Mrs Birling Act 3

• "No - Eric - please - I didn't know - I didn't understand-"

  this is closest to remorseful we see Mrs B thoughout the play. Fragmented speech depicts her inability to comunicate regarding these unfamilar, disreputable matters. First time she's not trying to keep up facade- her emotion breaks though. Hyphens could also emulate how she's trying to pause to be calculative in her response as she is preoccupied with maintenance of her pristine reputation. She has to stop constantly to articulate herself in a way that would uphold her reputation.
• Lack of conscience

  Mrs B relishes the idea of Inspector being a fraud. They perceive it as means though which to absolve (release from guilt) themselves of any responsibility as they foolishly believe it would negate (deny) their wrongdoings from being truthful. Microcosm of the upper class that Priestley is trying to present. They aren't responsible unless it directly affects their image & reputation.
• Lack of conscience

  [triumphantly] these stage directions connote to the idea that Mrs B feels like she's won a battle - she blatantly disregards the loss of innocent life & is the only enthused that her pristine reputation wont be compromised.

  on surface the metaphorical battle may be between her and the inspector who she deems "a triffle impertinent" in his behaviour. However it could be microcosmic representation of the battle between the socialist forces trying to change capitalist society and the classist older gen.
• rejecting of responsibility

  she boasts " he certainly didn't make me confess" Mrs B is overtly proud in her rejection of any responsibility for Eva's death and she feels that it's necessary to publicly assert this as truth. Shows her arrogance. The verb "confess" has connotations of crime, she asserts that she has not been unlawful in her actions to implicitly suggest shes not responsible. Mrs B lexis(word choice) insinuates that admitting responsibility would be admitting to the inspector which threatens her social role, thus reluctant to do so.
• rejecting of responsibility

  "in the morning they'll be as amused as we are" the verb "amused" implies that she's in no way complicit in (involved in) an immoral event, as it juxtaposes what she should be feeling which is guilt and remorse.
• Unfair distribution of power

  " I was the only one who didn't give in to him" this portrays her distorted perception of pride, she boasts about a lack of moral sensitivity which seems corrupt and callous. Priestley critiques how it's the insensitive echelons (authority) of society that conduct the most power.
• Unfair distribution of power

  In terms of viewing, it is a morality play, this links to Mrs B to be one of the 7 deadly sins, pride, which is extended throughout the play. This is a negative as the Edwardian Era was very religious and that committing one of these sins would be going against God. The characters embody one of the 7 deadly sins at some point of the play. Mrs B's power within the play seems entirely undeserving yet she exercises it constantly. Huge criticism from Priestley as those in power aren't necessarily those who are the most moral.