Arthur Birling

E863463

Arthur Birling is a wealthy, self-satisfied industrialist and patriarch whose complacent capitalist views are sharply challenged in J.B. Priestley’s play "An Inspector Calls."

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All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Arthur Birling canonical 1

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dramatic character
fictional character
appearsIn An Inspector Calls NERFINISHED
aspiration to receive a knighthood
attitude dismissive of social responsibility
hostile to socialism
authorNationality British
belief that a man has to mind his own business
that community responsibility is unimportant
businessInterest Birling and Company NERFINISHED
changeOverPlay shows little genuine remorse
characterTrait arrogant
complacent
materialistic
self-satisfied
socially conservative
child Eric Birling NERFINISHED
Sheila Birling NERFINISHED
conflictWith Inspector Goole NERFINISHED
createdBy J. B. Priestley NERFINISHED
dramaticFunction foil to the Inspector
represents older generation attitudes
symbol of capitalist ideology
dramaticTechnique used for dramatic irony
firstAppearance Act One of An Inspector Calls NERFINISHED
gender male
genreOfWork morality play
social drama
ideology individualism
language English
medium stage play
nationality British
notableLine "A man has to make his own way"
"The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else"
occupation businessman
industrialist
politicalView capitalist
reactionToInspector concerned more about scandal than morality
relationship future father-in-law of Gerald Croft
roleInWork patriarch of the Birling family
setting Brumley NERFINISHED
socialClass upper middle class
socialStatus former Lord Mayor of Brumley
spouse Sybil Birling NERFINISHED
symbolizes self-interest of the upper classes
themeAssociation class inequality
generational conflict
social responsibility
timePeriod Edwardian era NERFINISHED

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.