Therell be a public scandal.

1
Youll stay here long enough to give account of
that money you stole
...I dont see where I come into this.
Therell be a public scandal.
Its about time you learnt to face a few
responsibilities
Ive half a mind to report you.
?
a man has to mind his own business and look
after himself and his own
I cant accept any responsibility
Its a pity Sir George and er Lady Croft
cant be with us
I speak as a hard- headed business man, who has
to take risks and know what hes talking about
By Jingo! A fake!
2
Youll stay here long enough to give account of
that money you stole
...I dont see where I come into this.
Therell be a public scandal.
Its about time you learnt to face a few
responsibilities
Ive half a mind to report you.
Mr Birling
a man has to mind his own business and look
after himself and his own
I cant accept any responsibility
Its a pity Sir George and er Lady Croft
cant be with us
I speak as a hard- headed business man, who has
to take risks and know what hes talking about
By Jingo! A fake!
3
I speak as a hard- headed business man, who has
to take risks and know what hes talking about
4
I speak as a hard- headed business man, who has
to take risks and know what hes talking about
Mr Birling speaking to all the dinner guests at
the start of the play.
5
I speak as a hard- headed business man, who has
to take risks and know what hes talking about
This shows that Mr Birling is self-opinionated.
6
Its about time you learnt to face a few
responsibilities
7
Its about time you learnt to face a few
responsibilities
Mr Birling speaking to Eric after he defended Eva
Smith, saying he wouldnt have sacked her.
8
Its about time you learnt to face a few
responsibilities
This shows that Mr Birling doesnt like being
contradicted, it also shows that Eric and he are
on different sides of the social argument.
9
By Jingo! A fake!
10
By Jingo! A fake!
Mr Birling voicing his thoughts after Gerald
returns and explains that Inspector Goole doesnt
exist.
11
By Jingo! A fake!
This shows Mr Birlings excitement. His
vocabulary is typical of the middle classes at
the time the play is set.
12
a man has to mind his own business and look
after himself and his own
13
a man has to mind his own business and look
after himself and his own
Mr Birling speaking to Gerald and Eric just
before the inspector arrives.
14
a man has to mind his own business and look
after himself and his own
This demonstrates that Mr Birlings views oppose
the socialist views of both Priestly and the
inspector.
15
Therell be a public scandal.
16
Therell be a public scandal.
Mr Birling says this on a number of occasions
throughout the play.
17
Therell be a public scandal.
Mr Birling clearly does not care about his part
in Eva Smiths death only what it will do for
his social status and his chance of a knighthood.
18
...I dont see where I come into this.
19
...I dont see where I come into this.
Here Mr Birling has just been told about Eva
Smiths suicide by the inspector.
20
...I dont see where I come into this.
This is Birlings attitude towards the working
classes in general. Although he employs and sacks
them he feels he has no responsibility for them.
21
Its a pity Sir George and er Lady Croft
cant be with us
22
Its a pity Sir George and er Lady Croft
cant be with us
These comments come near the beginning of the
play just before the family toast Sheila and
Gerald on their engagement.
23
Its a pity Sir George and er Lady Croft
cant be with us
Birling makes a great show of using Geralds
parents titles, revealing he is a social climber
and would have liked to be in the company of
gentry.