Younger Vs Older Generation Quotes Flashcards
“Girls of that class-“
Mrs Birling Act 2
Younger vs older generation- the dash represents how Shelia cuts off Mrs Birling knowing she was about to say something wrong- leaves audience on a cliff hanger wondering what she was going to say.
Class and gender- ‘GIRLS’ - noun
Labelling them all as one/ patronising by exaggerating their youth.Mrs Birling thinks she’s above them and better than them.
‘THAT CLASS’ - determiner
Meant to vocalise working class.
‘I’ll never, never do it again to anybody’
Shelia Act 1
Younger generation take responsibility and feel guilty!
Shelia regrets and feels bad for what she did to Eva.
Shelia is owning up, accepting what she did was wrong and taking responsibility for her actions in CONTRAST to Mrs Birling who does the opposite.
‘I think she only has herself to blame’
Mrs Birling Act 2
Older generation don’t take responsibility in CONTRAST to the younger generation.
Older generation feel no guilt.
The older generation won’t take any of the blame for Eva’s suicide which contrasts to Shelia who does.
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’
Eric confronting Mr Birling Act 1
Eric represents the ‘famous younger generation’
The younger generation are a lot more open to change.
They are open to being more equal in society, less of the capitalist views, believes people should be allowed to try for higher wages.
Standing up to the older generation and questioning Mr Birling.
‘You killed them both - damn you, damn you-‘
Eric Act 3
Repetition of ‘damn you’ puts emphasis on the anger Eric is feeling.
Proves her death has a much affect and impact on the younger generation.
Challenging the older generation instead of respecting them.
‘Mother - I begged you and begged you to stop’
Shelia Act 2
Shelia had begged her mother to stop as unlike the rest of her family she realises the Inspector already knows the full story.
‘(Shouting) And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her - and that’s what matters’
Eric Act 3
Later on the younger generation lose respect for their parents going against how they respected them at the start of the playa d traditional expectations of age.
Throughout the play their attitude towards the older generation changes as they lose respect towards them due to their actions and behaviour towards Eva’s death.
‘You’ve a lot to learn yet. And I’m talking as a hard-headed practical man of business’
Mr Birling Act 1
- Mr Birling is very dominant and thinks a great deal of himself.
- ‘You’ve a lot to learn yet’ he looks down at the younger generation.
- Repeated phrase- ‘hard-headed practical man’ proves his self-satisfaction as he boasts about how he is.
