Mrs Birling

• 'about fifty, a rather cold woman, and her husband's social superior'


  Act One: This quotation gives us some background on Mrs. Birling, she may feel some resentment the fact she has married down socially however
• Act One: Mrs. Birling nags her husband and tries to keep him on the right track

  'Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things-'
• Act One: It becomes clear that Mr. Birling does not spend much time with Mrs. Birling, which she has come to accept and is now warning Sheila for the same treatment from Gerald

  'When you're married, you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business'
• Act One: Mrs. Birling does not approve of the language that Sheila uses

  'Really the things you girls pick up these days'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is a very self assured lady and is not afraid to speak her mind

  '(Mrs. Birling enters, briskly and self confidently)'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling looks down upon those below her socially

  'Girls of that class-'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling things that her and her husband's achievements can get them out of any situation

  'You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago and that he's still a magistrate-'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling still treats Sheila like a child and shouts at her occasionally

  'Sheila!' 'Please be quiet, Sheila' 'You're behaving like a hysterical child tonight' 'Don't be childish Sheila'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is very stuck in her ways and is a stubborn lady

  'It isn't true' 'I don't believe it. I won't believe it'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling struggles to take any responsibility and has quite capitalist views, not taking any blame for what happened to Eva

  'She only had herself to blame'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling thinks that her name is famous and everyone wishes to use it

  'She'd impertinently made use of our name'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is stubborn that she has done nothing wrong

  'Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is convinced that she's absolutely in the right

  'I've done nothing wrong and you know it'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is happy to shift the responsibility onto anyone other than herself, not realising that she has just put it onto Eric

  'Go and look for the father of the child, it's his responsibility' 'If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling is convinced that anyone with less money than her would take money wherever they can

  'As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling shows no remorse and claims that she never will

  'You're quite wrong to suppose I shall regret what I did'
• Act Two: Mrs. Birling will not take any blame for what has happened

  'But I accept no blame for it at all'
• Act Three: Mrs. Birling cannot admit that Eric has done wrong and instead turns to others to say they have made a mistake

  'There must be some mistake'
• Act Three: Mrs. Birling tries to convince herself that Eric isn't a drunk by telling him that he isn't

  'You don't get drunk'
• Act Three: IG is blunt with Mrs. Birling about how she did not do her job of helping people when they turn to her

  'You turned her away when she most needed help'
• Act Three: Mrs. Birling is happy to be ashamed of other people but cannot take responsibility for herself

  'I'm absolutely ashamed of you'
• Act Three: Mrs. Birling thinks that the younger generation are getting carried away with taking responsibility

  
  

  'Really, from the way you children talk, you might be wanting to help him instead of us'
• "she was giving herself ridiculous airs ... claiming elaborate fine feelings ... that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"


  Act 2
• "He certainly didn't make me confess - I had done more than my duty"


  RUDE GYAL act 3