Mrs Birling Flashcards
Her age, personality and her social stasis
“About fifty, a rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior”
Not understanding girls of other classes
“girls of that class”
Using the husband as a way to show of.
‘you know, my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that
he’s still a magistrate’
Not taking responsibility for what happened to Eva and blaming it on Eva
‘I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame’
Claiming she did nothing wrong
“I’ve done nothing wrong – and you know it.”
Not realising that the father is her son
Not helping Eva when she was pregnant
“Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.”
Not believing what Eva smith was saying
“She was giving herself ridiculous airs…claiming elaborate fine
feelings…that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
Thinking the poor/Working class would never refuse money And the money was stolen so Eva did not want it
“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
Not taking the blame
but sorry
“I’m sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But I accept
no blame at all”
Putting the blame on the father
Dealt with publicly
(Her son)
“he ought to be dealt with very severely-…make sure that he’s
compelled to confess in public his responsibility”
The inspector is gone and says she had nothing to confess
‘he certainly didn’t make me confess – I had done no more than my duty’
