Act 2- Quotes Flashcards
(6 cards)
Which quote shows that Birling has extra blame for Eva’s death?
Birling: ‘You’ll apologize at one… I’m a public man-‘
Inspector: ‘ Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges’
- Priestley points an extra finger of blame at Birling not just for his actions but for his failure to see that his public position entails a duty of responsibility to other people.
- Theme Socialism vs Capitalism
Which quote shows that the inspector wants everyone to accept their guilt?
Inspector: ‘We’ll have to share our guilt’
-The inspector does not want only sheila to feel all the guilt.
He wants everyone to realize that they contributed to Eva’s death.
-Theme: Responsibility
Which quote shows that Mrs Birling thinks she is socially superior?
Mrs Birling: ‘Girls of that class’
- Here we can see Mrs Birling believes that she is socially and morally superiors- a snob.
- The word ‘that’ suggest that she puts herself above anyone not belonging to her class.
Which quote implies that Gerald may have taken advantage of Eva?
Gerald: ‘All she wanted was to talk- a little friendliness’
-The audience will feel more sympathetic towards Eva since it sounds like Gerald has taken advantage of her when she was lonely.
Which quote shows that Mrs Birling does not think she is responsible for Eva’s death?
Mrs Birling: ‘ I’m very sorry. But i think she only had herself to blame/As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money.’
- Mrs Birling isn’t sorry- she believes that it was her own fault.
- She also finds ti hard that Eva refused the money she was offered.
-Theme: Social class
Which quote shows the generation gap between the young and old?
Sheila [with sudden alarm]: ‘Mother- stop!- stop!’
- Sheilas reaction shows that Mrs Birling feels strongly for the punishment of the young man but she does not realize that it is her own son who was involved.
- Sheila tries to warn her mother but the generation gap is evident.
