Mrs Birling

• Mrs. Birling: ''naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.''
• Mrs. Birling

  • Her values and sense of duty are warped by prejudice
  • Refuses to take responsibility for her role in Eva's death
  • Represents 'respectable' upper class woman
  • Feels entitled to look down on the working class
• Mrs. Birling: ''And in spite of what's happened to the girl since, I consider I did my duty.''
• Mrs. Birling: '(reproachfully) Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things'
• Mrs. Birling: 'What an expression, Sheila! Really the things you girls pick up these days!'
• Mrs. Birling: 'Please don't contradict me like that. And in any case I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-'
• Mrs. Birling: '(with dignity) Yes. We've done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases.'
• Mrs. Birling: 'If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you're quite mistaken. Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of or that won't bear investigation.'
• Mrs. Birling: 'I'm sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame for it at all.'
• Mrs. Birling: 'If, as she said, he didn't belong to her class, and was some drunken young idler, then that's all the more reason why he shouldn't escape. He should be made an example of. If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him.'
• Mrs. Birling: 'Really, from the way you children talk, you might be wanting to help him instead of us. Now just be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do.'