Generational differences Flashcards
Mr & Mrs Birling - Generational differences
“Now you three young people, just listen to this - and remember what i’m telling you now” - sees it as his responsibility to teach them and uses imperitives that suggest he is in a position of power over them, even G who is not his child.
“But take my word for it, you youngsters - and I’ve learnt in the good hard school of experience” - suggests that he thinks knowledge can only come with age and experiencing life - also shown when he doesnt support E having a proper education - thinks hes being spoiled. MrB also patronises the children here, fixating on their age - even though they are old enough to make their own decisions they are still looked down on by MrB. MrB is arrogant/over-confident - thinks he knows everything because of his age “I say there isnt a chance of war”
MrsB is stubborn and obsolete. “You have no power to make me change my mind” - power suggests that she doesn’t wan to change her mind because it would be a sign of weakness or submission. Any alternative suggestions were a threat to her personally and her authority.
Sheila & Eric - Generational differences
Innocent and naive - S calls her parents “Mummy” and “Daddy”
E is treated like a child - most of the time patronised by MrB - told to “face a few responsibilities” and that his “public school and varsity life” wasn’t worth it - even though it is something mrB has given E he still holds it over him, blaming him.
Conflict is set up initially in Act1 - the younger generations oppose their parents and there is a clear disconnect in the way they speak - youth are less formal and use slang such as “squiffy”
Gerald - Generational differences
He is older than S&E (“about thirty”) - so has more experience in the works. Could be seen as less naive. Additionally, he “comes from an old country family, landed people and so forth”, so this gives him a motive to be more conservative - so he can keep his wealth and not share his profits with his employees.
This is demonstrated when he agrees with MrB whereas S opposes MrB.
G - “hear, hear! And I think my father would agree to that.”
whereas S (to the very same speech given by MrB) “Neither do I. All wrong” - in response to MrsB saying business should be kept out of events like this.
Reputation - Generational differences
Older generation are keen to forget about their involvement in Eva’s death and absolve themselves of any blame.
MrB sucks up to G + is quick to mention his involvement with the higher-ups in society to impress or intimidate. “you’re just the kind of son-in-law i always wanted”
MrsB is much more concerned about appearances in their interactions with each other than anyone else. MrB’s concern lays with how the outside world percieves him, but MrsB makes a conscious effort to appear proper in her interactions with her family. “arthur, youre not supposed to say such things” “What an expression, Sheila! The things you girls pick up these days”
Reactions to discovering the Inspector isn’t real - Generational differences
“The whole story’s just a lot of moonshine. Nothing but an elaborate sell.” - MrB
Notably G is the one who discovers the Insp is a fake and is keen to forget this all - associating him with the older generation as has been happening throughout the play.
“But you’re forgetting one thing I still can’t forget. Everything we said had happened really had happened.” - “Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide.” - S&E cant justify forgetting about Eva and her death, even if it was all just a hoax. They have now fully aligned themselves with Insp’s more socialist views and are not ashamed or scared to outwardly express these views to their parents.
S now calls her parents “mother” and “father”
