GCSE English Literature

Mr Birling Quotes7 essential quotes with full analysis.

Complete collection of Mr Birling's most important quotes for GCSE English Literature, including the “unsinkable” Titanic speech and his capitalist philosophy.

About Arthur Birling

Arthur Birling is a wealthy manufacturer and the head of the Birling family. He represents the self-made capitalist class, obsessed with profit, social status, and his potential knighthood. Priestley uses him as a mouthpiece for everything wrong with capitalism and the older generation's values.

His confidently wrong predictions about the Titanic and World War create dramatic irony that undermines his authority from the start. Throughout the play, he refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva Smith's death, showing the moral bankruptcy of his “every man for himself” philosophy.

CapitalismSocial ResponsibilityClassDramatic IronyOlder Generation

All Mr Birling Quotes

“The Titanic... unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
Mr Birling
ArroganceDramatic IronyFalse Confidence

Context: Birling boasts about progress and technology at the dinner party.

Analysis

The Titanic sank in 1912, the year the play is set. Priestley uses dramatic irony to undermine Birling's credibility. The repetition of "unsinkable" emphasizes his foolish certainty. His confidence in human progress parallels his social complacency.

Language Techniques:

Dramatic ironyRepetitionHubris

Exam Tip

The audience knows Birling is wrong - this makes them question his other views. Links to his wrong predictions about war.

“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”
Mr BirlingAct 1
CapitalismIndividualismClass

Context: Birling lectures Eric and Gerald about business and life.

Analysis

This encapsulates capitalist individualism that Priestley critiques. The tricolon of "mind," "look after," and "his own" emphasizes selfishness. It directly contradicts the Inspector's later message about collective responsibility. The possessive "his own" reveals his narrow worldview.

Language Techniques:

TricolonDeclarative statementPossessive pronouns

Exam Tip

This is the opposite of the Inspector's message. Birling represents the attitudes Priestley wants to change.

“I'm a hard-headed, practical man of business”
Mr BirlingAct 1
CapitalismSelf-imageArrogance

Context: Birling justifies his treatment of workers.

Analysis

"Hard-headed" and "practical" are meant as positives but suggest coldness and lack of compassion. The repetition of these self-descriptions reveals insecurity. He uses business to excuse moral failings. Priestley shows how capitalism can be used to justify cruelty.

Language Techniques:

Self-characterizationAdjectives

Exam Tip

His self-image is constantly undercut by events. "Hard-headed" also suggests inability to change.

“The Germans don't want war... there isn't a chance of war”
Mr BirlingAct 1
Dramatic IronyArroganceFalse Confidence

Context: Birling predicts peaceful future to Gerald and Eric.

Analysis

WWI began two years after the play's setting. Like the Titanic comment, this dramatic irony destroys Birling's credibility. The audience knows his confident predictions are catastrophically wrong. Priestley suggests such complacency enabled the war.

Language Techniques:

Dramatic ironyDeclarative statements

Exam Tip

Shows Birling is out of touch. 1945 audience had lived through two wars - they know ignorance has consequences.

“Community and all that nonsense”
Mr BirlingAct 1
CapitalismIndividualismDismissiveness

Context: Birling dismisses socialist ideas at the dinner party.

Analysis

"Nonsense" reveals Birling's contempt for collective responsibility. The dismissive "all that" shows he won't even engage with the argument. This attitude is exactly what the Inspector will challenge. Priestley positions the audience against Birling from the start.

Language Techniques:

Dismissive languageContempt

Exam Tip

Sets up the central conflict of the play. Birling's views will be systematically dismantled.

“It's my duty to keep labour costs down”
Mr BirlingAct 1
CapitalismExploitationResponsibility

Context: Birling justifies refusing Eva's pay rise.

Analysis

"Duty" frames exploitation as moral obligation - a perversion of responsibility. He sees workers as "costs" to be minimised, not people. This dehumanising language enables his cruel decision. Priestley shows how capitalist thinking erases human dignity.

Language Techniques:

EuphemismDehumanisationSelf-justification

Exam Tip

Birling uses the language of duty to avoid moral responsibility. Contrast with the Inspector's version of duty.

“I can't accept any responsibility”
Mr BirlingAct 1
DenialResponsibilityMoral Blindness

Context: Birling refuses to acknowledge his role in Eva's death.

Analysis

The negation "can't" suggests inability rather than unwillingness - Birling genuinely cannot see his fault. "Any responsibility" shows complete denial. This refusal to accept blame contrasts with Sheila and Eric's guilt. Birling represents moral inflexibility.

Language Techniques:

NegationDenialModal verb

Exam Tip

Birling never changes. His inability to accept responsibility is his defining flaw.

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