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The Birlings and Gerald Croft are enjoying a dinner to celebrate the engagement of Gerald to Sheila. Sheila, partly serious and partly light-hearted, reproaches Gerald for neglecting her last summer. Mrs Birling, who says little, stresses that men like Gerald and Mr Birling are committed to their businesses.
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.
- ‘Arthur Birling is a heavy looking, rather portentous man’
- Showing off to Gerald Croft ‘Giving us the port Edna?’
- Show ing off to Gerald C roft 'You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finchley told me it's the same port your father gets from him.'
- Capitalism, Selfish ‘Now you have brought us together, and perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices. ’
The audience is quickly told that the Birlings are celebrating a ‘special occasion’ – Sheila’s engagement to Gerald. Mr Birling gives two speeches: In the first, he announces how happy he is about the engagement. He thinks it will advance his business. In the second, he discusses what a good time in the world this is.
Jun 25, 2024 · Relationship dynamics within the Birling family and his engagement to Sheila Birling. Initial portrayal and first impressions. 2. Key Quotes Analysis. Act 1: “I was Gerald Croft – and you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.” Analysis of Gerald’s relationship with Mr. Birling and his independence.
Mrs Birling treats Eric like a child as well. When asked about the extent of Eric’s drinking, Mrs Birling replies ‘He’s only a boy’ When Sheila returns her engagement ring to Gerald, we see a deepening of her character: ‘I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald’.
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reclamation of the spotlight after Sheila and Gerald’s engagement is announced. It is “one of the happiest nights of my life” and toasts to “lower costs and higher prices” rather than to his daughter’s health. Mr Birling values Sheila on her capacity to further the family company and
