Birling is a surname associated with the character Arthur Birling in J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls." He is a prosperous businessman and the father of the Birling family, representing the capitalist values of early 20th-century England. Arthur is confident in his social status and often dismisses the importance of social responsibility. In the play, Birling is portrayed as self-assured and somewhat arrogant, believing that individual success is paramount. His character serves as a critique of the upper class and their indifference to the struggles of the working class, particularly in the context of the tragic events surrounding Eva Smith.