Family Flashcards
Mr Birling - Family
Traditional conservative views of family (nuclear family) - sees himself as the sole provider that everyone relies on. Setting up his son for employment in his works as its traditional and he wants to continue his legacy.
“a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course”
But even so there is conflict in his family (even before insp comes) - contrasting this perfect image he is trying to portray (to G and to Insp) - “face a few responsibilities” “public school and varsity life” - hostility towards his son as he feels his son has been handed everything, despite that being the life MrB wants to provide to E - Appreciates G more than his own son - the son he always wanted
Only interested in responsibility for himself and protecting his family’s image.
Reputation - Family
- Mr & MrsB and G are keen to maintain the reputation of their respective families and businesses. They fear that revelations about their involvement with Eva could damage their reputations.
G - “that’s all right, i dont want to know” - about Eva and the B’s collective involvement in her downfall. As an upperclass gentleman he knows the importance of protecting reputation and is trying to aid the B’s in protecting theirs
MrB/MrsB - “now - now - we dont need to bother him with all that stuff” - are already covering their tracks, even to G who is supposed to be a part of their family.
Justifying their acts and convincing themselves that there is no need for their reputation to be sullied as Eva supposedly wasnt real. G seeked out a police officer to prove this to himself. “(slowly) that man wasn’t a police officer”
Eva Smith - Family
Eva is an orphan “alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate”
- tries to find family in other people - G made her “happier than she’d ever been” but ultimately she was disposed of by him and made to feel like he didnt truly care about her. Left the city “just to make it last longer”
- tries to find family/support from the mother’s committee - ultimately turned down just like how she doesnt have any real family “she needed not only money but advice, sympathy, friendliness”
Nobody to rely on - leads to her downfall
The Inspector - Family
In his final speech, Insp states: ‘We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’ This statement emphasises the need for people to work together in harmony to create a more equal society, like one big communal family. He warns that if this doesn’t happen and the division between the classes continues it will end in ‘fire and blood and anguish.’
This opposes MrB’s view of conservative “a man has to make his own way” that he expressed at the start.
Sheila & Eric - Family
Express same views in act 1
S - “But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.”
E - “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”
These views, notably, oppose their father.
Friendly banter between them - lighthearted - “squiffy” “don’t be an ass eric” - this also puts them at a disconnect to their parents who speak in much more proper, restrained ways, especially MrsB (“arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things”)
S is loyal to E “You told her. Why, you little sneak!” “No, that’s not fair, Eric. I could have told her months ago, but of course I didn’t.” about E’s drinking - shows they have the basis of a good relationship
Act 3 - share the same views, but express them very openly and support each other. “That’s just how I feel Eric. And it’s what they don’t seem to understand.”
