mrs birling

• "Girls of THAT class"


  This shows how Mrs Birling sees herself as socially and morally superior to Eva Smith because of her class and may feel the working class are a different species to her and human kind. (Class/power/gender)
• "Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility"

  Mrs Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for the death of Eva, and refuses this as she feels that as a superior class to her she doesn't have to accept responsibility. (responsibility/class)
• "(agitated) I don't believe it. I won't believe it."


  After finding out the father of the child was Eric, Mrs Birling showed naivety and ignorance towards the revelation. This ignorance highlights Priestley's criticism of the working class. She is shocked as she cannot believe an upper class child like her son would ever sleep with someone of the lower class. (class)
• "Yes I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence - quite deliberate - and naturally was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case"


  Mrs Birling shows her power she has over the lower class as she has the ability to turn Eva down when she was in a state of need. She felt that due to Eva's class and state, she had right reason and power to send Eva away without help. (power/class)
• "They're over-tired. In the morning they'll (Sheila & Eric) be as amused as we are"


  Mrs Birling undermines the younger generation making them feel like children by blaming their protests about why their parents won't accept responsibility on tiredness, showing how ignorant she is. This continues to show how little care she has as now she feels no repercussions will come her way. (Responsibility/Generational Divide)
• "I'm very sorry. But I think she only had herself to blame"

  Continues to show Mrs Birling's ignorance and and refusal to accept any responsibility at the death of Eva. She still continues to feel superiority because of her class and feels due to her high status she doesn't have to accept blame.(Responsibility/class)
• "Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of or that won't bear investigation"


  Mrs Birling will know that she has done something that has affected Eva yet when confronted is prepared to show zero responsibility to her actions as she feels she did the right thing and had nothing to do with Eva's death. She still refuses to accept responsibility which shows contrast to Sheila and Eric who do accept the blame for what they have done. (Generational Divide/Responsibility)