An Inspector Calls: Mr Birling (1)

The first of two mindmaps exploring Mr Birling's character and personality, and its importance to the play.

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  • Mr Birling
    • Self-made business man
      • Traditionalist
        • Follows conservative values
      • Social Climber
      • Concerned with appearance
      • Self-confessed 'hard-headed business man
        • Money and image are important
    • Status
      • Place in society to influence others and evade the law
        • Warns the inspector; threatens to report him and mentions a senior officer
      • Married well; his wife is socially superior
        • Feels socially inadequate; confides in Gerald about the knighthood
      • Sheila's engagement is important as it is good for business
        • It is a transaction; everything in life is about business
        • 'Crofts and Birlings working together for lower costs and higher prices'
          • Extending his reach and influences within society
          • 'happiest day of my life'
    • 'Family man'
      • Against community
        • 'A man should look after his own'
        • 'Like bees in a hive'
      • Eric: 'not the  sort... go to if you were in trouble'
        • Ironic; opposite of what his father thinks
          • No regard for individuals; only concerned with respectability and social standing
    • Structural device
      • First and last character to speak
        • Shows status; important to the play
          • Has to have the last word
        • Stage directions reflect his opulent lifestyle
          • 'heavy-looking'
          • 'Portentious'
      • Ex-mayor
        • asserts his status over inspector
        • Believes he is untouchable
  • Smug
    • Self-made business man
      • Traditionalist
        • Follows conservative values
      • Social Climber
      • Concerned with appearance
      • Self-confessed 'hard-headed business man
        • Money and image are important

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