Sybil Birling Flashcards
What is Mrs Birling a symbol of?
The traditional Edwardian values
What does she believe in?
Social hierarchy
What themes are discussed through the character of Mrs Birling?
Responsibility, class, gender, and the older generation
What is Mrs Birling to Mr Birling?
His ‘social superior’
What action shows Mr Birlings snobbish personality?
When she tells Mr Birling off for complimenting the cook
What’s important to Mrs Birling?
The ‘proper’ way to behave
What quotes shows her class prejudice?
“Agirl of that class”
What does Mrs Birling believe of the lower class?
They have lower standards and that they won’t refuse stolen money
What quote proves her prejudice towards Eva Smith?
a girl “of that sort”
Why would she blame the father for her suicide?
Because of her standards as so she refuses to take any blame for herself
What does the repeated word, ‘justified’ convey?
That she’s excusing herself and not taking any blame
What does Sybil support as a member of the upper-middle class?
Societal rules about gender and class, as well as the authority of men
What’s her beliefs over men?
She excuses male behaviour and believes that men are allowed greater freedom
What quote shows her view of men?
“Men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business”
What quote reinforces the gender divide?
“I think Sheila and i had better go into the drawing room and leave you men”
What was common for middle class women to volunteer for, and why?
Charitable organisations in order to support the community but also provide greater status to their family reputation
What’s the reasons why Mrs Birling refused Eva’s needs in her charity?
Because she used the Birlings name, and because of her pettiness and class prejudice
What does her being central to the theme of responsibility mean?
That her role in Eva’s suicide if the most horrific, and could be mostly to blame
What quote shows she doesn’t take any responsibility?
“I think she had only herself to blame”
What quote shows how she hasn’t learned anything from her actions?
“I did nothing i’m ashamed of”
What quote is used to show how she feels no remorse for her actions?
“You’re quite wrong to suppose i shall regret what i did”
What will her character forever be?
cold and unsympathetic, who cannot change her capitalist ways
What does Priestly present the older generation as being?
Cruel, cold, and in desperate need of changing
