Mrs Birling

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

• Symbol of the older generation + capitalist

- Priestly uses her treatment of Eva to encourage the audience to reject their own treatment of the working class

Question 2

Class

Answer 2

• Mrs Birling comes from an upper-class family = old money
• Mrs Birling is an important character, as she symbolises women in the upper class- Priestley wants all of the audience to have REPRESENTATION so they can reflect on their own behaviour

Question 3

CLASS ,’Arthur Birling at one end, his wife at the other’

Answer 3

-Challenging her husbands position, despite being a woman, as she is more respected and is ‘HER HUSBAND’S SOCIAL SUPERIOR’

Question 4

CLASS ,’Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things’

Answer 4

-often corrects her husband’s manners

Question 5

CLASS ,’Called herself Mrs Birling’

Answer 5

Eva came to charity for help ‘called herself Mrs Birling’ which Mrs Birling thought was a ‘Piece of gross impertinence’

Question 6

CLASS ,’used my influence to have it refused’

Answer 6

-Eva = socially inferior’ + using Birling name in vain, which then outrages Mrs birling

Question 7

CLASS / POWER

Answer 7

• As she is from old money, Mrs Birling has a significant amount of power due to her social status
• She is appalled that a working class girl would ‘claim’ her name, which highlights the corruptness of the class system + how the middle/upper class abuse their power

Question 8

Gender

Answer 8

• Mrs Birling reinforces PATRIARCHAL EDWARDIAN stereotypes

- Priestley presenting these oppressive attitudes, to warn the audience to not return to 1912 ways

Question 9

GENDER ,’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’

Answer 9

-this is also a capitalist idea that work/money is more important than family/relationships

Question 10

GENDER, ‘Women of the town?’ ‘It could be much better Sheila didn’t listen to this story at all’

Answer 10

-infantising Sheila- reinforcing idea that women are too sensitive

Question 11

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/GUILT

Answer 11

• unchanging view of the older generation/classist attitude
• ironic: she works in a charity but declined help. She is an obstacle for change, like the older generation
• contrast of guilt between her and her children highlights how younger generation are hope for the future.

Question 12

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/GUILT , ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’

Answer 12

• lack of responsibility highlights the corrupt ideologies of middle/upper-class capitalists

Question 13

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/GUILT, ‘I had done no more than my duty’

Answer 13

-believes her actions are totally justified

Question 14

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/GUILT QUOTES

Answer 14

• ‘I had done no more than my duty’

- ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’

Question 15

Gender quotes

Answer 15

• ‘Women of the town?’ ‘It could be much better Sheila didn’t listen to this story at all’
  -‘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’
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Question 16

Class quotes

Answer 16

• ‘used my influence to have it refused’
• ‘Called herself Mrs Birling’
• ‘Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things’
• ‘Arthur Birling at one end, his wife at the other’