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
and the happiness of his only daughter, but for the merge of two businesses. He also believes it will bring “lower cost and higher prices” displaying his disregard to the classes below him by wanting to pay less to make them pay more. Birling also has a noticeable anxiety to climb the social ladder presented when he says’ there could be a Knighthood involved’. A knighthood, in 1912 or 1945, is a huge honour so the audience are able to relate to his desperation to this wish.
This self-centred behaviour is emphasised in the sexist and prejudiced outlook he has towards Eva Smith, also known as Daisy Renton. When asked about his connection to her, he simply says’ she [was an employee] and then I discharged her’ despite referring to her as ‘a good worker’ and was even told she was ‘ready [for promotion]’. To the 1945 audience, this would have seemed as an outrageous decision however in the Edwardian era, because of birling’s social hierarchy and Eva being a working class woman who were heavily scrutinised during this period, this particular termination would have been seen as customary.
Birling is delineated to the audience as a man that likes to be in control. Being the head of a wealthy family and a wealthy business, he isn’t used to being undermined. This is apparent through Birling’s stage direction when the inspector enters later on in Act One. Before they showed his confidence and authority ‘he raises his glass’ being the first person to raise, everyone follows suit just like how he expects to be the leader of the family. Although when the inspector arrives, they begin to reflect his annoyance of another ‘Alpha male’ sniffing around his territory ‘somewhat impatiently’, ‘rather angrily’, ‘abruptly’. Birling is shown to the audience as frustrated with the inspector disregard to his authority and is antagonised with his loss of control towards the situation and conversation.
Birling’s haughty and tyrannical presence is shown through his confidence that the Titanic ‘ is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ and when asked, by Eric, if there is a chance of war he firmly replies ‘ Nobody wants a war’. Now the audience in 1945 all know that two years after 1912 there was indeed war and the Titanic did –indeed- sink. Priestley has used this form of dramatic irony in order convey Birling as being overconfident and allows them to think, what else has he said that is wrong?
Priestley uses strong characterisation in order for the audience to understand Birling’s domineering, dogmatic and dictatorial behaviour as well showing glimpses of a disfunction to his control and the anger he has leading up to the interrogation of the inspector in Act Two.
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
and the happiness of his only daughter, but for the merge of two businesses. He also believes it will bring “lower cost and higher prices” displaying his disregard to the classes below him by wanting to pay less to make them pay more. Birling also has a noticeable anxiety to climb the social ladder presented when he says’ there could be a Knighthood involved’. A knighthood, in 1912 or 1945, is a huge honour so the audience are able to relate to his desperation to this wish.
This self-centred behaviour is emphasised in the sexist and prejudiced outlook he has towards Eva Smith, also known as Daisy Renton. When asked about his connection to her, he simply says’ she [was an employee] and then I discharged her’ despite referring to her as ‘a good worker’ and was even told she was ‘ready [for promotion]’. To the 1945 audience, this would have seemed as an outrageous decision however in the Edwardian era, because of birling’s social hierarchy and Eva being a working class woman who were heavily scrutinised during this period, this particular termination would have been seen as customary.
Birling is delineated to the audience as a man that likes to be in control. Being the head of a wealthy family and a wealthy business, he isn’t used to being undermined. This is apparent through Birling’s stage direction when the inspector enters later on in Act One. Before they showed his confidence and authority ‘he raises his glass’ being the first person to raise, everyone follows suit just like how he expects to be the leader of the family. Although when the inspector arrives, they begin to reflect his annoyance of another ‘Alpha male’ sniffing around his territory ‘somewhat impatiently’, ‘rather angrily’, ‘abruptly’. Birling is shown to the audience as frustrated with the inspector disregard to his authority and is antagonised with his loss of control towards the situation and conversation.
Birling’s haughty and tyrannical presence is shown through his confidence that the Titanic ‘ is unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ and when asked, by Eric, if there is a chance of war he firmly replies ‘ Nobody wants a war’. Now the audience in 1945 all know that two years after 1912 there was indeed war and the Titanic did –indeed- sink. Priestley has used this form of dramatic irony in order convey Birling as being overconfident and allows them to think, what else has he said that is wrong?
Priestley uses strong characterisation in order for the audience to understand Birling’s domineering, dogmatic and dictatorial behaviour as well showing glimpses of a disfunction to his control and the anger he has leading up to the interrogation of the inspector in Act Two.