Mrs Birling - Key Quotations Flashcards
‘rather ____ woman’
cold
-stage direction
‘______ superior’
social
The most defining trait of Mrs Birling is her social status, showing the lack of empathy within capitalists
‘not _________ to ___ such things’
supposed, say
She acts as an enforcer of societal expectations, the irony being that her family breaks this.
‘_____ of that class’
girls
Sees lower class women as nearly alien, when in reality she is just a victim of society, showing the perceived capitalist injustices.
‘only ________ to blame’
herself
Mrs Birling views Eva as completely responsible for her suffering
‘I _____ the _____ man’
blame, young
Dramatic irony
She completely blames Eric, showing the hypocrisy of the upper classes
‘rather _____’
cowed
Her fear of the inspector is demonstrative of the intellectual defeat of capitalism by Socialism in Priestley’s view
‘What _______ is it of yours?’
business
Mrs Birling further exemplifies the individualistic and self-motivated nature of capitalistic ideals.
‘its ___ responsibility’
his
dramatic irony
despite being unaware, Mrs Birling blames Eric for the death of Eva and he reciprocates, indicating the lack of a collective social conscience in capitalist societies
‘you’re quite _____ to suppose I shall ______ what I did’
wrong, regret
Her distinct lack of moral compass or accepting of responsibility indicates that the older generations are entrenched in their beliefs.
‘__________ against her ____’
prejudiced, case
Her prejudice of the lower classes shows the hypocrisy of the upper classes as she seems philanthropic and lacks a moral compass
‘There ____ have been some _______’
must, mistake
Her lack of ability to comprehend the actions of Eric shows her separation from reality, so Priestley criticises her entrenched belief as she is unwilling to shift her viewpoint.
‘(with sudden _____)’
anger
Stage direction
Her lack of temprance could indicate that capitalism lacks morality.
