Mrs Birling Flashcards
List 3 topic sentences
TS1: As a married woman, Mrs Birling illustrates the position of women in a Edwardian society
TS2: Mrs Birlings attitudes reflect the class prejudice of the Edwardian era
TS3: Unlike her children, Mr Birling refuses to accept responsibility for busing her power over others and she fails to change
“Men with important work to do…. spend nearly all their time and energy on their business….you’ll have to get used to that”
Context: Women 2nd class citizens in patriarchal society. Mrs B resigned to this but the new generation of suffragettes challenging it
“i did nothing i’m ashamed of”
Mrs Birling refuses to accept responsibility for what happened to Daisy.
Context: Unlike the younger generation, she is not open to change. Hope for social change lies not with the older generation, who involved Britain in two world wars, but with the younger generation who can change.
“elaborate fine feelings and scruples…absurd in a girl in her position”
Language: adjectives “elaborate,fine” imply MC girls are not morally superior to the UMC
Response: audience realizes this is ironic. Mrs B has behaved immorally whilst Daisy has behaved honorably
“you might be wanting to help him instead of us…be quiet so your father can decide what to do”
Language: contrast in pronouns “him and “us”- Inspector is opposition/enemy of the family; Shelia and Erics loyalty should be to the family not to the inspector
“you refused her… even in the pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her”
Language: adjectives “pitiable. Little” are emotive; emphasized how little daisy is asking for and how mean spirited Mrs B is to refuse her help
Response: Audience despises Mrs B for her hardheartedness
Context: No welfare state in Edwardian era; poor relied on charitable institutions
D: as a woman Mrs B has very little power in Edwardian society ; the chatritable committee is the only place
“look for the father of the child…. its his responsibility”
Context: Mrs B believes responsibility is an an issue for the individual not the state. She seeks to pass the blame on to the fathers not share it
Response: Due to the structure of the play, the audience has worked out that the father of the child is Eric
Language: Creates dramatic irony. Audience sees Mrs B’s views are flawed
“gross impertinence… prejudiced me against her case”
Context: implies that lower class should behave with humility towards the upper class and be respectful. Mrs B takes offence at Daisy’s use of the Birlings surname; ironically the offence is the Birlings’ for mistreating her
“girls of that class”
Context: reflects class prejudice in highly stratified Edwardian society Language: Use of determiner -that not this- establishes the lower class as "other" to the upper class in its values and behavior
