sybil birling Flashcards
“When you’re married you’ll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business.” (Start of Act 1)
“comforting” Sheila about Gerald not having time seeing her.
* Traditionalists when it comes to gender relations, show the patriarchal society they lived in - expects her to conform to her woman’s duty.
* Adverb “nearly” - it’s like she’s praising men for their hard work and kind of admiring them and describing them in a good light, whereas in reality during Edwardian Era, they committed immoral actions.
“you know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor
only two years ago and he’s still a magistrate” (Act 2)
when Mrs B first met the inspector, and trying to take charge.
* tries to challenge his authority by reminding him of her and her husband’s social status
* phrase “of course” - assumes that the inspector is already aware their status. attempting to put him in line.
* proper noun “Lord Mayor” emphasizes Mr B’s importance by using his full title to show her snobbery.
“No, of course not. He’s only a boy.” (Act 2)
in response to the inspector suggesting that Eric is used to drinking this
* ignorance and lack of knowledge of her own family - Eric does in fact have a drinking problem and has had it for a long time
* noun “boy” - refuses to see Eric as the young man he actually is, highlighting her inability to see things as they truly are.
SH. “He has been steadily drinking too much for the last two years.”
(Act 2)
“It isn’t true. You know him, Gerald - and you’re a man – you must know it isn’t true.” (Act 2)
Just found out about Eric’s drinking habit.
* Use of time “last two years” showcase the dismissiveness towards Eric and the lack of close relations with her son.
* Verb “must” supports the fact that she relies on the man’s decisions, not actually believing her own daughter’s word.
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide.”
(Act 2)
“Girls of that class-” “Girls of that sort-”
(Act 2)
Mrs Birling came back, trying to control the situation.
* Classist, and prejudiced she looks down on classes that are below her - wants to build a wall between herself and the working class.
* It’s like she wants to divide herself from these “classes” and “sort” - nouns.
* the collective pronoun “we” shows the difference between the classes, and therefore, they can’t put themselves in their shoes.
“I think she had only herself to blame”
“I did nothing I’m ashamed of”
- Seven Deadly Sins - Pride.
Conceited, she thinks that where her moral consciousness should lie, is prejudice against the working class - she thinks she was right for what she did - doesn’t have to take responsibility.
“Imperatively made use of our name” (Act 2)
she was talking to the inspector.
* Seven Deadly Sins - Pride.
* Reputation and her name is very important her, it gives her pride.
“I considered I did my duty.” (Act 2)
claim out what Eva wanted and outrightly using her influence to refuse.
* Conceited, she thinks that where her moral consciousness should lie, is prejudice against the working class - she thinks she was right for what she did - doesn’t have to take responsibility.
* Capitalist ideology - keeping rich people in power whilst the poor continue to be poor.
“Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.”
(Act 2)
doesn’t allow the inspector to challenge her any further.
* Conceited, she thinks that where her moral consciousness should lie, is prejudice against the working class - she thinks she was right for what she did - doesn’t have to take responsibility.
* setting herself apart from the others who have all done various things that they could or should be ashamed - it is not her problem.
* genuinely does not feel any guilt or remorse about the role he played in the young woman’s death - there really is not much between Eva and Sheila in terms of age at the
* done nothing illegal - equates morality with legality meaning that if she has not broken the law she has done the right thing.
“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money” (Act 2)
assumes that Eva was lying about the baby’s father stealing money to help her - she is of a lower class that she wasn’t capable of showing morality.
* Typical Edwardian Era Middle-Class women - showing the stereotypes they had - the poor look for any opportunity of getting money handed to them.
* phrase “as if” - judgmental of people who are of a different social class
* Thinks the poor are lazy and that’s why they commit crimes - greedy.
* nouns “sort” - classify people, certain stereotypes.
* Priestly is showing that we shouldn’t be going to back to the old system of classifying everything.
“And he ought to be dealth with very severely-” (Act 2)
The inspector is purposely getting Mrs Birling to instruct him to “do his duty”
* Irony - it is her own son she is trying to sabatosied - only Sheila gets it.
* She’s trying to secure her power, by giving orders on what she deems is right.
“[understanding now] But surely… I mean.. It’s ridiculous..” (Act 2)
The truth of Eric being the father of the unborn child is revealed.
* short sentences, shows hesitation and shock of the news.
* shows how she doesn’t understand her children well - doesn’t know they’re capable of the behaviour.
“[She stops, and exchanges a frightened glance with her husband]” (Act 2)
Sybil finally understood who the father is - Eric.
* the actions shows how she is afraid of a public scandal, their reputation will ruined, their public appearances will be ruined.
“[agitated] I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it…” (Act 2)
The truth of Eric being the father of the unborn child is revealed.
* modal verbs “won’t” shows the avoidance of responsibilities because she can’t accept it.
* Itatlic “won’t” shows the stubbornness of Sybil because it doesn’t match her preception of her family.
“You might be wanting to help him instead of us.”
(Act 3)
she is sick of Sheila and Eric sticking up for the inspector.
* Sees working-class people, like the inspector although he never classified his class, as an outsider that isn’t worth her time.
“(shocked) Eric! You stole money?”
(Act 3)
Mrs B and Sheila came back and Mr B told her how Eric is repsonbible for the girl’s condition and stolen money.
* her initial reaction - important because it shows how she cares more about the stolen money than actually about what he did wrong morally.
“(triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say I couldn’t imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?”
(Act 3)
Gerald came back with the news of the inspector being a hoax.
* feels like she has won - there won’t be a public scandal.
* repetition “didn’t I” - incredibly eager, desperate almost, to be proved correct - able to feel superior
* does not think a real police inspector would talk like inspector Goole did (authoritatively, demanding, and ultra professional) - they should talk politely and respectfully to the middle and upper classes even when conducting an investigation
* does not think the way in which inspector Gool spoke to them was acceptable for a police inspector talking to middle and upper class
