Mrs Birling Flashcards
Cold
Mrs Birling is very unsympathetic when describing Eva Smith’s position. Sybil assumes instantly that because Eva is pregnant and single she is a bad person.
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
She assumes that just because Eva is unmarried and pregnant that she is unable to have ‘fine feelings’, a very cruel and cold opinion to have.
Ignorant
When the Inspector suggests that Eric is used to drinking, Mrs Birling jumps quickly to Eric’s defence.
“No, of course not. He’s only a boy.” And later “(staggered) it isn’t true.”
She shows her ignorance in two ways, first by defending Eric ‘of course not’ when the Inspector suggests that he is used to drinking. Secondly by stating that Eric is only ‘a boy’. He is not a boy but a young man, Sybil refuses to see this. Her shock at this revelation ‘(staggered)’ is further evidence of this.
Snobbish
Sybil shows that she is snobbish when she criticises members of her family for their behaviour.
“What an expression, Sheila! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!”
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.
