mrs birling

Act 1 Quote: 'her husband's social superior'

Shows she has more authority over him, authoritative.

Act 1 Quote: 'I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this, Arthur'

Directed at Birling; keeping Birling in check, telling him what to do, authoritative.

Act 2 Quote: 'I don't suppose … that we can understand why the girl committed suicide.'

Thinks she's too important to be involved, self-important.

Act 2 Quote: 'Girls of that class-'

'That' strikes a clear difference between Mrs. B and Eva, dehumanising, thinks she's superior/self-important.

Act 2 Quote: 'Yes, I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence'

Offended that Eva used her name; thinks that she might dirty it because she's of a lower class, self-important.

Act 2 Quote: 'Yes, it was.'

Talking about how she used her influence to refuse Eva help from the charity; short sentences give the effect that she knows she is important, arrogance/self-important.

Act 3 Quote: 'He certainly didn't make me confess-'

Thinks she's above it all, stubborn.

Act 3 Quote: 'I was the only one of you who didn't give in to him'

Repetition of the fact that she didn't confess/give in; stubbornness.