Mr Birling - An Inspector Calls

Could Mr Birling be described as having machiavellianistic (the ability to manipulate, use, and deceive people at will) traits?

Reply 1

emm2424

Original post by jsh19

Could Mr Birling be described as having machiavellianistic (the ability to manipulate, use, and deceive people at will) traits?

yes for sure. he pushes his views which portray him as a controlling individual. but you need some quotes to back up your point. you could use some of the quotes from the attachment below:

https://www.calderlearningtrust.com/high-school/assets/web-based-resources/ic-quote.pdf

(edited 8 months ago)

Reply 2

emm2424

Point 1:

Mr Birling is presented as the archetype of the late Edwardian business-man who is arrogant and self-righteous driven by social advancement. Provincial in his speech Priestley uses Birling’s style of speech to undermine the audience’s respect for him, and to undercut subtly the outward confidence of his ‘easy manner’. He speaks often with interrupted diction, Priestley frequently gives him dashes and pauses and incomplete sentences. For example, he hesitates when referring to Gerald’s parents, ‘Sir George and – er – Lady Croft.’ This certainly suggests not only that he is socially out of his depth, but also a sense of intellectual uncertainty, suggests Birling lacks the intelligence that more precise diction would imply.
· The Titanic...absolutely unsinkable over -confident and self-assured. Arrogance evident. Dramatic irony as WW1 breaks out after this. Audience loses trust in him as a character. The audience is well aware, through dramatic irony, that global conflict in World War One would soon follow and that Birling is wrong which further undermines his credibility. Titanic symbolises his family- believes they are untouchable until the Inspector reveals their actions. His constant self-assurance suggests he is deeply concerned with status.