wedding ring to ensure she pays attention to him.

This passage depicts Mr Birling as excessively self-important, placing his own needs and desires above those of his wife and daughter. It highlights his selfishness as he asserts that individuals should prioritize their own concerns. This mindset would not have been well-received in 1946, when communities were working together to rebuild

after the war. Thus, this statement portrays Mr Birling as highly self-centered. By the end of this section, the audience would have a distinct perception of Mr Birling's personal character.

They would likely perceive him as a wealthy and egocentric businessman who desires to make an impression on individuals of a higher social status than himself. Furthermore, he holds conventional beliefs regarding work, the role of women, and stereotypes concerning other nations.