In Act 1 Mr Birling describes himself as: A hard- headed, practical man of business.

How far do you agree with this view of himself? You should refer closely to his words and actions here and in the rest of the play. In act 1 Mr Birling describes himself as A hard headed practical man of buisness whilst making a speech about the engagement of Gerald and his daughter Sheila. Mr Birling often references both his and Geralds competing work whilst making his speeches of the engagement, leading the audience of the play thinking that he is more interested in work rather than the happiness of his daughter. Mr Birling seems like a man who is very for the seperation of the classes. Mr Birling and his family are upper middle class and they often mention that they are above people of a certain sort. Mr Birling, on many occasions, refers to himself as a hard working man. During his first speech on the engagement he says You are the kind of son-in-law I wanted. Your father and I have been friendly rivals ain business for some time now. This shows how swifly he can go from talking about his daughters fortune to his happiness of her chosing Gerald. By saying the kind of son-in-law I wanted it is outlining that he is pleased for the business set up which will follow, not so much the joy of the couple. Also it shows how he is determined to express that his daughter chose a rival in business, which would help his work towards lower costs and higher prices. Got into trouble? On the Streets? This is what Mr Birling assumed when he had just explained to the inspector what had happened. This showed how he assumed because she was lower on the hiarcry she wasnt work the trouble she was evidently causing the family on the happy occasion.