Arthur Birling’s outlook on life

”… a man has to make his own way-has to look after himself”(J.B. Priestely, An Inspector
calls, Heinmann, pg9).
Q. what appears to be Arthur’s outlook on life, both socially and business?
Arthur Birling is a “Hard-headed, practical businessman” that neglects everyone except of
himself and businessmen of his own status.
“…perhaps we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birling are no longer
competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices”( J.B. Priestely, An
Inspector calls, Heinmann, pg4) this is a quote from when the hole family has gathered
around the dining table. They are celebrating Mr Birling’s daughter’s engagement to the heir
of Crofts industry something that seems to be of big significance for Mr Birling, as the quote
says “the time when Crofts and Birling are no longer competing” this shows that Arthur really
can’t hold Private and Business relations aside, for him this day should be “one of the
happiest nights” not because he sees the chance of joining two companies together to create
an empire but because he’s daughter finally have found the right one.
“…for lower costs and higher prices” This says that even though I will raise the prices and I
will earn more I will still not let my employees have a penny more because that will lower my
profit. This is his motto that is rephrased and put into different context but still sends out the
same message “a man has to make his own way” meaning that everyone stands alone and that
everyone has to take the consequences for their own actions and no one else should be left
responsible. Another example is “we employers at last are coming together to see that our
interests – and the interests of capital – are properly protected”.
“…and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. That’s what you’ve got to keep your eye on, facts
like that, progress like that…” 1.
“…and I tell you, by the time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these
Capital versus Labour agitations and all these silly little war scares. There’ll be peace and
prosperity and rapid progress everywhere.” 2.
These are two very interesting quotes from the very end of his speech to the whole family in
the dining room. In this speech he talks a lot about how he thinks the future will look like and
how he perceives the world to be, in these five rows he reveals a lot about himself as for that
he’s of a quiet naïve disposition “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”, a side-effect of his
hard-headedness that makes him self-obstructive not taking other people into consideration.
The other quote is showing how he thinks the future will be but at the same time it is also
giving you a hint of how thinks have been. Capital versus Labour and war scares.
To conclude:
Arthur only cares about business and he can’t see the difference between social life and
business-life. He often describes himself as a “hard-headed businessman” (perceiving world
from one direction not taking externalities into consideration (e.g. People). He’s incapable of
seeing or predict unexpected changes around the world as he is very inert by his own nature.