Mrs Birling

• 'I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-' - A3


  Social class

  The term 'girl' connotes innocence and vulnerability, showcasing her willingness to exploit the vulnerable in society and rationalise it for capitalist advancement. The demonstrative adjective 'that' dismisses them as an aggregate, inferior, and homogenous group that all behave the same way. Mrs Birling is entirely governed by the arrogance of her social status - she can't even bring herself to specify Eva's social class, considering it so far beneath her.
• He certainly didn't make me confess - A3

  Responsibility

  The verb 'confess' has connotations of crime, her denial of criminal acts and accountability comes effortlessly, reflecting the irresponsibility and immorality inherent to capitalist ideologies. The imperative verb 'make' shows it is a way of keeping afloat in the power struggle between her and the Inspector. This suggests that admitting responsibility would be conceding to the Inspector, posing a threat to her status in the capitalist hierachy.
• I consider I did my duty - A3

  Responsibility

  The noun 'duty' could be a tool to explore the disparity between capitalists and socialists. For capitalists, upholding the class system was paramount, thus, for Mrs Birling, her duty and personal responsibility may be to uphold the class gap by refusing Eva help. However, this stance contrasts sharply with her anticipated role within her organisation, where she is expected to adopt a philanthropic position. Priestley introduces the audience to the social duty vs moral duty dichotomy.
• "What an expression, Sheila! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!" - A1


  Older v Younger Gen

  She is presented as a marionette of her class, as she is complicit in upholding its conventions. The exclamation sentence emphasises her frantically trying to iron out any social faux pas so they operate seamlessly within the expectations of their class, and she is reluctant to deviate from these in any way.