mrs birling

• "girls of that class." - mrs birling


  she is showing no respect for them. This is a result of her capitalist mindset. Priestley is trying to show that upper classes are not aware of the real world while the lower class endure the suffering off the backs of the upper classes' actions and arrogance.
• "I blame the young man, he ought to be dealt with severely" - mrs birling


  absolves herself from all blame, refusing to take responsibility. She eagerly judges the working class for immoral behaviour but reasily excuses herself.
• "my husband was lord mayor" - mrs birling


  Similarly to Mr Birling, she uses her social class and superiority to intimidate the Inspector rather than actually engage with him: she is boasting proudly about his reputation.
• "I did nothing I'm ashamed of" - mrs birling


  "ashamed" denotes reluctance to accept guilt through fear of judgement which exposes her true colours: selfish, cold, and prejudiced, not the charitable woman she is percieved to be.
• "as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money" - mrs birling


  "that sort" is grouping all lower class women together and stereotyping them as desperate for money and willing to do anything for it.