Mrs Birling Flashcards
Act 1
“The things you girls pick up on these days!”
•Challenges the younger generation
- Shows superficiality of the driven codes of conduct as she cares more about speech and etiquette than morality
- “Girls” shows that she is belittling Sheila to dismiss her behaviour as foolish or uncouth
Act 2
“A piece of gross impertinence”
“Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case”
•Believes that she is absolved of all responsibility as Eva’s claim to be “Mrs Birling” was disrespectful
•Sees her treatment of Eva as valid
- Unashamedly declaring it
- Shows that those living in poverty have no way to escape it as they cannot challenge their exploitation; these institutes that are meant to help them are prejudiced against them
Act 2
“It’s his responsibility”
•Complete foil to Sheila who accepted responsibility straight away when she says “I know I’m to blame”
- Inadvertently deflects the blame onto her son
Act 2
