MRS BIRLING quotes

Question 1

• ‘Impertinent’ means a lack of deserved
  respect -> has patronising connotations
  .
  –>Suggests Mrs Birling expects
  respect, despite doing nothing to earn it.
• Hints at the sense of entitlement she has as a member of the upper classes, expecting even the law to submit to her.

.

• Uses fancy words like ‘trifle’

Answer 1

“That is a trifle impertinent, Inspector.”
-Mrs Birling (Act 2)

Question 2

• Infantilising Sheila and attempting to sheild her from the real world.
  .
• “Forget” Implies she believes that Sheila is too impressionable and wants to make sure she doesn’t have any wrong ideas put on her.

Answer 2

• “I think you ought to go to bed – and forget about this absurd business”-Mrs Birling (Act 2)

Talking to Sheila just before Geralds Inspection.

Question 3

• ‘duty’ shows she believes she is actually in the right. (set in her ways)
  .
• Further example of Mrs Birlings : “cold” and uncaring nature

.

• Charities are meant to help people - she is not very intrested in helping people

–> Implies she is head of her organisation just to have more power over people + a good reputation

Answer 3

“I used my influence to have it refused. I did my duty” -Mrs Birling (Act 2)

Question 4

Sheila realised that Eric = father & Mrs B is unknowingly condeming him.

• Ignores Sheila’s intelligent (but emotional) realisation –> Instead treats her like a “Child” and doesn’t listen.
  .
• Shows Mrs B’s ignorance - believing that she is the smartest person in the room

Answer 4

“behaving like an hysterical child tonight” -Mrs Birling (Act 2)

talking to Sheila

Question 5

• Completely confident that she has no involvement with Eva’s suicide.
  .
• Shows her fixation on taking no responsibility. (Perhaphs due to wanting a clean reputation)

Answer 5

“But I accept no blame at all.” -Mrs Birling (Act 3)

Question 6

• Dramatic irony -> audience can assume/ put together the father is most likley ERIC.

.

• Hasn’t realised the father is Eric - despite Sheila understanding very quickly.
  –> A critisism of the older generation believing they are smarter than the younger gen.

eager to blame other people

Answer 6

“I blame the young man who was the father of the child” -Mrs Birling (Act 2)

Ironic / foreshadowing.

Question 7

• The repetition shows Mrs Birlings clear infantilisation of Eric

.

• (Act 2) –> Is in response to discovering his drinking habits. Implies a distant relationship/uncaring parenting - as she didn’t notice.

Answer 7

“he’s only a boy” -Mrs Birling (Act2) + (Act 3)

REPETITION

talking about Eric

Question 8

• Infantilising her adult children –
  ‘overtired’ used to refer to babies.
  .
• Complete dismissal of Sheila and Eric’s
  opinions and feelings
  –> suggesting they are not valid. Speaking for them, not to them
  .
• ‘amused’ shows how the parents definitivley view the situation as a joke and not serious at all.

Answer 8

“They’re overtired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are.” -Mrs Birling (Act 3)

talking about her children (Sheila/Eric)