Class And Gender Quotes

Question 1

‘You’re squiffy’

Shelia to Eric

Answer 1

Eric has drunk too much

Only richer and upper class could afford to drink.

This proves their wealth and upper class place in society.

Question 2

‘Girls of that class-‘

Mrs Birling

Answer 2

• ‘GIRLS’- noun- labelling them all as one.
• Mrs Birling is being patronising by exaggerating their youth she thinks she’s above them in society.
• ‘That Class’- Determiner! She meant to vocalise working class! Lower in society than herself.

Question 3

‘We are members of one body’

Inspector

Answer 3

-The Inspector is trying to teach the audience and the Birling’s that:

• No matter what your class is we’re all members of the same society.
• We all live together- joint together like parts of a body.
• All try to help each other.

Question 4

‘Like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense’

Mr Birling Act 1

Answer 4

• Mr Birling mocks community, describes it as ‘nonsense’
• Be doesn’t believe in social responsibility and he is used to represent very CAPITALIST views in contrast the the inspectors socialist views.
• ‘LIKE’- SIMILE- like bees in a hive to mock community. Mr Birling represents how capitalists only believe in individual gain and improving their own lives but not others.

Question 5

‘Just used her… As if she were an animal, a thing, not a person’

Inspector to Eric Act 3

Answer 5

• Represents how upper class men e.g Eric could think they could take advantage of girls like Eva who were working class.
• ‘AS’ uses a simile to describe the dominance of men and shows the audience how this made it hard for innocent girls like Eva in society.

Question 6

‘You’re going to spend the rest of your life regretting it’

Inspector to Mrs Birling Act 2

Answer 6

Mrs Birling will never forget what happened to Eva and her part in it even though she doesn’t like to admit it due to her class and self satisfaction.

Question 7

‘Working together - for lower costs and higher prices’

Mr Birling Act 1

Answer 7

Mr Birling is already very wealthy it wishes for greater social status even if it’s at the cost of others like Eva who are all ready struggling in society.

Question 8

‘A man has to make his own way’

Mr Birling

Answer 8

-A very capitalist view- proves his middle/upper class.

‘Survival of the fittest’
Looks after his own interests at the expense of others.

Question 9

‘Champagne glasses’

Act 1

Answer 9

-Only upper/middle class could afford to drink- this implies from the very start how the Birling’s are wealthy.

• Wealth
• Self Satisfaction

‘Champagne’ contrasts to the bleach that Eva drank to kill herself/contrasting classes.

Question 10

‘Pink and intimate…. brighter and harder’

Act 1

Answer 10

Puts emphasis on how the mood changes when they Inspector arrives through the lighting.

Lighting emphasises how the Inspector shines a spotlight on their behaviour.

Question 11

‘Substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike’

Act 1

Answer 11

• They have good/expensive furniture of the period which proves their class, however it is not like a home.
• Expensive furniture symbolises they are very happy with their lives.