Priestley presents the character of Mr Birling as a symbol of the capitalist society of 1912 and how desperately socialist ideals were needed in that period. Priestley begins by introducing Mr Birling as a successful, albeit, "hard-headed businessman". It is evident from the captions describing "The dining room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer" that Birling is wealthy and materialistically victorious. It is a model for a capitalist society because it has achieved its financial and capitalist goals. Once Birling's worldly triumph is established, Priestley sabotages his character by presenting Mr Birling as oblivious. As the show is set before the Second World War, dramatic irony is used when Birling states "There is no chance of war". Here the audience is aware that they are wrong, and therefore perceives that Birling's certainty is senseless: he is a man without intellect. Furthermore, this is confirmed when he states that the Titanic, which will soon set sail, is "absolutely unsinkable." The public may have the feeling that there is a rebuttal...