Mrs Birling

• How does Priestley use the character of Mrs. Birling in "An Inspector Calls"?

  To criticize the inequalities of the class system in Edwardian society
• What is one way Priestley criticizes the class system through Mrs. Birling?

  By depicting her as bossy and controlling
• What does Mrs. Birling's character reveal about her relationship with her husband?

  She is his social superior
• What are some examples of Mrs. Birling's controlling behavior in Act One?

  • Directing Arthur not to say certain things
  • Telling Sheila not to tease
  • Insisting on leaving the men alone
  • Criticizing the timing of business discussions
• How does Priestley establish Mrs. Birling's character at the beginning of the play?

  By showing her as controlling and obsessed with appearances
• What is Mrs. Birling's reaction to Inspector Goole's comments in Act Two?

  She finds them impertinent
• What does Mrs. Birling's discomfort with Inspector Goole signify about her character?

  It shows her expectation of authority and control
• How do Mr. and Mrs. Birling view their connections to the police?

  They believe it gives them an advantage over the law
• What does Priestley suggest about the Birlings' view of the law?

  They see themselves as above it
• How does Mrs. Birling respond to questions about Eva Smith?

  She lies outright for two pages
• What is the name of the character that Priestley uses to criticize the inequalities of the class system in Edwardian society?

  Mrs. Birling
• How does Priestley present Mrs. Birling as a controlling and demanding character at the start of the play?

  Priestley establishes Mrs. Birling as bossy and controlling through examples of her directing or controlling other characters, such as telling Arthur he's not supposed to say certain things, telling Sheila and Eric not to keep Gerald in the room too long, and ordering Edna the maid around.
• How does Priestley use Mrs. Birling's resistance to confessing her connection to Eva Smith to create tension and frustration in the audience?

  Priestley uses Mrs. Birling's refusal to confess her link to Eva Smith, even after the other characters have done so, to slowly build tension and frustration in the audience as they wait for her to finally admit her involvement.
• What does Priestley say Mrs. Birling shares with the women he described in his radio show who were more concerned about their own lives than helping others?

  Priestley says Mrs. Birling shares many characteristics with the women he described who had turned inward and become petty and self-centered instead of helpful, due to living easy and comfortable lives while others struggled.
• How does Priestley use the reference to bells and the presence of Edna the maid to emphasize the Birling family's privilege and outdated thinking?

  Priestley's inclusion of the Birling family using a system of bells to summon their maid Edna highlights how the Birlings are stuck in the old ways of the Edwardian era, where working-class women worked in difficult conditions for little pay. This contrasts with the decline of domestic staff in middle-class homes by 1945, showing the Birlings' privilege and archaic thinking.
• How does Priestley use the Birling family's attitudes towards those less fortunate than themselves to question the morality of Edwardian society?

  Priestley depicts the privileged Birling family taking advantage of and looking down on those less fortunate, such as Mrs. Birling's prejudiced views of the working class and the family's expectation of special treatment from the police inspector. This allows Priestley to question the morality and complacency of the middle and upper classes in Edwardian society.
• What are the key ways Priestley criticizes the class system through his depiction of Mrs. Birling?

  • Presents Mrs. Birling as bossy, controlling, and demanding, embodying the behavior of privileged Edwardian women
  • Shows Mrs. Birling's prejudiced views and lack of concern for the working class
  • Uses Mrs. Birling's resistance to confessing her connection to Eva Smith to build tension and frustration
  • Highlights the Birling family's outdated privilege through references to bells and domestic staff