Mrs Birling's Social Superiority in Act 2

In Act 2, Mrs Birling's quotes continue to emphasize her sense of social superiority and her refusal to acknowledge the humanity of the working class.

Quote: "As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!"

This exclamatory sentence highlights Mrs Birling's certainty in her prejudiced views. The use of "ever" exaggerates her conviction, while "that sort" further distances her from Eva's humanity.

Vocabulary: Classism - prejudice against people belonging to a particular social class.

Mrs Birling's character embodies the themes of socialism vs capitalism and the generational divide between older and younger characters in the play.

Highlight: Her refusal to associate with the lower class stems from a fear of harming her name or status, reflecting broader upper-class views of the time.

Her self-assured and obnoxious character is emphasized through her belief that any opinion other than hers is absurd and incorrect.

Mrs Birling's Lack of Social Responsibility

Act 2 further reveals Mrs Birling's character through her unwillingness to accept responsibility for her actions towards Eva Smith.

Quote: "Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility."

This statement showcases Mrs Birling's prejudice against people from lower classes, assuming they have lower moral standards. Her social standards blind her to the possibility of her son's involvement with a woman "of that sort."

Definition: Social responsibility - the idea that individuals have an obligation to act for the benefit of society at large.

Mrs Birling's inability to grasp the concept of collective social responsibility is a key aspect of her character. Her views starkly contrast with those of the younger generation in the play.

Highlight: The Birlings are portrayed as a flawed family, conveying Priestley's critique of upper-class imperfections in society.

Mrs Birling's Refusal to Accept Blame

In the final part of Act 2, Mrs Birling's quotes demonstrate her extreme self-centeredness and unwillingness to accept any blame for her actions.

Quote: "But I accept no blame at all"

This statement, following a superficial apology, reveals the depth of Mrs Birling's refusal to acknowledge her role in Eva's demise.

Highlight: The use of the abstract noun "blame" implies that Mrs Birling views responsibility as solely individual, failing to grasp the concept of collective social responsibility.

Her character remains resistant to change, unwilling to listen to anyone but herself. This stubbornness is a key feature of Mrs Birling's character analysis.

Example: The conjunction "but" in her statement completely negates her previous apology, revealing her true, cold-hearted nature.

Mrs Birling's character serves as a foil to the younger generation's more progressive attitudes, highlighting the play's themes of generational conflict and social change.

Mrs Birling's Classism and Disrespect

Mrs Birling's character analysis in Act 1 reveals her deeply ingrained classism and disrespect towards the working class. Her language choices when referring to Eva Smith demonstrate a clear social divide and lack of empathy.

Quote: "Girls of that class"

This phrase encapsulates Mrs Birling's view of the working class. The use of "that" as a demonstrative pronoun emphasizes her disgust and unwillingness to associate with lower classes.

Highlight: The concrete noun "girls" and the plural noun "guts" further depersonalize Eva, stripping her of individuality and humanity.

Mrs Birling's short, dismissive sentences mirror the upper class's desire to keep the working class "quiet and out of mind." This linguistic choice effectively conveys to the audience the extent to which the upper class wishes to overlook and dismiss the lower classes.

Example: The phrase "Girls of that class" is used repeatedly, reinforcing Mrs Birling's ingrained classism throughout the play.