Mrs Birling Flashcards
Give analysis for “About fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior” “girls of that class”
The stage descriptions of her actions change as the pretence is revealed e.g. ‘grandly’ / ‘haughtily’/ ‘triumphantly’ become ‘rather cowed’/ ‘distressed’ ‘staggered’ / ‘alarmed’.
Give quotes that show her speech is broken
‘I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame’
“I’ve done nothing wrong – and you know it.”
Give analysis for “‘I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame’
Later in the play Mrs Birling’s language is broken up into fragments that don’t connect: ‘No-Eric-please’. The fragmented speech echoes the collapsing of self-confidence and complacency of these very comfortable, middle class, wealthy characters. This is more shocking because of the contrast with how they were at the start of the play. The dashes could also represent the break down in their relationship.
Give analysis for “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
Puts on a pretence of respectability by her use of euphemisms: e.g. ‘a girl of that
Class’ who has found herself in a ‘particular condition’
How is imagery shown in the quote ‘he certainly didn’t make me confess – I had done no more than my duty’
Use of imagery: Sheila warns her mother not to try and build up a kind of ‘wall’ – the
wall being a symbol of a barrier/pretence
What does Mrs B say to Sheila?
‘he certainly didn’t make me confess – I had done no more than my duty’
How does Priestly show society needs changing?
Priestley uses Mrs Birling to epitomize all that is wrong with society. She represents the social snobbery and hypocrisy of the upper classes and shows no remorse in her cruel treatment of Eva Smith.
How does Presity show Mrs Birling weakness?
. As a result, Priestley deals with Mrs Birling with special severity, having her fall into a trap of her own making: she is confronted with the knowledge that Eric is a hard drinker and the father of the dead woman’s child. She has helped to kill her own grandchild. It is only when she realises this does she begin to show any signs of weakening.
How is Mrs B presented?
Priestley presents her as an absurd character that ironically passes her own social guilt onto her own son – condemning him
What does Priestly say about the wealthy people in society?
Priestley shows us that we should not trust the wealthy members of society to tell the truth.
