Ms sybil birling Flashcards
What are things Miss Birling’s character could symbolise
- the uncaring nature of - “but I accept no blame for it at all”
- pride - morality plays
- class prejudice - “girls of that class”
why does priestley make Miss Birling interact with Eva Smith last
- could be suggesting that she is the most responsible, as she couldve possibly saved Eva
why is Sybils name ironic
- shes named after the Sibyls from Greek myth, who are famous for their gifts of prophecy and their ability to see into the future, and this is ironic as Sybil Birling is blind to the truth, and refuses to see the truth
- she knows nothing about Eric’s alcohol addiction, no idea that Eric is in a relationship with Eva
“ i dont believe it. I wont believe it” analysis
- said by S Birling after she is confronted, and we see the deliberate blindness and prejudice that she will hang onto despite any facts being presented to her
- declarative statements “i dont” “ i wont” portrays her firm and resolute stance, and it conveys her absolute certainty in her own convictions, disregarding any evidence or arguments presented to her
Modal verbs - “dont” implies her current disbelief, whilst “wont” signifies her future refusal to accept the truth, these indicate her deliberate choice to reject information and maintain her own version of reality. they convey a sense of obstinacy and stubbornness in the face of opposing viewpoints
- tone - her tone is one of disbelief and defiance. her incredulity ( the state of being unwilling or unable to accept something) is evident in her emphatic assertion. the tone reinforces her inability and unwillingness to engage with the consequences of her actions, and this adds to the tension and the conflict in the scene, highlighting the clash between her perspective and the inspectors revelations
Is sybil the most to blame and why?
- Sybil was the last person who could’ve helped Eva, so is often the character most blamed, but this may have been the opposite of what Priestley intended
- the characters that put Eva in that state of despair in the first place are Gerald and Eric
Sybil as a symbol of the welfare state
- She is kept till last as she represents the last resort, the safety net that society should provide the poor
- the welfare state was not around until 1945
- during 1912 and in between the war, welfare was often left to charities. this was what Priestley wanted to change, so he may have used her to show how charity cannot possibly work
- even if Sybil was a nice human being in charity, it wouldnt work, because leaving things just to a charity would not guarantee the welfare of everybody
- charities have a small amount of money, so they did have to say no to some people
Alternative interpretation- why was Sybil right to not believe Eva?
- although she is dismissive to Eva by saying “ girls of that class” she doesnt show corruption like her husband. but most women in charge of that charity would have been suspicious of her
why?
- Eva begins by lying about her name, as Birling, so this may have been seen as a fraud to gain money, this is an obvious lie
- she lies that the father of the child had abandoned her after marrying her
- “id refused to believe her original story…i didnt see any reason to believe that one story should be any truer than the other”
- why should she give help to someone who has made repeated lies to gain money
- Priestley reinforcing the importance of a welfare state, there would be proper checks on people and the ones who needed genuine help would get it. it wouldnt be up to amateurs like charities to try and help people and judge their merits
- her character also serves as a critique of the prevailing capitalist system and demonstrates the consequences of a society that lacks empathy and social responsibility, thereby emphasizing the need for a more equitable and compassionate welfare state
vote labour
Priestley using Sybil as a symbol for the welfare state to encourage people to vote labour, as they were going to gove us a welfare state,
alternative interpretation to the alternative interpretation
- this does not excuse sybil. but priestley points out that it is not the job of the welfare state to make moral judgements, it helps people that are poor, even if the poverty is their own fault
“im sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. but i accept no blame for it at all” analysis
- Antithesis : contrast between the expression of superficial sympathy and the outright denial of responsibility. creates a stark juxtaposition, emphasising the difference in Sybils insincere remorse and her refusal to acknowledge her role in Eva smiths tragic fate
- Evasive language used to downplay her own involvement and deflect responsibility. the phrase “she shouldve come to such a horrible end” shifts the focus away from Sybils actions snd redirects it toward the unfortunate outcome, subtly suggesting that Evas fate was her own fault
- use of the word “it” highlights her determination to distance herself from any response, attempts to dissociate herself from the consequences of her actions
- dismissive tone highlight her lack of empathy for Evas suffering and demonstrates her inability and unwillingness to understand or connect with the experiences of those less fortunate than herself
about fifty, a rather cold woman (act 1 scene 1) language technique analysis
- “cold” establishes her character as one who is distant, unfeeling and perhaps indifferent to the struggles and suffering of others
- “rather” modifies the adjective cold, indicating that her coldness is not extreme but is still notable, so although she may not be overly cruel or malicious, there is an inherent lack of warmth or compassion in her demeanour
- “rather cold woman” alligns with the stereotypes about upper class individuals, lack of emotional warmth
“girls of that class” act 2 analysis
- “that class” highlights the categorising and differentiation of individuals based on their social status, and underscores the theme of social hierarchy in the play
- as referring to the girls as a collective group, the phrase generalises and stereotypes individuals based on their social class and suggests that they all posses similar characteristics, traits and behaviours, perpetuating societal biases and prejudices
- the phrase “girls of that class” also objectifies and dehumanises the individuals it refers to, as reducing them to a collective noun, the phrase reinforces the power dynamics and inequalities between different social classes, treating lower classes like objects rather than individuals with their own identities
“i dont think we can help you much inspector” Act 2 analysis
- assertive and confident tone, reflects her belief that her and her family have little to offer in terms of assistance, also highlights her sense of superiority and conveys a strong conviction that their involvement is unnecessary or unimportant. could suggest a belief that their social status exempts then from any obligation to help or cooperate
- modal verb “can” implies a limited ability or capacity to provide help. by using can instead of will, she portrays her family’s assistance as mere (small) rather than a genuine willingness, conveys a lack of genuine concern and her unwillingness to engage with the inspectors inquiry
Eric. I cant believe it. there must be some mistake analysis
- “cant” believe it suggests shock and disbelief, and her inner struggle to accept the truth, suggesting a deep rooted denial and resistance to face reality
- personal address - she uses erics name, adding no a personal and intimate dimension to her response, for the first time we see Miss Birling showing a genuine concern for someone. but it goes to show that this concern is only present when dealing with someone in her family
- “must” expresses a strong conviction and certainty, presenting her disbelief as an incontrovertible truth
- doubtful tone - introduces a level of uncertainty, as she questions the validity of the information presented, suggesting there might be an alternative explanation, desperately attempting to find a more favourable interpretation
“i blame the young man” analysis
the personal pronoun “i” emphasizes her conviction in assigning blame and showcases her belief in her own authority, reinforcing her sense of superiority and control over the situation, unwilling to consider alternative perspective or share the responsibility
- the word blame suggests mrs birlings inclination (natural tendency) to deflect responsibility and avoid self examination. by attributing blame solely to “the young man”, she attempts to shift the focus away from her own actions and the collective responsibility of her family, also highlights her desire to keep her reputation
- “i blame” asserts Mrs Birlings authority and positions her as a figure of judgement and control, and suggests her belief in her ability to assign blame and dictate the outcome of a situation. this reflects her privileged position within society and her belief in the power dynamics associated with her social status
