Mrs B

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Presented as the epitome of a hypocritical upper class woman in a capitalist society. Through this character, Priestley explores the resistance of the upper class, chasing the poor to a position of inferiority

Question 2

Para 1

Answer 2

Mrs B is presented as the archetype of the upper class woman in a capitalist society.

• Her husband’s social superior- reveals her aristocratic roots, which may influence her inability to change, about ‘50’ - narrow minded and reluctant to change, adjective ‘cold’ foreshadows her behaviours towards lower classes
• ‘the things you girls pick up these days- more concerned about manners than her son’s potential drinking problem- suggests poor parenting + neglect
• talks less reflecting weak patriarchal power- reveals stereotypical role as a wife
• “You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had’- embraces role as a stereotypical wife- women were just the possessions of men and had to be ok with whatever they did, accept inferiority, until she blames Birling, until she feels threatened

Question 3

Para 2

Answer 3

After learning of Eva’s death, Mrs B is presented as horrifically indifferent to the lower class like Birling.
-‘Girls of that sort’ -determiner ‘that’ shows disdain, dehumanisation and generalisation that the lower classes achieve nothing and end up committing suicide
During interrogation- Mrs B is further revealed to an extremely arrogant and classist character.
-‘that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’- arrogance in that a lower class person had the same name as her (although her relation with Eric technically allows her to use that name), ‘prejudiced’ - admits preconceptions rather than facts
-‘Claims elaborate fine feelings and scruples which were simply absurd’-Mrs Birling dehumanises the working class through her failure to  see them as being able to have fine ‘feelings’ and complex emotions, and feels that it is inappropriate for Eva to behave in a way that does not conform to her expectations of her class, sees them as immoral 
-‘as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money’ - generalises the lower class as immoral and greedy- ironic as her son Eric is stealing this money and the upper class’ exploitation leave them in a desperate state. Eva’s morals are thereby show to actually be superior to the Birling’s.
-‘perfectly justified’-‘perfectly’ heightens the ignorance if Mrs B, irrational judgment, unable to see remorse of fault- denying a pregnant woman help in a capitalist society is justifiable. Through the denial of charity because if prejudice, Priestley shows how the suffering of the lower classes is perpetuated class system through Mrs B’s denial of financial aid to Eva Smith as a result of her class-based prejudices towards her
‘I used my influence to have it refused’ -abstract noun ‘influence’ reveals that Mrs B abuses her position by negating the role of charity by denying help- her charity is just a social façade
After learning about Eric
-‘(with a cry) oh eric how could you’- ‘with a cry’ indicates emotion, but is for concern about her family’s reputation, also reveals poor relationship with her children through her disbelief of his actions
-delusional further revealed by her fragmented speech ‘but surely… I mean… it’s ridiculous
By doing this Priestley makes his audience disagree with her classist stereotypes by making her look foolish

Question 4

Para 3

Answer 4

Mrs B is still presented as a cold and stubborn member of society being unable to show any change.
-(Triumphantly) ‘didn’t I tell you?’
Stage directions make the audience wonder why she feels so ‘triumphant’ - she had just helped ruin the life of a vulnerable pregnant woman, and feels a sense of accomplishment- not a single sign of remorse. This could arguably be seen as an extremely one-sided war between the rich and the poor
Presented in this way to similar show how the older population that are indoctrinated into capitalist ideologies will not accept change