Mrs Birling Quotes

Question 1

Start Stage directions

Answer 1

‘a rather cold woman’
‘her husband’s social superior’

Immediately we see Mrs B as ‘cold’ showing her lack of care for others before we even meet her.

Question 2

A1 - reproachfully

Answer 2

‘(reproachfully) Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things—’

Mrs Birling telling Mr Birling that he should not say ‘Tell cook from me’. Saying that he needs to be formal

Question 3

A2 - Meggarty

Answer 3

‘surely you don’t mean Alderman Meggarty?’

She thinks that someone like Alderman Meggarty couldn’t possibly be a ‘notorious womanizer’ due to his class

Question 4

A2 - No

Answer 4

INSPECTOR
‘(taking back the photograph) ‘You recognise her?’

MRS B
‘No. Why should I?’

She lies

Question 5

A2 - prejudiced

Answer 5

‘naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’

Question 6

A2 - elaborate

Answer 6

‘She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position.’ She doesn’t think Eva could have scruples

Question 7

A2 - example

Answer 7

‘He (Eric) should be made an example of’

Question 8

A2 - severely

Answer 8

‘he ought to be dealt with very severely’

Question 9

A3 - plainly

Answer 9

‘I told him quite plainly that I thought I had done no more than my duty.’

Question 10

A3 - over-tired

Answer 10

‘They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be as amused as we are’