Mrs Birling

Question 1

Stage Directions
Adjective - ‘‘c—’’
Age ‘f—-‘’

Answer 1

'’cold’’ symbolises and foreshadows her behaviour towards the lower classes, specifically Eva.

Coupled with her age being ‘‘fifty’’, we have a notion that the older generation are more narrow-minded and reluctant to change - another form of foreshadowing.

Question 2

Stage Directions

‘‘h– h——’s s——–’’

Answer 2

'’her husbands social superior’’
Her position within society is made clear and outlines the pride she will later display when refusing Eva charity.

The noun ‘‘superior’’ modifies her position and this belief that she is above others perhaps it even serves to highlight the gap that capitalism has created between classes.

Question 3

Dehumanisation

‘‘I d–‘t s——- f— - m—— w– t– —– ——- —- Girls of —- —-‘’

Answer 3

'’I don’t suppose for a moment we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class…’’
Dehumanisation of Eva and all girls of the lower class.

'’Girls’’ is a huge generalisation, implying all girls in poverty will try commit suicide. Shows a lack of understanding - the apathy links back to ‘‘cold’’

Question 4

Dehumanisation

‘‘a g— – —- —-‘’

Answer 4

'’a girl of that sort’’
Use of the determiner ‘‘that’’ reiterates disdain and a disregard - foreshadows the charity incident. Creates a sense of detachment.. She feels morally superior, is Priestley saying Capitalism encourages moral corruption? Well, through Mrs Birling, yes. Yes he is.

Question 5

Charity Incident

‘‘I u— m- —— to —- – ——’’

Answer 5

'’I used my influence to have it refused’’
Abstract noun ‘‘influence’’ shows that Mrs Birling abuses her position. Complete opposite of what a charity should be - portrays the selfish capitalist attitudes.

Question 6

Charity Incident

‘‘naturally t— — — – — —- — —– – —– — —-‘’

Answer 6

'’naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case’’

'’prejudiced’’ unreasonable feelings without knowledge shows unfair behaviour
‘‘naturally’’ suggests it was natural for her to make such an outrageous and unsympathetic decision

Question 7

Naive

‘‘per—— j——-‘’

Answer 7

'’perfectly justified’’
adverb ‘‘perfectly’’ heightens the ignorance of Mrs Birling. She is unable to see the error or consequences of her behaviour, she is naive.
She thinks her family is perfect and all problems exist outside - they only see what they want to see. ‘‘pink and intimate’’ rose tinted filter

Question 8

Remorse?

‘‘B– s—–… I m—- … its ri——’’

Answer 8

'’But surely… I mean… its ridiculous’’
Sentence is fragmented to show the shock, horror and disgust. However, she only shows a hint of remorse when she discovers it was Eric’s child.

Even now, she thinks ‘‘its ridiculous’’ for Eric had a relationship with a lower class girl.

Question 9

Morality Play

‘‘First s— —— h—– Mrs ——’’

Answer 9

'’First she called herself Mrs Birling’’

She metaphorically represents pride - her disdain for the lower classes is evident throughout the play.