Mrs. Birling

Question 1

Character

Answer 1

Point - cold hearted/heartless
Evidence - "girls of that sort"
Technique - 'girls' pronoun
Analysis - patronising girls
Social context - upper class women seen to be snobby and selfish

Question 2

Gender/power

Answer 2

Point - upper class, husband socially superior
Evidence - “I used my influence to have her refused”
Technique - ‘my’ personal pronoun
Analysis - its all about her power, she wants to demonstrate she’s socially superior
Social context - upper class women didn’t want to have anything to do with lower class women, just like all the upper class

Question 3

Responsibility

Answer 3

Point - doesn’t accept any responsibility
Evidence - “unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of”
Technique - ‘I’ personal pronoun
Analysis - she singles herself out from the other three and wants nothing to do with it.

Question 4

Social class

Answer 4

Point - belongs to her husband but wants everyone to know she’s upper class
Evidence - “that child”
Technique - ‘child’ noun
Analysis -patronises Sheila and Eric, she likes to be in control

Question 5

Her connection to Eva Smith or age

Answer 5

Point - refuses to help Eva because she’s lower class
Evidence - “she didn’t have a good enough excuse.”
Technique - ‘she’ personal pronoun
Analysis - The way Mrs Birling calls Eva ‘she’. Ironic because Mrs Birling has a charity for women and she doesn’t even bother to help any of them, only does this to make herself look good.
Social context - Typical of women in the upper class 1912 (older generations)