Mrs Birling Flashcards
key stage directions that gives first impressions about mrs birling
rather cold woman, her husband’s social superior
'’you know, my husband was lord mayor only two years ago and that hes still a magistrate’’
Mrs Birling’s language is quite abrupt and dismissive: ‘that
class’/ ‘that sort’/ ‘the type’. She believes she is morally and
socially superior to them – she is a snob.
-She uses her class as a weapon to intimidate the Inspector
‘I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame’
This is one of the most important quotes in the play and the very antithesis of what J.B. Priestley is attempting to expound via the play. Eva did not bring all of this upon herself. She was the victim of a society where she had to struggle to survive and suffered. Mrs Birling’s comments are cruel and reflect a lack of pity for Eva’s suffering and also do not take in to account the role of her family in Eva’s sad demise. The wealthy in society cannot exonerate themselves from the suffering of the poor and bear responsibility. This is the fundamental message of the play that Priestley is seeking to promote.
“I’ve done nothing wrong – and you know it.
Will refuse to accept responsibility and tried to explain to others her opinion
“Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.”
Whilst trying to defend herself and her ‘honour’ she passes blame on to the father of Eva’s child. Little does she know that that father is in fact the person she called a ‘boy’, her son Eric. If it is Eric’s responsibility then a man from a rich family bears part of the blame for Eva’s demise and ultimately by extension on a more fundamental level his parents for not being able to raise him in a manner that would prevent him from doing this. The Birlings are shown in the play as a very flawed family, and Priestley is trying to tell the wealthy upper classes in society that they are far from perfect.
give three quotes which support mrs birling as Selifish
Pg 2: ‘Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things’
Pg 3: ‘Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!’
Pg 3: ‘Now Sheila don’t tease him. When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business.’
‘Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things’ analysis
This suggests that Mrs Birling feels that the lower class should not be respected, or complimented, they are slaves. This is also an interesting view from a member of the Brumley Women’s “Charity” Organisation. Perhaps Mrs Birling was only part of this organisation because she had the money, the time
Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!’ analysis
- Sybil shows that she is snobbish when she criticises members of her family for their behaviour.
- Sybil shouts at Sheila for using the word ‘squiffy’ - meaning drunk. Sybil has snobbish opinions that people should speak and behave ‘properly’, not doing so would make her look down upon them
Now Sheila don’t tease him. When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business.’ rough analysis
Again the theme of gender is brought in as Mrs Birling sides with Gerald over Sheila as a result of gender and, arguably, class
why does priestly present mrs birling like this
he used mrs birling to epitomize all that is wrong with society. she represents the social snobbery and hypocrisy of the higher class and shows no remorse of eva smith (lower classes)
priestly shows us that we should not trust the wealthy members of society to tell the truth
‘Girls of that class-‘
This shows how Mrs Birling sees herself as socially and morally superior to Eva Smith because of her class
‘I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it’
She is naïve and ignorant when she discovers that Eric is the father of the child
‘[with a cry] Oh, Eric, how could you?’
Instead of comforting her son she is more angered than sympathetic as she knows this is something that could damage her reputation, proving true to her initial description of a ‘cold woman’ and showing the theme of class
‘I was the only one who didn’t give in to him
She is still proud of how she accepted no responsibility or felt any guilt even when the Inspector is revealed to be fake, almost like she’s won his game
mrs birling (gender) how she shows this (gender inequality)
- Mrs birling is a higher class than mr birling but despite her gender she is targeted as the lower class
- dependant on men - ‘now just be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do’
- passing down her traditional values - ‘when youre married youll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business’
