Quotes

• Quote 1

  • “I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the girl’s behaviour was quite disgraceful.”
  • Mrs. Birling criticizes Eva Smith, accusing her of improper conduct after discovering that Eva had been involved with her son, Eric.
  • Mrs. Birling’s condemnation of Eva reflects her rigid class prejudice and moral superiority. She is quick to judge the behavior of the lower classes and is completely blind to her own role in Eva’s suffering.
• Quote 2

  • “I think she had only herself to blame.”
  • Mrs. Birling places the blame for Eva’s tragic end entirely on Eva’s shoulders, refusing to accept that her own actions contributed to the situation.
  • This statement shows Mrs. Birling’s lack of empathy. She refuses to acknowledge her role in Eva’s downfall, adhering to a mindset that people are solely responsible for their own problems, especially those from lower social classes.
• Quote 3

  • “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
  • Mrs. Birling dismisses Eva Smith’s refusal to accept charity, implying that someone of Eva’s social class would never turn down help, no matter the circumstances.
  • This quote highlights Mrs. Birling’s deep class prejudice. She dehumanizes the working class, assuming that someone from that background would automatically accept charity, even if it were offered in an undignified manner. Her arrogance and assumption of superiority are evident in this remark.
• Quote 4

  • “You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.”
  • Mrs. Birling’s dismissive attitude towards the Inspector as she tries to downplay the significance of his investigation into her family’s actions.
  • Mrs. Birling’s attempt to undermine the Inspector reveals her arrogance and belief that she is beyond reproach. She dismisses the Inspector’s authority and continues to distance herself from the moral responsibility for Eva Smith’s death.
• Quote 5

  • “I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide.”
  • Mrs. Birling expresses disbelief and indifference to the fact that Eva Smith’s death was a result of her mistreatment by those in power, including herself.
  • Mrs. Birling’s inability to see the consequences of her actions as a symptom of systemic inequality reflects her disconnection from the social realities affecting the working class. She refuses to understand the bigger picture of how social structures contribute to people's suffering, displaying her rigid, upper-class perspective.
• Quote 6

  • “I’m not a socialist.”
  • Mrs. Birling rejects the Inspector's socialist perspective, which emphasizes collective responsibility and equality.
  • This quote represents Mrs. Birling’s rejection of any ideology that challenges her privileged position in society. Her refusal to entertain socialist ideas reflects the play’s critique of the upper class’s resistance to social change and collective responsibility.