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Mrs Birling Quotes and Social Class in An Inspector Calls

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Katie Toppin

17/10/2023

English Literature

An Inspector Calls: Mrs Birling Key Quotes & Analysis

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English Literature

Mrs Birling Quotes and Social Class in An Inspector Calls

Mrs Birling: A Complex Character in An Inspector Calls

J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" presents Mrs Birling as a pivotal character embodying upper-class prejudices and social irresponsibility. Her quotes reveal deep-seated classism, lack of empathy, and resistance to change, making her a central figure in the play's critique of Edwardian society.

  • Mrs Birling's character is defined by her strong sense of social superiority and disdain for the working class.
  • Her interactions with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton highlight themes of social class, responsibility, and the generational divide.
  • Key quotes from Mrs Birling demonstrate her prejudiced views and reluctance to accept blame for her actions.
  • Her character arc serves as a stark contrast to the younger generation's more progressive attitudes.
...

17/10/2023

2121

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

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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.

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

View

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.

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

View

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.

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English Literature

Mrs Birling Quotes and Social Class in An Inspector Calls

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Katie Toppin

@katietoppin

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Mrs Birling: A Complex Character in An Inspector Calls

J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls" presents Mrs Birling as a pivotal character embodying upper-class prejudices and social irresponsibility. Her quotes reveal deep-seated classism, lack of empathy, and resistance to change, making her a central figure in the play's critique of Edwardian society.

  • Mrs Birling's character is defined by her strong sense of social superiority and disdain for the working class.
  • Her interactions with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton highlight themes of social class, responsibility, and the generational divide.
  • Key quotes from Mrs Birling demonstrate her prejudiced views and reluctance to accept blame for her actions.
  • Her character arc serves as a stark contrast to the younger generation's more progressive attitudes.
...

17/10/2023

2121

 

10/11

 

English Literature

34

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

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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.

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

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.

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

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.

Do Bisting (social responsibility). The use of the concrete nour 'girls when indirectly referring to Eva suggests a serve of disrespect towa

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

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.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Ranked #1 Education App

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average app rating

20 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 17 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.