Mrs Birling Flashcards
Mrs Birling quote 1
“Sheila, what an expression! Really the things you girls pick up these days”
The exclamative sentence emphasises her frantically trying to iron out social faux pas so they operate seamlessly within the expectations of their class
she patronises Sheila through the condescending noun ‘girl’ reinforcing the infantile preservation we see Sheila endure in Act 1 this could be done because Mrs Birling wants to keep her docile and submissive in order to keep her class position
Mrs Birling quote 2
{enters briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key}
This stage direction immediately establishes Mrs Birling’s emotional detachment and ignorance. Her “brisk” and “self-confident” entrance shows she is unaware of — or indifferent to — the tension and distress caused by the Inspector’s earlier questioning. The phrase “quite out of key” symbolically highlights how she is disconnected not only from the emotional atmosphere of the room, but from the realities of suffering and social responsibility that the play is exploring
Mrs Birling quote 3
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girl of that class”
Connotations of ‘girl’ is innocence an vulnerability, showcasing her willingness to exploit the vulnerable in society and rationalise it for capitalist advancement. The demonstrative adjective “that” dismisses the lower class as an aggregate, inferior and homogeneous demonstrating how Mrs Birling is governed by arrogance of her social status.
Mrs Birling quote 4
Act 2 “I don’t understand you, Inspector,”
reflects not genuine confusion, but a deliberate refusal to engage with the truth. This links back to the “pink and intimate” lighting described at the start of the play, symbolising the Birlings’ comfortable, sheltered worldview. Rather than being unable to understand, Mrs Birling chooses to remain ignorant, highlighting her desire to preserve her social status and avoid accountability.
Mrs Birling quote 5
Act 3 “They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are,”
reflects her dismissive and patronising attitude towards the younger generation. Her use of “amused” reveals a disturbing lack of remorse, as she treats the night’s revelations as trivial. This highlights her denial, emotional detachment, and refusal to accept responsibility—key traits of the older generation’s moral blindness in the play.
