An Inspector Calls | Key Quotes | Mrs Birling

[about fifty, a rather cold woman]

She is immediately described as 'cold' in the first bulk of stage directions in the play

[her husband's social superior]

She is also automatically introduced as Mr Birling's social superior, immediately showing how the theme of class is central to her character

'Arthur you're not supposed to say such things'

This again shows how central the theme of class is to her character when the cook is complemented

'Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!'

This introduces the theme of gender and more importantly gender equality that occurred at the time, relating to the social context

'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.'

Again the theme of gender is brought in as Mrs Birling sides with Gerald over Sheila as a result of gender and, arguably, class

'Now Arthur, I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this.'

This is where Mrs Birling being Mr Birling's 'social superior' comes into play, as well as showing her acting as women were expected to act at the time and care more about social subjects than business subjects

'I think Sheila and I better go into the drawing-room and leave you men-'

This relates to the social context as well as the theme of gender within the text

'Girls of that class-'

This shows how Mrs Birling sees herself as socially and morally superior to Eva Smith because of her class

'Nothing but morbid curiosity' (about Sheila)

Despite Sheila being arguably the most perceptive character of them all, Mrs Birling doesn't want her involved because of how young women were supposed to act at the time, relating to the social context as well as the themes of gender and age

'You know of course that my husband was lord Mayor only two years ago and that he's still a magistrate.'

She uses her class as a weapon to intimidate the Inspector

'Though naturally I don't know anything about this girl'

Mrs Birling lies to cover herself as she doesn't want a bad reputation because of her class

'[staggered] Well, really! Alderman Meggarty! I must say, we are learning something tonight'

She sees the upper class as perfect and is therefore shocked that a member of the upper class could act as she believes only the working class would act, relating to the social context as well as the theme of class

'It's disgusting to me.'

Mrs Birling again represents the theme of class as she sees it as disgusting that Gerald, who is upper class, would have an affair with Eva, who was working class

'Yes, I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence - quite deliberate - and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.'

Mrs Birling is prejudiced against Eva's case automatically because of her initially using her name, as well as Eva being of the working class

'But I think she had only herself to blame'

Mrs Birling feels no sympathy for Eva and accepts no responsibility as she feels as if she is superior because of her class

'Unlike the other three, I did nothing I'm ashamed of or that won't bear investigation.'

She again feels no guilt and plainly states that she doesn't feel she is responsible

'I'll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility.'

She takes the responsibility away from herself

'As if a girl of that sort would refuse money.'

She is again prejudiced towards Eva because of her class

'[severely] You're behaving like an hysterical child tonight.'

Mrs Birling is accusing Sheila of being immature and childish because she shows an interest in the case which goes against how women were expected to act at the time, relating to the social context

'I don't believe it. I won't believe it'

She is naive and ignorant when she discovers that Eric is the father of the child

'[with a cry] Oh, Eric, how could you?'

Instead of comforting her son she is more angered than sympathetic as she knows this is something that could damage her reputation, proving true to her initial description of a 'cold woman' and showing the theme of class

'[Triumphantly] Didn't I tell you? Didn't I say I couldn't imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?'

She is automatically trying to become superior again after she seemed to be weakened and comes across as rather snobbish believing she was the most perceptive, most probably because of her age

'I wish I'd been here when that man first arrived. I'd have asked him a few questions before I allowed him to ask us any.'‘

She is again being very assertive and sees herself as superior and more intelligent than the rest of the characters

'I was the only one who didn't give in to him'

She is still proud of how she accepted no responsibility or felt any guilt even when the Inspector is revealed to be fake, almost like she's won his game

'[As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls.]'

She finally realises her responsibility for the death of Eva Smith when the phone call reveals that a girl had just committed suicide after the Inspector left