Mrs Sybil Birling 💄💅

• Mrs Birling is married to Mr Birling, has public influence, and is a symbol of the hypocrisy of the upper classes
• She is portrayed as unsympathetic and individualistic, representing the selfish nature of the upper classes and their prejudices
• Mrs Birling is complicit in her own oppression and inflicts this upon her daughter
• She views marriage as a means to secure financial security and social status, not centered around love
• Mrs Birling upholds the patriarchal system of 1912, believing men's desires should be accepted by submissive women
• She perceives Eva's suicide as the girl's own fault and denies her role in the chain of events leading to it
• Mrs Birling dismisses displays of emotion as weakness and opposes Sheila's newfound socialist views
• She resists the suffrage movement, viewing it as undermining traditional gender roles and leading to domestic chaos
• Mrs Birling's marriage to Mr Birling is likely a marriage of convenience, arranged for social mobility or financial gain
• Sheila resists her mother's manipulation and rejects her influence after the Inspector's arrival
• Sheila uses the adjective "impertinent" to describe Eva, which is later echoed by her mother, Mrs. Birling
• Sheila rejects the use of the adjective "impertinent" towards the end of the play, calling it "such a silly word", indicating a shift in power dynamics between her and her mother
• Sheila aligns herself with the views of the Inspector, while Mrs. Birling rejects the Inspector's message
• Mrs. Birling denies all responsibility and deflects the blame onto her son, Eric, showing her lack of social responsibility
• Sheila immediately accepts her role in Eva's suicide and expresses remorse, acknowledging her part in the tragedy
• Sheila symbolizes the progressive younger generation, while Mrs. Birling represents conservatism and resistance to change
• Mrs. Birling is in complete opposition to the Inspector and his message of increased social responsibility
• Mrs. Birling maintains a strong disdain for Eva Smith and her working-class background
• Mrs. Birling's indifference to Eric's welfare is evident as she blames him and shows no sympathy, even when confronted with the truth
• Mrs. Birling and her husband are static characters, with their beliefs remaining unchanged at the end of the play
• Mrs. Birling's public image is of utmost importance to her, and she is concerned about how the family is perceived by others
• Priestley presents Mrs. Birling as benefiting from the class system but still being discontented and paranoid about her reputation being tarnished
• The wealth of the Birlings doesn’t bring them happiness, but paranoia and insecurity
• Mrs Birling's husband is never content with his current status and wealth
• Mrs Birling's avarice is demonstrated by her financially motivated marriage to Mr Birling
• Mr Birling's cupidity is evident as he proclaims Sheila’s marriage to Gerald “one of the happiest nights of my life”
• Priestley shows the unhappiness of the upper class and the suffering of the working class to demonstrate the imperative to rid society of this system
• Priestley portrays Mrs Birling as rejecting any sense of responsibility
• Mrs Birling remains ideologically the same throughout the play
• Mrs Birling may consciously know that her actions were immoral, but convinces herself that she has no reason to be responsible for Eva’s subsequent actions to end her own life
• Priestley uses Mrs Birling as symbolic of the upper classes’ resistance to change
• Mrs Birling is used by Priestley to symbolize extreme individualism
• Mrs Birling gives priority to herself over her own family
• Mrs Birling justifies denying Eva Smith financial aid to defend her social image and seek revenge
• Priestley portrays Mr Birling as valuing a duty to business over a duty to the needy in society
• The Inspector investigates the morality of the characters in the play and makes them consider what their “duty” should really be
• Mrs Birling evidently lacks the capacity to empathize with the suffering of the lower classes
• Mrs Birling blames Eva for her own suicide and provides no comfort to her daughter, Sheila
• Priestley shows Mrs Birling as deliberately misusing her upper-class power and privilege
• Mrs Birling refused to help Eva, leading to Eva’s moral predicament