Mrs Birling Flashcards
‘ it was important work to do… Spend all their time and energy on their business… You’ll have to get used to that‘
C = woman second-class citizens in patriarchal society. Mr B resigned to do this but new generation of suffragettes challenging it.
‘girls of that class’
C = reflects class prejudice in a highly stratified Edwardian society.
L = use of determiner-that not this-establishes lower class as ‘other’ to upper-class in its value and behaviour
‘ Gross impertinence… Prejudice me against her case’
C = implies that lower class should behave with humility towards upper-class and be respectful. Mrs B takes offence as Daisy uses the Birling surname; ironically the offence is the Birlings for mistreating her.
‘i did nothing I’m ashamed of’
mrs B refuses to accept responsibility for what happened to Daisy.
C = unlike the younger generation, she is not open to change. Hope for social change lies not with the older generation who involve Britain in two world wars, but with the younger generation, who can change.
‘ look for the father of the child… It’s his responsibility‘
= Mrs B believes responsibility is it issue for the individual not the state. She seeks to pass the blame to the father not to share it.
R = due to the structure of the play audience has worked out the father is Eric.
L = it’s for Matic I any audience sees Mrs Birlings views as flawed.
‘ elaborate find feelings on this scruples… Absurd in the girls position‘
L = adjectives ‘elaborate, fine’ Imply WC girls are not morally superior to the UMC.
R= audience realises this is ironic. Mrs B has behaved immorally was Daisy has behaved honourably
‘ you might be wanting to help him instead of us… Be quiet so your father can decide what to do’
= contrast in pronouns ‘him’ and ‘us’ - inspector is opposite/enemy of the family; S and E loyalty and duty should be to the family and not the inspector.
The = patriarchal edwardian society. Men make the decision and have all the power. Married woman should defer to the husbands.
‘ you refused her… Even the pitiable little bit of organise charity you had in your power to grant her‘
L= adjectives ‘pitiable’, ‘little’ are emotive; emphasises how little Daisy is asking for and how mean-spirited Mrs B is to refuse her help.
R = despise Mrs B for her hard heartedness.
C= no welfare state in Edwardian era; Paul relied on charitable institutions.
D = as a woman Mrs B has very little power and Edward in society; the charitable committee is the only place you can exercise any power yet she abuses it.
