Mrs Birling Flashcards
Key Ideas: Mrs Birling
Priestley uses her as a symbol for the hypocrisy of the
upper-classes and as a demonstration of the need for a welfare state. Priestley dictates in the stage directions that Mrs Birling is “about fifty, a rather cold woman” and thus reveals her unsympathetic and individualistic nature. She is her husband’s “social superior” and therefore belongs to an upper class family.
Mrs Birling represents the selfish nature of the upper classes, their privileges, and their prejudices.
She perceives the working classes as inferior.
Mrs. Birling Start
- “Her husband’s social superior”
Married for status possible. Socially superior, but sacrificed her status to be a submissive wife.
- “ 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.”
Traditional conservative views on gender roles and stereotypes.
- “ Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!“
Exclamation, regards image and reputation seriously and differentiates between young and old generations.
Mrs. Birling Middle
- “Girls of that class”
Class divide — “that” class determiner
Dismissive tone of lower class, but also derogatory description of poorer women suggests ignorance and entitlement
- ‘You know of course that my husband was lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate.’
Direct address, attempt at intimidation.
- “You have no power to make me change my mind”
Literally no social power, inferior, her morality and sense of justice lies in a corrupt class system
Mrs Birling End
- “Eric! You stole money?”
Shock, punctuation for lack of understanding. Perhaps shock not for Eric, but for the crime committed.
- “(Triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you?” “I was the only one”
Adverb suggests quick dismissal and saving face and reputation. Arrogant tone with direct address suggests that she believes that it is silly and absurd to believe such stories, which she had believed and are true.
