Mrs Birling Flashcards
(8 cards)
“A piece of gross impertinence”
(Responsibility)
Mrs Birling reference to Evas honest tale of woe with the adjective “impertinence” reveals how she believes he is absolved of all responsibility as Eva’s claim to be Mrs Birling was disrespectful.
Snobbish and prejudiced nature.
“I did nothing i’m ashamed of.”
(Responsibility)
Priestley demonstrates the true extent of Mrs Birling’s “cold” nature as despite Eva’s death, Mrs Birling does not regret her denial of aid to Eva.
“I did my duty”
(Responsibility)
Priestley’s use of the noun “duty” is used to expose Mrs Birling’s perception of duty as limited to a capitalist social duty of keeping the rich people rich and the poor people poor.
In doing so, she neglects her moral duty to provide assistance to those most in need.
“Firstly i blame the girl herself. Secondly, i blame the young man.”
(Responsibility)
Mrs Birling is unable to accept any responsibility as she deflects blame onto Eric inadvertently.
Yet, her hypocrisy is further revealed when she realises, and states “i didn’t know”, implying that she would have not placed the blame on her son for the same action.
“… done a great deal of useful work helping deserving cases”
This emphasis on the adjective “deserving” reveals Mr Birling’s joy in playing God in these young women’s lives.
Deciding whether they receive aid and benefit or are refused and suffer, a reflection of the power of the upper classes.
“girls of that class”
(Class)
The use of the concrete noun ‘girl’ in place of the proper noun ‘Eva’ suggests a sense of disrespect towards the working classes and a disregard of Eva’s humanity.
‘That’: Use of the demonstrative pronoun emphasises this lack of respect towards Eva, and a true sense of disgust towards her class - so much so that she cannot bring herself to use the correct name of the class.
“Disgusting affair”
(Class)
She is critical of Gerald’s “disgusting affiair” as a result of its inter-class nature, rather than because of his disloyalty to Sheila.
“I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it”
Auxiliary verbs “don’t” and then more emphatically “won’t”, shows her denial of the situation. Only believes what is comfortable for her.
