Mrs Birling- An Inspector Calls

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  • Created by: lucyaa
  • Created on: 03-04-17 19:05
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  • Mrs Birling
    • responsibility
      • "I don't think we can help you much"
        • instantly Mrs B defends her and her family before she understands the scene.
      • "Go and look for the father of the child"
        • blames the father (Eric) for Eva's death.
      • She refuses to take any responsibility
        • "I think she only had herself to blame"
        • "I accept no blame at all"
    • high-handed
      • as she inherited wealth unlike her husband she feels as though she is better.
        • "a rather cold woman and her husband's superior"
        • "Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things"
      • "That...is a trifle impertinent, Inspector"
        • Addresses the Inspector whilst believing she is above the law.
      • "I beg your pardon!"
        • not used to being talked to in this manner by someone of a lower class.
      • "you have no power to make me change my mind"
      • "the rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me"
        • thinks she is above him- realises he isn't a real inspector.
    • treatment of children
      • "Really the things you girls pick up these days"
      • "you seem to have made a great impression on this child"
        • she is disrespectful whilst calling Sheila a child.
      • "He's only a boy"
        • trying to reduce Eric to a mere boy to prevent him from believing he's an alcoholic.
      • "please be quiet, Sheila"
    • Capitalist views
      • "Girls of that class-"
        • she has a negative view of the working classes.
      • "you know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor"
        • believes because she is in the upper class she shouldn't be involved in these cases.
      • "she was claiming elaborate fine feelings...thatwere simply absurd in a girl in her position"
        • bigoted towards the working class.
    • Patriachal society
      • she turns a blind eye to Mr B's absences
        • You'll have to get used to that, just as I had"
        • "men...have to spend all their time and  energy on their business"
      • "Sheila and I had better go into the drawing-room"
        • follows traditions
    • naive
      • "women of the town?"
        • she  is shocked about the hypocrisy.
      • "you must know this isn't true"
        • desperately asks Gerald if Eric does have a drinking problem.
      • "we are learning something tonight"
        • refers to Meggarty but also to her family.
      • "he's compelled to confess in public his responsibility"
        • fails to recognise that it is Eric.

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