The Student Room Group

Birlings v.s. Crofts

Why will the Birlings never be as important as the Crofts?
It's all about class. Gerald's parents are Sir George and Lady Croft, and "Crofts Limited are both older and bigger than Birling and Company". Class came from breeding and social status, and to a lesser extent wealth. Mr Birling may be rich but he doesn't have the background, He is 'provincial' in his speech, meaning that he has a regional accent and therefore didn't attend an expensive public school where he would have learnt Received Pronunciation. He praises the servants in front of guests and
Mr Birling can try for a knighthood, buy the same port as Gerald's father and marry someone his social superior but he will still forever be 'new money' and therefor not as good as Gerald's father.

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