Mrs Birling Act 2

• Shouldered (covered) in pomposity (self importance) and egoism (self-centred)

  "[enters, briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key]"

  Mrs Birling is so preformative in her expression of her class that is seems she's living a different narrative to the rest of the characters in the play- constantly upholding patriarchal class performance because it demonstrates her class and status.

  Her movement on the stage is Priestley's way of mocking capitalist and their performance they put on in order to obtain more power and status.
• Shouldered (covered) in pomposity (self importance) and egoism (self-centred)


  "[smiling socially] [same easy tone] [affecting great surprise]"

  stage directions from Mrs Birling which show she's conceited and calculated- every move and speech is thought through- ensures she withholds the superiority over others. No emotion is natural that's why we don't see and remorse from her as every emotion she portrays is a facade.
• Shrouded (covered) in pomposity (self importance) and egoism


  "Girls of that class-"

  the use of "that" is very dismissive as she has gathered all the lower class in one word and dismissive them in one go.

  this is a clear perspective of Mrs Birlings snobbery towards anyone below her class status.
• Ignorant and oblivious


  "he's only a boy"

  Priestley employs dramatic irony as Mrs Birling absolves Eric from his behaviour whilst drinking- it seems he's fr more than an innocent little boy, exposing Mrs Birling's oblivion and ignorance even towards her children.
• Ignorant and oblivious


  "well really! Alderman Meggarty! We really are learning something tonight"

  complete mockery of the inspector and his teachings of responsibility.

  in one sense this exposes how ignorant she is of what goes on around her, she is encapsulated within the artificial bubble that she has created herself.
• Ignorant and oblivious


  Her name is wholly ironic and would be noted by Priestley's contemporary audience who had a great understanding of plays. The name "Sibyl" is an illusion to the Sibyls of Greek mythology which were prophetesses that could see into the future.

  Priestley may be highlighting how her arrogance is so averted she perceives herself as all knowing

  Priestley mocking the capitalists that are ignorantly believing that they know it all but in actual fact they are oblivious to what is going to happen.
• Robust to accepting responsibility


  Mrs Birling is dishonest, she claims that she did not recognise this girl in the photograph the inspector showed her which Priestley uses to expose her as deceitful when it comes apparent that she did in fact see Eva smith.
• Robust to accepting responsibility


  Mrs Birling is disgusted when Eva uses her name, calling it a "gross impertinence"- we see her prejudice and egoism amplified at her disgust towards Eva.

  This seems hyperbolic as she merely used her name, which shows how highly Mrs Birling regards herself that she believes it 's a great misconduct to insult her status.

  Lower class using her name makes her feel attacked and used and it mocks her status and impurities her class.
• Robust to accepting responsibility


  "I consider it my duty"

  her arrogance is overarching- this is clearly irony as she juxtaposes what would be executed of someone in a charitable position.

  Mrs Birling uses her power to benefit her and she saw Eva Smith as someone trying to mock her and felt attacked.

  The noun"duty" cause be a tool on showing how for capitalists upholding the class system was paramount and their duty

  For Mrs Birling, her duty may be to uphold the class gap by refusing Eva's help