Social Responsibility - Mrs Birling

Question 1

How does Mrs Birling link to Social Responsibility?

Answer 1

• She is a personification of the upper classes’ neglect to the poor and in need.
• Refuses responsibility.
• Hatred of responsibility come from classism and prejudice.

Question 2

‘Girls of that class’ (Act 2, Page 30)

Answer 2

• Class Prejudice.
• Concrete noun ‘girl’ as opposed to proper noun ‘Eva’ show lack of recognition - presents her as a juvenile.
• Determiner ‘that’ conveys disrespect and lack of acknowledgement.

Question 3

‘Naturally, that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’ (Act 2, Page 43)

Answer 3

• Class prejudice.
• Shows that because of Eva’s social class, it is justifiable to abandon her (completely contrasts her duty as a prominent member of Brumley’s Women Charity Org.)
• ‘Naturally’ shows she believes that there is an intrinsic barrier between social classes so is entitled to act unfairly.
• Older generation governed by bigotry and unrepentant in their actions.
• Tries to use the idea of ‘class’ to prove her innocence and reject responsibility.