English Lit - AIC: How Sybil Birling is Presented

• Presented as an embodiment of upper class ignorance
• Through her character development, Priestley criticises those who hold power in society for their treatment of the less fortunate
• Sybil’s need for status in society is a way for Priestley to criticise the motivations of the upper class
• Ironically, she is the head of a charity for struggling women in states of help yet shows no sympathy, consideration or capacity to empathise with Eva Smith
• The inspector points out how she shouldve known how Eva was feeling at the time as a mother herself yet she “slammed the door in her face”
• Priestley also includes several references to Mrs Birling attempting to separate herself from the working class using physical barriers such as a “wall” she was “building” between Eva and the Birlings
• The use of the metaphorical barriers to represent the way the privileged put up obstacles against the unprivileged
• The “barriers“ Mrs Birling uses is especially problematic for her because she voluntarily chose to be a charity worker yet actively uses these barriers against the less fortunate
• Ultimately, Priestley uses Mrs Birlings spitefulness and the irony of her being a charity worker as a hypocrisy to show how the upper class wanted to appear more admirable to society (much like her husband the “lord mayor”) whilst not caring for the fact they claimed they’d wish for society to be better
• Mrs birling is presented as an example of the selfishness that plagues the upper classes and their lack of responsibility towards those who are suffering
• She is portrayed as someone who has been brought up to believe that it is acceptable to treat others poorly if it benefits them
• She is portrayed as someone who has no empathy or understanding of what it means to live in poverty and is only concerned with maintaining her own status within society.
• Her actions throughout the play demonstrate her willingness to sacrifice others' well-being for her own gain, highlighting the moral decay of the upper class during this period.
• Sybil Birling represents the traditional values of the Victorian era, where women were expected to prioritize family and social standing over personal ambition.
• Her attitude towards the lower classes is one of superiority and disrespect which can be seen when she refers to Eva Smith as ‘that girl’ or ‘the girl’. This shows that she does not see Eva as a person but rather just another member of the working-class whom she feels no obligation to care about.
• Mrs Birling's actions throughout the play demonstrate her complete lack of empathy towards other people. She refuses to take any blame for what happened to Eva Smith and instead tries to shift all the guilt onto Eric and Gerald Croft. Her unwillingness to accept responsibility highlights her self-centered nature and her belief that she is above the law.
• Her character highlights the idea that privilege can lead to arrogance and entitlement, which ultimately leads to a lack of compassion and care for others.
• Throughout the play, Mrs Birling's character serves as a reminder of the need for social change and reform, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues such as inequality and injustice.
• Priestly presents Mrs Birling as a symbol of the societal norms that have led to the exploitation of the working-class population by the wealthy elite.
• Throughout the play, Mrs Birling's actions and words reveal her true nature as a self-centered individual who cares little about the welfare of others.
• In conclusion, Mrs Birling represents the negative aspects of the upper class during the Edwardian era, including greed, self-interest, and disregard for the welfare of others.
• Priestly presents her character as outdated and unrealistic, emphasizing the need for change in societal norms.
• Doesn’t let the inspector change her world view
• Mrs Birling believes that people are responsible for their own fate and that they must work hard to succeed.
• She doesn’t want to accept responsibility for Eva Smith’s death because she thinks it will ruin her reputation
• Mrs Birling has no empathy towards other people
• However, she fails to recognize how her privileged position has allowed her to ignore the suffering of others.
• The audience may feel disgusted by Mrs Birling's lack of compassion and understanding
• Her language becomes more aggressive when she feels under attack from the Inspector.
• Her attitude reflects the capitalist ideology of the time, where success was seen as more important than helping those less fortunate
• Mrs Birling represents the upper class who believe in individualism and self-interest over social justice and equality
• She sees poverty as an inevitable consequence of being born into a lower class.
• Her character highlights the need for societal change towards greater empathy and responsibility towards others
• Priestley uses her character to highlight the flaws of the capitalist system and its impact on society.