Sybil Birling

Question 1

Who is Sybil?

Answer 1

the wife and ​social superior of Arthur Birling. She represents the upper-class, socially prominent wife​.

Question 2

‘His wife is about fifty, a rather cold woman and her husbands social superior

(Stage directions act 1)

Answer 2

Adjective symbolizes and foreshadows her behaviors towards lower classes

‘50’- the notion that The older generation are narrow minded and have a reluctance to accept new ideas

‘Husbands social superior’ - Noun ‘superior’ modifies her position and the bezeige that she is above other and seven serves to highlight the growing gap capitalism has created

Question 3

‘Girls of that class’ - ACT 2

Answer 3

Dehumanization and generalization of Eva smith and all girls of lower classes. Implication that ms Birling believes that the more vulnerable people in society will not accomplish anything and inevitably end up committing suicide

Shows apathy- linking back to ‘cold’

‘That’ - determiner shows disdain towards lower classes, she want to make it seem as if she has no association from the lower classes

Question 4

‘A girl of that sort’ - ACT 2

Answer 4

Determiner that reiterates disgust and disregard for the girls foreshadowing the incident in the charity

-sense of detachment

She makes it out be that she is not socially superior but also Morally superior. Priestly may be saying that capitalism encourages moral corruption

Question 5

‘I used my influence to have it refused’ - ACT 2

Answer 5

Abstract noun ‘influence’ shows that ms broiling abuses her position. She is negating the role of a charity using her own beliefs to deny vulnerable people help

Question 6

‘That was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’ - ACT 2

Answer 6

‘Prejuduced’ Sybil admits that she has made a decision based on preconceptions rather than the actual facts

Question 7

‘Perfectly justified’ - ACT 2

Answer 7

Adverb ‘perfectly’ heightens the ignorance of ms birding. Priestly ponders the reader to evaluate if they want to remain in a capitalist society if these irrational judgement are considered flawless in a capitalist society

Sybil is unable to see error or consequences, defending her actions. preistly creates the abhorrent notion that denying a pregnant woman money is justified in capitalism

Question 8

(With a cry) ‘oh Eric, how could you?’ - ACT 3

Answer 8

Ms Birling shows a hint of remorse as indicated by ‘with a cry’

However, her remorse could be interpreted as selfish as she only shows it upon the discovery of Eric being the father. It signifies that Sybil is more terrified that the family name will be tarnished as her son has committed serious illegal crimes. She still avoids responsibility as what she has done is not illegal and infact in her eyes the right decision

Question 9

‘But surely… I mean… it’s ridiculous’ - ACT 2

Answer 9

Fragmented sentences convey shock and disgust.

However the adjective ‘ridiculous’ indicates that the situation seems absurd to her. This illustrates that ms birling is so delusional, she believes her son cannot have done it simply he is a billing and she is a lower class girl

Question 10

(Triumphantly) ‘ didn’t I tell you?’ - ACT 3

Answer 10

Stage directions make the audience wonder what has she ‘won’ to be triumphant, and who has she defeated. A jobless pregnant girl, the poor in general? It could be argued that ms birling sees the rich and poor stuck in a metaphorical war in which the rich will always win

Question 11

Topic sentences

Answer 11

Through the character of Mrs Birling, Priestley explores the resistance of the upper class to the change that threatens their social position.
● Priestley explores how the suffering of the working class is perpetuated by the class system through Mrs Birling’s denial of financial aid to Eva Smith as a result of class-based prejudices towards her.
● Priestly demonstrates the hypocrisy of the upper classes through the character of Mrs Birling.

Question 12

Structure

Answer 12

Presented as the epitome for an upper class woman in a capitalist society. Through this character, Priestley explores the resistance of the upper class to the change that threatens their social position.
Start of play
Mrs B is presented as the archetype of the upper class woman in a capitalist society.
-Her husband’s social superior- reveals her aristocratic roots, which may influence her inability to change, about ‘50’ - narrow minded and reluctant to change, adjective ‘cold’ foreshadows her behaviours towards lower classes
-‘the things you girls pick up nowadays’- more concerned about manners than her son’s potential drinking problem- suggests poor parenting + neglect
-talks less reflecting weak patriarchal power- stereotypical role as a wife

After learning of Eva’s death, Mrs B is presented as indifferent to the lower class similar to Birling.
-‘Girls of that sort’ -determiner ‘that’ shows disdain, dehumanisation and generalisation that the lower classes achieve nothing and end up committing suicide
During interrogation- Mrs B is further revealed to an extremely arrogant and classist character.
-‘that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’- arrogance in that a lower class person had the same name as her (although her relation with Eric technically allows her to use that name), ‘prejudiced’ - admits preconceptions rather than facts
-‘as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money’ - generalises the lower class as immoral and greedy- ironic as her son Eric is stealing this money and the upper class’ exploitation leave them in a desperate state. Eva’s morals are thereby show to actually be superior to the Birling’s.
-‘perfectly justified’-‘perfectly’ heightens the ignorance if Mrs B, irrational judgment, unable to see remorse of fault- denying a pregnant woman help in a capitalist society is justifiable. Through the denial of charity because if prejudice, Priestley shows how the suffering of the lower classes is perpetuated class system through Mrs B’s denial of financial aid to Eva Smith as a result of her class-based prejudices towards her
Demonstrates as someone who misuses power- her charity is just a social façade
‘I used my influence to have it refused’ -abstract noun ‘influence’ reveals that Mrs B abuses her position by negating the role of charity by denying help
After learning about Eric
-‘(with a cry) oh eric how could you’- ‘with a cry’ indicates emotion, but is for concern about her family’s reputation, also reveals poor relationship with her children through her disbelief of his actions
-delusional further revealed by her fragmented speech ‘but surely… I mean… it’s ridiculous
By doing this Priestley makes his audience disagree with her classist stereotypes by making her look foolish

End of play
Mrs B is still presented as a cold and stubborn member of society being unable to show any change.
-(Triumphantly) ‘didn’t I tell you?’
Stage directions make the audience wonder why she feels so ‘triumphant’ - she had just helped ruin the life of a vulnerable pregnant woman, and feels a sense of accomplishment- not a single sign of remorse. This could arguably be seen as an extremely one sided war between the rich and the poor
Presented in this way to similar show how the older population that are indoctrinated into capitalist ideologies will not accept change.