Mrs Birling Flashcards
True or False: Mrs. Birling is the matriarch of the Birling family.
True
What social class does Mrs. Birling belong to?
Upper-middle class
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling is the chairwoman of the _______.
Brumley Women’s Charity Organization
How does Mrs. Birling view her social responsibilities?
She believes in strict social hierarchies and is dismissive of the lower classes.
What is Mrs. Birling’s attitude towards Eva Smith?
She looks down on her and refuses to help her.
What does Mrs. Birling believe about the role of women in society?
She believes women should be subordinate to men.
What does Mrs. Birling say when she learns that the inspector is questioning her family?
She becomes defensive and insists on her family’s respectability.
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling is described as a ________ woman.
cold
How does Mrs. Birling react to the inspector’s inquiries?
She is hostile and tries to assert her authority.
What is Mrs. Birling’s relationship with her son, Eric?
She is often critical and disapproving of him.
What does Mrs. Birling believe about charity?
She believes it should only be given to those she deems deserving.
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling’s attitudes reflect the ________ of her time.
patriarchal society
How does Mrs. Birling’s character change throughout the play?
She remains largely unchanged and refuses to accept any responsibility.
What does the inspector’s investigation reveal about Mrs. Birling?
It reveals her hypocrisy and lack of empathy.
How does Mrs. Birling justify her refusal to help Eva Smith?
She claims Eva was impertinent and undeserving.
Fill in the blank: Mrs. Birling’s final reaction to the inspector’s revelations is one of ______.
denial
What lesson does Mrs. Birling fail to learn by the end of the play?
She fails to learn about social responsibility and empathy.
What does the audience learn about Mrs. Birling’s values?
They are rooted in self-interest and social status.
Quote of mrs Birling admitting to penalising Eva
That was one of the things that predicted me against her
Analysis of they’re over tired , in the morning they’ll be as amused as we are
Treating them like children, no regret, doesn’t need to give her actions a second thought like her children, patronising
Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things’
She’s embarrassed of her husbands lower social ranking, strict with rules to make him respectable
‘Supposed’ implies a higher authority that holds power
Her reminder shows she is superior
Undermining , asserting dominance
When you’re ………
, you’ll realise that… with important …. to do sometimes have to spend all their ….. … ….. on their……. You’ll have to get …. to that, just .. . …”
Married
Men
Work
Time and energy
Business
Used
As I had
When you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had”
Edwardian women have no say have to be used to being second best
‘When’ shows Sheila has no say
‘You’ll realise’ undermining her intelligence
Sheila isn’t mature enough for adult demands
Patrichal
Capitalist society will carry on
Girls of that class
Infantilising tone
Lowe class are incapable and irresponsible , and unaware of the real world and the social hierarchy
No indivauality
Condescending and dismissive tone
What is priestly trying to convey which is the opposite to mrs birling
Upper class aren’t aware of the real world whereas lower class face reality and life’s problems and endure suffering of the backs of the upper clssses actions and arrangence
“I blame the young man . He ought to be dealt with very severely “
Eagerly Assumes it would be a working class man , definelty not her own superior blood line
Absolves herself from blame
Narrowminded judgements
‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’
Selfish cold and pedijuice instead of the charitable welcoming women she wants to be perceived as
Class divide entrenched in her so can’t have empathy for lower class
None of her actions were immoral in her eyes
