Final answer:
The presence of a telephone on a table in the Birling household suggests their wealth, status, and connection to the outside world, while also being a key element for plot developments in the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Birlings having 'a small table with a telephone on it' suggests a level of wealth and modernity during the time period in which the story is set. Telephones in the early 20th century were symbols of status and privilege, indicating that the family is well-off and connected to the outside world.
It also sets the stage for important plot developments, as the telephone can be a device through which sudden news or twists in the narrative are introduced to the household, playing a role in the unfolding drama.
The mention of the Birlings having 'a small table with a telephone on it' suggests that they are a wealthy and modern family. In the context of the play 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestley, the telephone symbolizes their upper-class status and their connection to the outside world.
It implies that they are privileged and have access to the latest technology, highlighting the socioeconomic divide between the Birlings and the lower class.