Family Relationships Quotes Flashcards
‘You’re squiffy’
Shelia to Eric
Shows a typical sibling relationship through Shelia’s jokey attitude with Eric.
Links to class and gender as ONLY THE UPPER AND MIDDLE CLASS could afford to drink.
Links to responsibility and hints at Eric’s drink problem.
‘(Very sharply) You heard what I said’
Mr Birling to Shelia Act 3
- Family relationships- Mr Birling see’s himself as having control and power over Shelia and Eric as he’s their father and older than them.
- He doesn’t value any of what they say or do. Proves they don’t have a good family relationship.
- Seems to see himself as superior and higher up and knowing a lot more.
‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’
Eric to Mr Birling Act 3
- Not a close family
- Lack of love
- Eric doesn’t feel as if he can go to his own father when he’s in trouble which proves they have a bad family relationship.
Younger generation- he’s standing up to his father and saying he’s unapproachable.
‘Why you historical young fool - get back - or I’ll-‘
Mr Birling to Eric
As Mr Birling is a capitalist he is ashamed of Eric and also embarrassed of him.
‘Besides, you’re not that type - you don’t get drunk’
Mrs Birling to Eric Act 3
As they are middle/upper class Mrs Birling doesn’t believe Eric would get drunk, she’s being stereotypical.
‘TYPE’ proves Mrs Birling is referring to people which she views as a lot lower down in society than herself.
-DASH goes on to tell us what she means by ‘that type’
‘We can keep it from him’
Gerald about Eric Act 1
Family relationships- they’re not honest with each other.
Even though they have high opinions of themselves this proves they lack basic values like respect for each other as they thought they could keep it from Eric.
Links to all the other secrets about Eva they have kept from each other and are yet to find out.
‘(Heartily) Nonsense! You’ll have a good laugh over it yet’
Mr Birling to Shelia Act 3
Family relationship is bad. Mr Birling views what Shelia says as ‘nonsense’.
This symbolises and implies how they don’t have respect towards their children and what they have to say.
Responsibility- Mr Birling is still arrogant at the end of the play and still isn’t taking his actions seriously like his children are, he could learn something from them.
