mrs birling quotes

• "she called herself mrs birling... it was simply a piece of gross impertinence" 


  strong prejudice from this point onwards, opinion of eva soured/offended
• "girls of that class"


  prejudice, sets out class division
• "he certainly didn't make me confess"


  finds herself superior to inspector, what was she able to keep secret?
• "i was the only one of you who didn't give in to him"


  'give in' suggests its a test of strength, arrogant
• "it isn't true... you aren't the type - you don't get drunk"


  ignorant parenting, unaware of eric's serious drinking problem
• "i'll ring from the drawing room when we want coffee"


  want = demanding, shows privileged nature
• "as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money"


  out of touch, looks down on lower classes, evident dislike of eva
• "i'll tell you what i told her. go and look for the father of the child"


  remorseless, focused on respectable norms instead of helping eva
• "she only had herself to blame"


  didn't see eva deserving of charity, doesn't acknowledge eva's situation
• "i don't think we want any further details of this disgusting affair"


  'disgusting' shows how she views the whole case, superiority complex
• "i did nothing i am ashamed of or that won't bear investigation"


  doesn't see wrong in actions, static attitude
• "but i accept no blame for it"


  confuses blame with responsibility, doesn't accept consequences of actions
• "you are quite wrong to suppose i shall regret what i did"


  informal tone - losing patience/escaping guilt