Mrs Birling Act 1

• Who is Mrs. Birling in the context of the play?

  She is a perfect example of aristocratic women during the Edwardian era.
• How does Priestley portray Mrs. Birling's social status?

  He satirizes a society that defines individuals by their roles within the class system.
• What does it signify that Mrs. Birling is referred to as "Mr. Birling's wife"?

  It suggests her social role dehumanizes her and detaches her from her identity.
• What might Priestley be mocking through Mrs. Birling's character?

  He could be mocking people who strictly follow social roles.
• How is Mrs. Birling's identity described in relation to her class?

  She doesn't have her own identity and is defined by her class and her husband's status.
• What does the quote "Arthur you're not supposed to say such things" reveal about Mrs. Birling?

  It shows she is a puppet of her class and wants to adhere to its conventions.
• Why does Mrs. Birling want to adhere to her class's conventions?

  Because it makes her feel important.
• What does Mrs. Birling do in relation to the patriarchy?

  She works to uphold the patriarchy
• How does Mrs. Birling demonstrate her acceptance of gender roles?

  By dismissing herself from the room to leave the men alone
• What does Mrs. Birling's statement about leaving the men imply about her view on gender hierarchy?

  She respects her husband's higher position in the gender hierarchy
• What does Mrs. Birling tell Sheila about marriage?

  That marriage involves adopting a different set of controls and norms
• How does Mrs. Birling's worldview reflect her role as a wife?

  It emphasizes her belief in traditional gender roles
• How does Priestley use Mrs. Birling's character in the context of Edwardian marriage?

  • To illustrate marriage as a rite of passage
  • To show men's control over their wives
  • To depict women's shift to stricter control
• What does the phrase "rite of passage" imply in the context of marriage during the Edwardian era?

  It implies that marriage signifies a transition into a new social role
• What societal changes does Priestley suggest through the depiction of marriage in the Edwardian era?

  That men gained control over their wives while women faced stricter controls