Key Quotes - Mrs Birling Flashcards
‘His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior.’ (p.1)
An indicator of Mrs Birling’s position within the older generation through explicit mention of her age.
Use of the adjective ‘cold’ brings attention to Mrs Birling’s detached and unfeeling approach which foreshadows her treatment of Eva Smith.
Mention of being ‘her husband’s social superior’ reminds the audience that she is from old money as she has not needed to work in order to gain her social status and instead such wealth may have been inherited.
“Men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that just as I had”. (P.3)
Highlights how money and power is limited with gender.
Reminds Sheila that this is her role as a wife in their relationship and she is restricted to this. It gives an insight into the treatment of women at time.
“Really the things you girls pick up these days!” (P.3)
Mrs Birling is trying to protect the image of her family in front of Gerald, which shows how, like her husband, is also concerned with social mobility.
Mrs Birling is out of touch with her children, doesn’t know what they know and do
Mrs Birling generalises Sheila with ‘you girls’, putting her into the same category as all young women.
This shows the generation divide between both Mrs Birling and Sheila.
”Now, Arthur, I don’t think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this”. (P.4)
Mrs Birling is putting on a facade in front of Gerald in order to hide Mrs Birling’s true motif to use Gerald as a business opportunity to improve the social status of the Birling family. As well as to give them more credibility as they would become associated with people of a higher class.
“I think Sheila and I had better go into the drawing room and leave you men- “. (P.5)
Mrs Birling has accepted the segregation between women and men. This could be due to her wealthy upbringing which has not shown her how this misogynistic behaviour can affect women who are in worse situations.
“You’re looking tired, dear. I think you ought to go to bed – and forget about this absurd business. You’ll feel better in the morning.” Page 30
Mrs B is trying to remove Sheila from the conversation forcefully as shown with the use of the word ‘ought’.
As well as this she is infantilising Sheila as usually parents would tell children when they should go to bed.
As well as this we can see that Mrs B uses the word “business”. This shows that Mrs B and Birling think similarly with a capitalist mindset.
“Girls of that class - .” Page 30
Use of the noun “girls” shows a lack of respect for Eva Smith as she is treating her as a child.
Mrs B also refers to class. This shows that she bases her opinions on others depending on their status whilst disregarding personality. Since Eva Smith is from a lower class, Mrs B holds a negative opinion of her.
“You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate- .” Page 31
This quote highlights her arrogant and entitled attitude towards her social status as she tries to flaunt it to undermine the inspector.
The use of the possessive pronoun ‘my’ suggests that Mrs Birling takes great pride in her husband’s previous role as Lord Mayor and his current job as a magistrate, which she sees as a reflection of her own social standing.
“Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.” Page 43
Mrs Birling is in this role to try and support and help others, but she is fulfilling her responsibility as we’d expect. The use of the word ‘naturally’ shows that she believes what she had done was correct and any other in her position would’ve done the same, shows no remorse. The word ‘prejudiced’ shows that she is abusing her power in such a high role, this further symbolises how the upper class often look for their own benefit, disregarding the feelings of others.
“It’s his responsibility” Page 45
“Firstly, I blame the girl herself. Secondly I blame the young man”
She is trying to divert the blame from herself and passing it onto someone else. This shows that Mrs B and Mr Birling are not entirely the same as Mrs B thinks more strategically on how to gain dominance over others.
Inadvertantly implicates her own son.
“He certainly didn’t make me confess- as you call it. I told him quite plainly that I thought I had done no more than my duty.” Page 60
This quote shows that Mrs Birling is still completely oblivious to the fact that she is partially responsible for the death of Eva Smith. In addition, she believes that it is simply her job to hide details and is quite proud of the fact that she didn’t reveal any details to Inspector Google. Moreover, she lacks any emotion towards the death of Eva Smith
“(Smiling) and I must say, Gerald, you’ve argued this very cleverly, and im most grateful.” Page 70
This quote shows Mrs Birling being welcoming to Gerald, even after she found out she was unfaithful to Sheila
The use of the word “cleverly” suggests that Mrs Birling recognizes Gerald’s skill in presenting his argument, regardless of her personal feelings towards him. This highlights her ability to separate personal feelings from professional interactions.
