Mrs Birling

• What does Mrs Birling mean by ‘girls of that class’?

  Women from lower class backgrounds with loose morals.
• What is Mrs Birling most concerned about?

  Social etiquette.
• What is it that makes Mrs Birling socially superior to her husband?

  She has married a factory owner rather than someone from her own social class.
• What words does Priestley use in his stage directions to suggest Mrs Birling is snobbish and overly concerned with social class?

  Haughtily and grandly.
• Mrs Birling corrects her husband and daughter when their speech is inappropriate for their class. What does this suggest about her?

  It suggests Mrs Birling is out of touch, preoccupied with appearances and doesn't understand what is really important.
• What words does Mrs Birling use to describe the way Inspector Goole is conducting his inquiry?

  Peculiar and offensive.
• How does Mrs Birling react when the Inspector shows her the photograph of Eva?

  She pretends not to recognise her.
• Which ONE statement best describes Mrs Birling's reaction to Gerald's affair?

  Initially, she is disgusted but later appears to have forgiven Gerald.
• What sort of mother is Mrs Birling presented as?

  Mrs Birling appears not to know Sheila and Eric very well. She belittles and patronises them, treating them as children.
• Mrs Birling considers the Inspector's investigation to be a form of 'impertinence'. What does this suggest about her?


  Mrs Birling sees herself as too grand to be questioned and so considers the Inspector to be rude.
• What is suggested about Mrs Birling from her reference to Eva as 'a girl of that sort'?

  It suggests Mrs Birling has preconceptions about the moral differences between the classes and doesn't understand the nature of people.
• Mrs Birling shows distress at only one point in the whole play. When is this?

  When she realizes that her son, Eric, is the father of Eva Smith's child.
• How does Mrs Birling react to the revelation of Eric's heavy drinking?

  She is shocked.
• How does Mrs Birling present herself?

  As charitable, moral and refined.
• Who does Mrs Birling blame for Eva's predicament?

  The father of Eva’s unborn child.
• In Act Two, Mrs Birling states, 'If I prefer not to discuss it any further, you have no power to make me change my mind.' Which character is she speaking to here?

  Inspector Goole.