Mrs Birling quotes Flashcards
1)
“I was the only one of you that didn’t give into him”
proud tone in the dialogue near the end of act 3 - shows Mrs Birling’s pride as she boasts about how she dealt with the insepctor. This is ironic as she has arguably had the worst impact on Eva Smith.
2)
“(haughtily) I beg your pardon”
stage directions - convey her upper class status as she is nearly looking down upon the inspector.
3)
“I did nothing that I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation”
declarative sentence - once again conveys her pride and her upper class view on her role in the death of Eva Smith.
4)
“I’m absolutely ashamed of you”
short sentence in the dialogue between Mrs Birling and Eric/alliteration - implies that she is disappointed in her son. This is once again an ironic statement as she herself played a big part in the death of the girl. She is also shifting the blame; similarly to Mr Birling.
5)
“Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father”
dramatic irony - the reader already has an idea that it was Eric in which Mrs Birling is talking about. This shows how her pride and defiance ultimately led to the conviction of her own son.
6)
“(Triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us”?
multiple r.questions - used to show her lack of remorse for Eva Smith and care for her actions. The stage directions also emphasise this.
7)
“Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things - “
the phrase “such things” - conveys her social position as she is having to correct Birling’s bad manners.
8)
“Girls of that class - “
generalising phrase/tone of disdain - used by Priestly to illustrate the common Edwardian view of the upper class on the working class. She is looking down on and showing a prejudice to the lower classes, in particular Eva Smith (represents lower class women)
9)
“I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame”
declarative statement and alliteration - shows Mrs Birling’s personal opinion on the situation. The contrast of the two sentences convey her artificial sense of remorse as she subtly shifts the blame away from herself. She takes no social responsibility.
10)
(staggered) “ Well, really! Aldermand Meggarty! I must say, we are learning something tonight”
stage directions - stuns Mrs Birling as she is suprised that such a well respected man could be a “notorious womanizer”. She is taking a moral stance against Meggarty; which is in direct contrast to her family’s immoral and careless behaviour”
11)
stage directions - “a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior”
adjective “cold” - is used by Priestly to convey the lack of emotion which foreshadows later in the play where she shows a lack of emotion/empathy towards the death of Eva Smith.
12)
“Oh - a lot of silly nonsense”!
exclamatory phrase - this piece of punctuation is used to illustrate Mrs Birling’s contmept towards the inspector and the situation, Again, the dismissive tone shows her unwillingness to change/admit she is wrong.
