Preview

How Does Priestley Present Mr Birling In Act 1?

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
579 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Priestley Present Mr Birling In Act 1?
How does Priestley present Mr Birling in Act one?
The play, by J.B Priestley, was set in 1912 because the author wanted to give an audience a better understanding of the contrast in social class and hierarchy, which was split into Upper, Middle and working class, compared to what they had in 1945, when the play was written. Additionally, by setting it during The Edwardian era, the assemblage is able to observe the domineering Capitalistic views which is the heart of Arthur Birling’s philosophy.
Mr Birling’s narrow minded and right winged political interpretations of low wages and vast income is evident in the manor he addresses his daughters engagement; as a business deal. He is eager for the marriage, not for the coming together of two families
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    an inspector calls (conflict)
    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages

    an inspector calls (conflict)

    Inspector Goole and Mr Birling are two of the main characters and have perhaps the most noticeably opposing views of any two characters in the play. Priestley displays this through the constant conflict between the pair, and notably in their vastly contrasting speeches delivered separately in the play. In addition to the subtle details of their opposing views, this conflict successfully shows the contrasting diffenences between Birling and the Inspector in both how they look, how they are viewed and how they act.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explore how the theme of power is presented in 'An Inspector Calls'. How would an audience react to this presentation?
    • 759 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Explore how the theme of power is presented in 'An Inspector Calls'. How would an audience react to this presentation?

    At the start of the play, the first hint of power we see is through the appearance of Mr Birling when Priestly describes him at the start of the play. Mr Birling is described as a ‘thickly built’ man, which gives us a sense of power due to his size. The audience (only being able to see the actor playing Mr Birling) may respect Mr Birling due to his appearance, confidence and his position in society. However, as the play progresses, we see that Mr Birling is powerful also in terms of business, and the fact that he fired some women because they wanted a small raise may make the audience more on edge about Mr Birling, as they might feel he abused his power.…

    • 759 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    An Inspector Calls: How Does Priestly Use the Character of Sheila to Deliver His Message to the Audience Essay Example
    • 2614 Words
    • 11 Pages

    An Inspector Calls: How Does Priestly Use the Character of Sheila to Deliver His Message to the Audience Essay Example

    J.B Priestley wrote this play in 1945 a period after two appalling world wars- The Holocaust and the Atom Bomb. He set his play in 1912 when class and gender were what ruled society- along with money of course.…

    • 2614 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    In Act One of an Inspector Calls How Does J.B Priestley Use Dramatic Devices to Convey His Concerns and Ideas to the Members of the Audience, as Well as Interest and Involve Them in His Play?
    • 820 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In Act One of an Inspector Calls How Does J.B Priestley Use Dramatic Devices to Convey His Concerns and Ideas to the Members of the Audience, as Well as Interest and Involve Them in His Play?

    J.B Priestley was born in Bradford, Yorkshire on 13th September 1894. He firm believer of socialism which is a political theory or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people therefore he disagrees firmly with capitalism. Priestley set his play in 1912 because the date symbolized an period when all was very unusual from the time he was writing. In 1912, inflexible class and gender restrictions seemed to guarantee that nothing would change. However by 1945 the majority of class and gender divisions had been infringed. Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes. The Inspector wants to teach the Birling Family to care about other and not only themselves and he wants to show that social status and wealth are not significant factors. One of Priestley’s major concerns was that even that the war has ended people were living in poverty and living depressed lives. I think that J.B Priestley is trying to tell people that they shouldn’t rejoice after the war because several people have been killed. Priestley shows that there shouldn’t be a division between people of different class. In 1912 the Birling family lead a comfortable life Birling is a prime example of a capitalist, J.B Priestley is keen to highlight the selfishness of him in the play. J.B Priestley wanted to highlight what was right and wrong in society as it is a morality play .In this essay I am going to investigate how J.B Priestley uses dramatic devices to intrigue the audience.…

    • 820 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    In Act One of ‘a Inspector Calls’ How Does J.B. Priestley Use Dramatic Devices to Convey His Concerns and Ideas to Members of the Audience, as Well as Interest Them and Involve Them in the Play?
    • 1690 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Act One of ‘a Inspector Calls’ How Does J.B. Priestley Use Dramatic Devices to Convey His Concerns and Ideas to Members of the Audience, as Well as Interest Them and Involve Them in the Play?

    The message from the playwright is that the individual and the community all have varying responsibilities within society; that we can all pursue our own self-interests but we have to think about others as well as ourselves. At the time the play was written, the upper classes had a clear stranglehold over the lower classes, and showed little repentance for the misfortune of those who had neither wealth nor power. The play although written in 1945, after the end of the Second World War, was set on a spring evening in 1912, two years before World War One. Priestley set the play 35 years in the past to give members of the audience the benefit of hindsight, and also enabling him to use several of Birling’s speeches at the beginning to establish him as a pompous and arrogant character. Dramatic irony is used by Priestley from the start of Act One. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Arthur Birling as a "heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." He is proud of his achievements, and misses no opportunity to remind others of his exploits, such as the chance of being knighted. Arthur’s family and Gerald respect him and his views. They listen intently as he tells them that the Titanic is unsinkable. The solid house, the cigars, the decanter of port and the champagne glasses, represent a comfortable, secure and pleasant lifestyle for the Birlings.…

    • 1690 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mr Birling And Sheila's Relationship
    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mr Birling And Sheila's Relationship

    Nervously, Mr Birling is able to take charge of the situation and continue his speech about the engagement. In this speech Mr Birling objectifies his daughter as “something good to be married to”. We know this because he addresses Gerald and regularly mentions how “She’ll (Sheila) make you happy”. Though Mr Birling’s power is tested when embarrassed by the Inspector. The Inspector bluntly confronts him for his terrible…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    How Is Arthur Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls
    • 1734 Words
    • 7 Pages

    How Is Arthur Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls

    The playwright of “An Inspector Calls,” J.B. Priestley, was a dedicated supporter of socialism, and by writing this play, he vents his own opinions and attitudes through his characters. The play is set in 1912, two years prior to the First World War, in the home of a prosperous manufacturer, Arthur Birling. It is perceptible to the reader that a prevailing aspect of the play is Capitalism versus socialism. This theme centres on Arthur Birling, a Capitalist.…

    • 1734 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How does Willy Russell use minor characters in Blood Brothers to reveal society’s attitude to class in the 1980’s
    • 1278 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How does Willy Russell use minor characters in Blood Brothers to reveal society’s attitude to class in the 1980’s

    "Blood Brothers" was written by Willy Russell in 1985. It follows the story of two twin brothers that are separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to keep them both. She gives one of them away to wealthy Mrs. Lyons and they grow up as friends, in ignorance of their blood relationship until the inevitable quarrel caused through 'class' differences leads to the tragic outcome. In this essay, I will examine how Willy Russell demonstrates class differences in his play ‘Blood Brothers.’ I will explore the differences between Eddie and Mickey. I will also discover the different attitudes, and the impact, class difference has on people.…

    • 1278 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mr Biirling In The Crucible
    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page

    Mr Biirling In The Crucible

    The Birlings are a family of wealth and power, who take pride in their high social position. Mr. Birling is a successful businessman, and the family inhabits a nice home with a maid (and likely other servants). The play begins with the family celebrating and feeling generally pleased with themselves and their fortunate circumstance. Throughout the Inspector’s investigation, however, it comes out that several of the Birlings have used their power and influence immorally, in disempowering and worsening the position of a girl from a lower class: Mr. Birling used his high professional position to force Eva Smith out of his factory when she led a faction of workers in demanding a raise; Sheila, in a bad temper, used her social status and her family’s…

    • 169 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    an inspector calls - modern mortality to victorian
    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    an inspector calls - modern mortality to victorian

    A modern day audience would also be surprised about the equality between men and women. Men were seen as dominant leaders who were expected to support the family and respect women. They were expected to sometimes experience drinking/sex but this was to remain chaste. We can see this from the play when Eric’s drinking problem was brought up and Mr Birling said ‘We do not need to know about this.’…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How far would you agree that marriage is based on social class?
    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How far would you agree that marriage is based on social class?

    Mrs Birling is Mr Birling’s social superior (Priestley tells us this in the stage directions) and we see that when Mrs Birling tells Mr Birling off when he said that the food was good in front of Gerald, as upper class families do not address their help. This tells us that Mrs Birling takes social etiquette very seriously- believing that a good reputation will improve her family’s status. It also tells us that even though Mr Birling is head of the household, Mrs Birling’s social background makes her the one in control of the marriage- just like Gerald. Also when Mrs Birling talks about marriage, stating that, “When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.” Priestley makes Mrs Birling consider marriage like it’s more of a…

    • 505 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    An Inspector Calls
    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages

    An Inspector Calls

    In the play “An Inspector Calls,” Priestley uses Mr Birling’s daughter Shelia to display society’s thoughts of the elite class, and how her actions and behavior emulate Priestley’s ideas. In this essay I will evaluate how Priestley delineates a change in responsibility in the character Sheila. Primarily, Sheila is characterized as quite irresponsible for a young lady in the elite class, however as the play progresses she emerges to become one of the most responsible characters in the play. Additionally I will analyse the different ways in which Priestley slowly evokes various other changes in Sheila, such as how her relationship with her mum changes as the play goes on, in conjunction with the development in her opinions and maturity.…

    • 592 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    “Who Do You Think Is Most Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith?”
    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages

    “Who Do You Think Is Most Responsible for the Death of Eva Smith?”

    It is set in pre-World War One Britain, but was written in 1945, which enabled Priestley to use dramatic irony as a way of highlighting the ignorance of the Birling family.…

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Pride and Prejudice
    • 977 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Pride and Prejudice

    Since marrying her daughters to wealthy men is of such importance, it is derived that she probably feels the same way towards her own marriage. In conversation with Mr. Bennet, they disagree more times than not. While Mrs. Bennet threatens to “never see her again” (82), if Lizzy does not accept the proposal by Mr. Collins, her husband replies headstrong saying “from this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents” (82). They never talk about their disagreements like a loving couple should.…

    • 977 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The theme of marriage in George Eliot’s Middlemarch
    • 1494 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The theme of marriage in George Eliot’s Middlemarch

    Making a ‘good marriage’ was of great importance in Eliot’s society. A ‘good marriage’ meant a marriage to a rich man, or woman, preferably from a ‘good’ family – usually a family which was rich and owned land. In Middlemarch, the marriage between Celia Brooke and Sir James Chettam is a perfect example of a ‘good marriage’. It is also a good example of a successful marriage, a marriage where both partners are satisfied that both their expectations and…

    • 1494 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics