Sybil Birling

Question 1

You seem to have made great impression on this child, Inspector

Answer 1

She often refers to Sheila as ‘child’ showing the generational gap and how the old adheres to stereotypes whilst the young ignores them

Question 2

Some sort of inquiry

Answer 2

She sees the investigation as frivolous and unimportant. She is trying to intimidate the Inspector into leaving just like her husband tried to

Question 3

Girls of that class

Answer 3

In contrast to Sheila, she refuses to acknowledge her responsibility for Eva’s suicide. The noun ‘girl’ diminishes Eva’s status and infantilises her as immature and hard to understand. Her dismissive tone shows her lack of empathy with the working class and the determiner ‘that’ puts a gap between the Birlings and Eva. It’s ironic because Mrs Birling is part of a charity that is meant to help working class girls