Mrs Birling character study from An Inspector Calls

This Power Point looks , in particular, at the character of Mrs Birling in J. B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls.
Quotations are used to substantiate her character as a snob, a traditionalist and prejudiced against “that sort”. Students of the play are asked to focus on Mrs Birling’s words and to find evidence to support labels such as cold-hearted, ignorant and patronising. Students are given a biographical time-line of J.B.Priestley and asked to consider the historical significance of the date An Inspector Calls was written. They are also asked to debate the notion of charity and what Sybil Birling’s true motive might have been for belonging to a charitable organisation. Students are made aware of Priestley’s socialist stance and are invited to debate the fundamental differences between socialism and capitalism.
This resource will prove useful when revising specific characters and their motivations in relation to this play.