I spent around 45 minutes. Can you please tell me how many marks would I get?

Mr Birling is presented as a selfish, capitalist businessman who is unpleasant with the idea of socialism as it opposes his ideas. He mocks by stating that rich and poor are "mixed up together like bees in a hive" This simile suggests that Mr Birling is mocking the idea of socialism and saying it in an arrogant way, which shows his selfishness, and at this point he is delivering a long speech of his deluded views, which nobody agrees to. He is also mocking the ideas of community, saying they are foolish, as this idea of socialism shouldn’t have been created in the first place, as he doesn’t like all classes mixing up. It also suggests that Mr Birling believes that socialists are like mindless animals who are not trustworthy. The controversial verb ‘mixed’ implies that Mr Birling finds it wrong that classes mix up because they shouldn’t mix up, and he finds this idea of socialism comical. This shows the reader that Mr Birling doesn’t like the idea of socialism, as he states it in a simile, and the lower or working classes shouldn’t get anything from the upper classes as it is their own fault. This links to the context, as Mr Birling represents a greedy businessman who only cares for himself, and it shows the arrogance of capitalists in Edwardian society.

As the play progresses, Mr Birling is seen as arrogant and deluded as he predicts the wrong future outcomes. He believes that the titan will be "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable" This repetition suggests that he is confident with what he says, but as audience members, we know that the Titanic did sink, which makes him look foolish and stupid to his audience as the points that he made are wrong and also because of his uncertainty. This also implies that Mr Birling thinks that what he says is true, which shows a sense of arrogance and his egotistical behaviour, as this hints that his future points will be less valid and trustworthy. This makes capitalism untrustworthy, as does the fact that Mr Birling supports the idea of capitalism. The adverb ‘absolutely’ presents his family in a negative way because Mr Birling is the main member who controls the family, which shows that his family follows what he says. This shows the reader that Mr Birling makes incorrect future points, which makes him erroneous, and also makes the reader think that this character is used negatively to show the upper classes in the 1940s. This links to the context because Philip Franklin believed that the Titanic was unsinkable, but it sank, which represents Mr Birling and also the arrogant and egocentric people and shows to us that they were mostly wrong.

As the play terminates, Mr Birling has not altered himself or his actions or doings, and he is seen unaffected by the Inspector. Mr Birling laughs at "the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke" The use of sarcasm suggests that Mr Birling failed to transform and hasn’t learned a lesson. Instead, he is delighted when he discovers that the inspector is a fake, which shows his behaviour is wrong and that he is joking at the wrong time. This highlights the old thinking as well as his mocking of the ‘younger generation’, whom he believes to be weaker and more liberal. This is ironic because the younger generation, Sheila and Eric, have learned a lesson that Mr Birling hasn’t, and they haven't turned it into laughter. The adjective ‘famous’ hints to us that they will be more attentive as they have the capability to think and consider something as wrong or right, so that is why they will become more famous. This links to the context because the younger generation represents the idea that society can change. Sheila and Eric learn Priestley's socialist message, and he wanted the younger generation to vote for change because it is easier to change their minds. It also gives hope for the future.

Your essay provides a clear analysis of Mr Birling's character in the play "An Inspector Calls" and how he represents the capitalist class in Edwardian society. You have used evidence from the text to support your points and made connections to the historical and social context of the play.

Your writing is generally clear and coherent, and you have used appropriate vocabulary to express your ideas. However, there are a few areas where you could improve:

- The essay could benefit from a clear introduction that outlines your main arguments and provides some background information on the play and its context.

- Some of your sentences are overly long and could be broken down into shorter (not too short), clearer sentences for easier readability.

- There are a few instances of repetition in your essay, such as the repeated use of the word "arrogance" to describe Mr Birling. Try to vary your language to avoid repetition.

- You could also consider adding more analysis of the language techniques used in the play, such as the use of dramatic irony in Mr Birling's predictions about the Titanic.

Overall, your essay demonstrates a good understanding of the play and its themes, and you have provided a detailed analysis of Mr Birling's character. With some minor improvements, your essay could be even stronger.

I am not able to provide you with a definitive answer on whether you would get a good grade on your essay, however I would grade this essay closer to the 86-95% mark, with the points that I have provided to you above, you will be able to improve your current essay. The assessment of your essay would depend on various factors, such as the specific criteria and standards set by your teacher, and the requirements of the exam board.

Based on the content of your essay, it appears that you have demonstrated an understanding of the key themes and issues of the play, and have provided relevant evidence to support your analysis. It's important to note that the quality of the essay also depends on other factors such as the structure, coherence, and clarity of your writing. Therefore, it's best to consult your teacher to get feedback on your essay and how to improve it further.

Here is an improved version of your essay (to help you compare and see where you could improve):

In the play "An Inspector Calls," Mr Birling is presented as a selfish capitalist businessman who is hostile to the idea of socialism. He mocks the idea of social classes mixing, stating that the rich and poor are "mixed up together like bees in a hive." This simile suggests that Mr Birling is deriding the idea of socialism in an arrogant manner, revealing his selfishness. His long speech of deluded views receives no agreement from anyone, further emphasizing his isolation in his beliefs. Additionally, he mocks the notion of community, implying that the idea of socialism should never have been created since he disapproves of all classes mixing. Furthermore, Mr Birling views socialists as mindless animals who cannot be trusted. The use of the word "mixed" implies that Mr Birling thinks it is wrong for social classes to mix, demonstrating his disdain for the idea of socialism. He suggests that the lower or working classes do not deserve anything from the upper classes since it is their fault they are in their current position. This contextually links to Mr Birling's representation as a greedy businessman who only cares about himself and highlights the arrogance of capitalists in Edwardian society.

As the play progresses, Mr Birling's arrogance and delusion are further revealed as he makes incorrect predictions about the future. He declares the Titanic to be "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable," using repetition to suggest his certainty in what he says. However, the audience knows that the Titanic did indeed sink, making Mr Birling look foolish and undermining his credibility. This also highlights his arrogance and egotistical behaviour as he presents his opinion as absolute truth. This ultimately makes capitalism appear untrustworthy, as Mr Birling supports it, and he makes erroneous future predictions. The use of the adverb "absolutely" portrays Mr Birling's family negatively since he is the main member who controls the family, implying that his family members follow what he says. This conveys that Mr Birling's future points will likely be less valid and trustworthy, and this character is used negatively to represent the upper classes in the 1940s. This links to the context as Philip Franklin believed that the Titanic was unsinkable, but it sank, representing Mr Birling's misguided beliefs and the arrogance of people of his class.

As the play concludes, Mr Birling remains unchanged and unaffected by the Inspector's visit. He laughs at "the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can't even take a joke." The use of sarcasm reveals that Mr Birling failed to learn any lessons and remains unrepentant. This underscores his old-fashioned thinking and belittling of the "younger generation," whom he views as weaker and more liberal. Ironically, it is Sheila and Eric, the younger generation, who learn the Inspector's socialist message, while Mr Birling does not. The adjective "famous" hints that they will be more attentive since they have the capability to discern right from wrong and, therefore, will become more famous. This contextualizes the younger generation as representing the idea that society can change, and Priestley intended for the younger generation to vote for change since it is easier to change their minds. This also offers hope for the future.

Overall, your essay effectively analyses Mr Birling's character and contextualizes it within the play's broader themes. By revising your work, you have made your points clearer and more concise, leading to a more cohesive and polished essay.

Thank you so much. This feedback is genuinely helpful and the improvements that you have mentioned will improve my essay writing. And your essay is really good and I can see the differences that you have made to get higher marks. Thanks.

You're very welcome! I'm glad to have been able to help. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your studies!