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Oct 28, 2024 · Mr and Mrs Birling, and Gerald, reflect the blinkered attitudes of an older generation whose irresponsibility would have unsettled Priestley’s audience. 4. Dramatic device Creates dramatic irony: the audience realise, before the Birlings do, that each will be interrogated by the Inspector, and therefore each bears some guilt
Mr Birling later blames the inspector for having made a nasty mess of their celebration when Sheila becomes distraught on learning about her role in Eva's misery. The inspector, however, reminds ...
Gerald’s attitude is genial, he is polite to the Birling parents and comes across as humble as shown by his response to Mr Birling: “I don’ t pretend to know much about it (port)”. (This humbleness is in stark contrast to the pompous and arrogant opinions of Mr Birling). Gerald’s social status contributes to his
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At the start of the play, Gerald is engaged to Sheila Birling. Gerald is from an upper-class family who do not approve of him marrying Sheila (who is upper middle class). They declined the invitation to his engagement dinner with the Birlings. Gerald’s family’s business will also use the marriage to link Birling’s company with Croft Limited.
It is evident that Gerald’s mother Lady Croft doesn’t approve of Gerald’s engagement to Sheila. Mr Birling justifies her view: “She comes from an old country family - landed people and so forth - and so it’s only natural” (Act 1, pg 8). Here Priestley shows that even Mr Birling is a victim to class prejudices, which makes
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Mr Birling and Gerald discuss the engagement. Mr Birling says he understands if Lady Croft (his mother) disapproves of the engagement because Gerald will be marrying socially beneath him. Mr Birling gives a speech about how ‘a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself – and his family too’.
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What is Gerald's attitude towards Mr Birling?
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How does Mr Birling assert his superiority over Inspector Goole?
At the start of the play, Gerald is engaged to Sheila Birling. Gerald is from an upper-class family who do not approve of him marrying Sheila (who is upper middle class). They declined the invitation to his engagement dinner with the Birlings. Gerald's family's business will also use the marriage to link Birling's company with Croft Limited.
