English

Getting Started

• Arthur Birling is a successful businessman who is well respected in Brumley. He owns a factory and is head of the Birling family. Birling hints that his company could merge with the larger company owned by Gerald's father.
• Arthur seems very confident, he is head of his family and the boss of his own business.
• he likes to be in control and he keeps reminding everyone that he is in charge e.g. Birling doesn't want to be told what to do, and "angrily" tells the Inspector, "Well - if you don't mind - I'll find out first."
• Birling thinks he is successful because he's a "hard-headed, practical man of business." He has the same attitude to all areas of his life.
• He is very optimistic about the future. He thinks that strikes won't be a problem for his company and dismisses any fear of war as just some "silly little war scares."
• He doesn't believe in "community" and all of that "nonsense". He see other people as a "cheap labour"
• Birling refused to higher ages for his workers - he actively made things worse for them. He personally fired ringleader of the strike.
• Birling is selfish and self-centred. He would rather pass off the inspector as a "hoax" or joke than face up to what he has done.
• Birling's family is falling apart, and he can do nothing about it. He blames the inspector for making a "nasty mess" of the night's celebrations.
• The inspector threatens Birling's middle-class values- the reputation of his company, his important connections. Birling is rattled by this. He has spent his entire life believing that these things matter.

• The father of Eric and Shelia Birling
• One of the people who caused Eva Smith's death