Arthur birling and his growth in an inspector calls
Arthur Birling is one of the central characters in the play An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. He is a
wealthy businessman who is more concerned with his social status and wealth than the welfare of
his fellow man. Throughout the play, Arthur Birling's character is used to represent the capitalist
ideology and the complacency of the upper classes.
At the beginning of the play, Arthur Birling is shown as a self-important and pompous character who
is more interested in showing off his wealth and social status than engaging in meaningful
conversation with his family. He is dismissive of the concerns of his daughter Sheila, who is worried
about the impact of his actions on others. Instead, Arthur Birling is more interested in discussing the
possibilities of a profitable business venture with Gerald Croft, the fiancé of his daughter Sheila.
As the play progresses, Arthur Birling is revealed to be a callous and insensitive character who is
more concerned with covering up his own mistakes than taking responsibility for them. He is shown
to have a lack of empathy for the poor and disadvantaged, as evidenced by his dismissive attitude
towards the plight of the striking workers. He is also revealed to be a hypocrite, as he lectures his
children on the importance of self-reliance and individual responsibility, but refuses to take
responsibility for his own actions.
Arthur Birling's character is used by Priestley to symbolize the complacency and self-interest of the
upper classes. He represents the capitalist ideology that values profit over people and disregards the
welfare of the less fortunate. His actions and attitudes are contrasted with those of the Inspector,
who represents a more socialist and humanitarian perspective. The Inspector is critical of Arthur
Birling's lack of empathy and sense of social responsibility, and calls him out for his role in the suicide
of Eva Smith.
In conclusion, Arthur Birling is a significant character in An Inspector Calls, representing the capitalist
ideology and the complacency of the upper classes. His lack of empathy and sense of social
responsibility are contrasted with the more humanitarian and socialist perspective of the Inspector.
The character of Arthur Birling serves as a warning of the dangers of a society that values profit over
people, and the importance of social responsibility and empathy towards others.
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