Mrs Birling

• 1. “a rather cold woman”


  Shows her unsympathetic and individualistic nature
• 2) “ her husband’s social superior“ 


  Has a higher status than her husband

  Belongs to an upper class family
• 3) “men … have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business“


  Attitude to men

  Helps Gerald with his excuse
• 4) “What an expression, Sheila!”


  Shows awareness of social propriety
• 8) “Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility“


  Refusing to accept responsibility is more important than sympathy for her
• 9) “I didn’t believe a word of it.”


  Abrupt and dismissive

  Reinforces her prejudice

  Invalidated the feelings of lower class
• 10) “(smiling)”


  Celebrated the escape of responsibility

  Return to celebration at start showing no lesson learnt
• 5) “You seem to have made a great impression on this child”


  Infantilising - influencing younger gen
• 6) “Girls of that class”


  Is judgemental and superior

  “that class” = doesn’t value working class
• 7) “You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor”


  Thinks social status is important

  “of course” = asserts her authority - power