sybil birling
- Created by: 1818
- Created on: 26-12-21 15:21
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- Sybil Birling
- "I accept no blame for it at all"
- Uncaring nature of capitalism
- Embodies Pride - one of the 7 deadly sins
- Play is used to teach moral behaviour
- "Girls of that class"
- Prejudice
- Sybil = Sibyl
- Sibyl = greek myth - famous for gifts of prophecy - ironic as Sybil is blind to the truth
- She COULD have behaved differently - like her name
- Blind: dismissive but aware of Eric's alcoholism - only one who didn't realise Eric got Eva pregnant "I don't believe it. I won't believe it"
- Last person who could have helped Eva, so often most blamed
- HOWEVER
- This may not have been what Priestley intended: what tips Eva over the edge is being sexually exploited by Eric and Gerald
- She was left until last, so represents the last resort (the safety net) that society provides to the poor
- 1945 = birth of Welfare State - so from 1912 until the end of the war, Welfare was left to charities - who were funded by the rich - risk of prejudice
- Despite of her being prejudice "girls of that class" - why should she believe Eva? - Eva used her name = fraud and disgracing her - then lied about Father of child: claimed he abandoned her -
- Sybil: "I didn't see any reason to believe that one story should be truer than the other"
- Priestley's point = if we had a Welfare State, help would be provided to those who need it - rather than up to possible prejudice rooted system who decipher who can and can't be helped
- Vote LABOUR gov - who will provide a Welfare State
- HOWEVER
- "I accept no blame for it at all"
- Priestley then CONDEMS Sybil for not feeling guilty, even though her decision led to the death of her grandchild
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