AIC -Mrs Birling Flashcards
(Act 1, pg 1)
“[Mr Birling’s] wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior.”
Mrs Birling’s is referred to as a ‘wife’ not a woman which implies that her identity is rooted her marriage which indicates that she is a very traditional character.
The adjective ‘cold’ implies that she is unfriendly unsympathetic and not particularly pleasant - anticipates her emotional detachment later in the play.
Mrs Birling s also described as ‘her husband’s social superior’ which could suggest that she is a bit snobby which could indicate that’s the power dynamic between her, and Mr Birling is not as straightforward.
(Act 2, pg 30)
” I don’t … understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class -“
The euphemistic phrase ‘that class’ implies that cannot even name the class indicates that phrase ‘working class’ is rude or offensive to Mrs Birling –
highlighting her patronising nature and contempt surrounding the working classes.
Implies that Mrs birling sees the working class as a different species.
(Act 2, pg 30)
“You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.”
dialogue is very patronizing.
the phrase ‘this child’ seems derisive - suggests that she does not take the younger generations seriously showing how closed-minded nature of the older generation.
(Act 2, pg 44)
“Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of.”
Mrs Birling compares herself to ‘the other three’ which presents herself as superior to her husband, daughter and son –the preposition ‘unlike’ sets herself apart from the others revealing her cold and uncaring nature.
The strong pronoun ‘nothing’ implies her strict denial of responsibility highlighting that she genuinely feels no guilt or remorse about the role he played in the young woman’s death which would shock the audience.
Shows the dismissive nature of the upper class – they don’t listen to anyone inferior to them in any way.
(Act 3, pg 62)
“(triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?”
adverb ‘triumphantly’ in the stage directions implies that Mrs Birling feels like she has won as she won’t face any repercussions for her actions.
the repetition of ‘didn’t I’ and then a speech-based verb shows that Mrs Birling is incredibly desperate to be proved correct, so she is able to feel superior once again.
(Act 3, pg 71)
“They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.”
Mrs Birling has written their shock off as tiredness dismissing it entirely as something transient and unimportant - undermines the younger generation.
Mrs Birling juxtaposes the older generation’s ‘amused’ feelings with the shock felt by the younger generation. This shows how ignorant, cold, and careless - she is directly contrasting all the traditional values of a good parent.
quotes
Initial presentation
* (Act 1, pg 1) - “[Mr Birling’s] wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior.”
Dissmissive attitude of lower classes and younger generation
* (Act 2, pg 30) - “I don’t … understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class -“
* (Act 2, pg 30) - “You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.”
Denial of responsibility
* (Act 2, pg 44) - “Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.”
* (Act 3, pg 62) - “(triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?”
continued dissmissive attitude younger generation - shows lack of change
(Act 3, pg 71)
“They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.”
