Mrs Birling (AIC)

Question 1

Act 2 quote on responsibility?

Answer 1

“Girls of that class”

• She describes the lower class as an aggregate inferior group that all behave in the same way. She ties blame to social class and bases her understanding on what class they’re in.
• The collective noun “Girl’s” to beliitle her class as feeblenes and immaturity

Question 2

Act 2 quote on responsibility 2nd?

Answer 2

“I consider I did my duty”
- “duty” a tool to explore the disparity of perspectives of capitilists and socialists. For capitilists holidng the class system was paramount. Her duty was to uphold class gap by refusinh Eva help.

Question 3

Act 2 quote on responsibility 3rd?

Answer 3

“I won’t beleive it”

• She is incapable of addressing her own family’s wrongdoings. Suggets her ignorance and blindness

Question 4

Older vs young Mrs Birling Act 1?

Answer 4

“Sheila! What an expression! Really, the thing you girls pick up these days!”

• Exposes her superfically drived codes of conduct she cares more about ettiquite than morality.
• She is opposed to Sheilas colloquial language as it presents the younger generation.
• noun “girl” belittles Sheila and portrays her behaviour as foolish and uncouth.

Question 5

Older vs younger Act 1 2nd?

Answer 5

“Whats the matter with that child?”
Mrs Birling absolves Eric from his behaviour but this is dramtic irony as we know he’s far from innocent

Question 6

Act 3 On older vs younger generation?

Answer 6

“He’s only a boy”
- Diminutive noun “boy” is emotive almost like she is trying to pity him

Question 7

Guilt Act 3?

Answer 7

“(Distressed) No - Eric- please I didn’t know - I didn’t understand”

• Her reaction shows she wouldv’e acted different if she had been aware ofnthe circumstances of pleading to Eric. “Verb” understand is pivotal to depict how subjective welfare are set to fail and should be implemented by and government body.
• Stage direction (distressed) show unfimiliar she is with being put under social scrunity. She has been conditioned as the untouchable upper class

Question 8

2nd Act 3 guilt?

Answer 8

” I was the only one who didn’t give in in to him”

• her expected guilt is supplemented for unorthodix feeling of pride at the notion of not conceding to guilt. Her overt selfishness is apparent through her boastful attituide to being immune to guilt