Mrs Birling Flashcards
“I don’t think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this”
- scolds her husband for taking about business at the dinner table, in front of Sheila and while they were celebrating
- obsessed with his her family is perceived by others
- doesn’t want to potentially ‘damage’ their family reputation in front of Gerald
- not considered appropriate conversation in front of Sheila as she is described as ‘a young woman’
“It would be much better if Sheila didn’t listen to this story at all”
- tries to shield/protect Sheila from the harsh realities of life
- suggests the upper class did their best to avoid recognising the hardships of working class people
- focused on how her family should behave around other people
- doesn’t want Sheila to worry or stress as she has brought up to just worry about materialistic things
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-“
- she lacks the capability to emphasise with the suffering of the lower class
- she sees herself as socially + morally superior so she doesn’t associate herself with them
- reveals her prejudice outlook on the lower class
- the use of the determiner “that” dehumanises Eva and those in the lower class, as she believes that it is expected behaviour in why they would do such a thing
- the plural of the noun ‘girls’ is a huge generalisation that all poor, or less fortunate girls will try and commit suicide
- Priestly is revealing that capitalism promotes/encourages moral corruption
“That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent, inspector”
- Mrs Birling attempt to convey a demand of respect through her formal + complex vocabulary evidenced by her accusing the inspector as being “a trifle impertinent”
- Mrs Birling is offended - she sees the Inspector as socially inferior so he shouldn’t dare question/interrogate her
Accuses Sheila of staying for: ‘Nothing but morbid curiosity’
Mrs Birling doesn’t want her involved because of how young women were suppose to act at that time, relating to the social context as well as the the, of gender and age
“You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate”
- abuses her position of power in order to individuate through Inspector
“Well, really! Aldermand Meggarty! I must say, we are learning something tonight”
- she sees the upper class as perfect + is therefore shocked that a member of the upset class would act like that
“Yes, I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence - quote deliberate - and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case”
Due to Mrs Birling not acknowledging the difficulties the working class have to face she thought Eva was deliberately being disrespectful
“I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame”
She is very defensive and has a flippant attitude which is shocking considering the seriousness of the situation.
“Yes, it was. I didn’t like her manner. She’d impertinently made use of our name”
- the upset class have a lot more power and therefore are allowed to obtain whatever they wish unlike the working class who get disregarded
- doesn’t want anyone to tarnish the family name
“You know very well why she wanted help.”
“ I don’t think we need discuss it”
Doesn’t want to expose her mistreatment on Eva
Refusing to take blame