Imagine you have been asked to direct J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector

Imagine you have been asked to direct J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector

Calls” what Instructions would you give to the actor playing the part

of Mr Arthur Birling

At the opening of the play, Priestley presents a typical Edwardian

middle class business family. The arrogance and pomposity of the

Birlings is clear immediately as Priestley remarks, “they are all

feeling rather pleased with themselves.” As the audience are

introduced to the play the Birlings are celebrating the engagement of

Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft.

Mr Birling is a successful businessman who has been active in local

politics and has had the honour of being Lord Mayor. He is a

magistrate and has hopes of being given a knighthood which will make

him socially closer to Sir George and Lady Croft, the parents of his

future son in law, Gerald Croft. Mr Birling is self confident, but his

more humble upbringing makes him “social outcast” and he enters the

group of “noveau riche” the new rich. The way he speaks shows him up;

he is not a highly intellectual man of upper-class grace, but a man

who still speaks with limited interests and narrow-minded views. Mr

Birling is the man of the house, and in the setting of the play, 1912,

it was a patriarchal society, where men had more power and were

considered more important than women, as even Mrs Birling accepts,

“when your married you’ll realise that men with important work to do

sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their

business.” Mr Birling is a bully, he rules by intimidation and self

importance. Mr Birling will be dressed appropriately for his

daughter’s engagement, wearing an expensive tailor-made suit with tie,

or a dinner jacket with bow tie. Mr Birling represents the older

generation, where he cannot accept responsibility for mistakes he has

done. It is a huge failing in him, and ends up in attempting to cover

himself up. His weakness makes him appear desperate and foolish, and

gives the Inspector the advantage of having Mr Birling cornered, “Look

Inspector-I’d give thousands-yes, thousands-.“ The Inspector has

broken him, he has the call of the questions.

The opening of the curtains starts with ironically with Mr Birling

speaking in his very loud abrasive manor, “Giving us the port, Edna?

That’s right. You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of

fact, Finchley told me it’s exactly the same port your father gets

from him.” The atmosphere on stage at this point in the play, is very

cheerful and light spirited, they are all celebrating the engagement

of Gerald and Sheila, a very serene and joyous occasion.