Mrs Birling

Symbolic meaning

• Represents the upper classes- particularly older females

• Represents the older generation

Context and message

• Convey belief that upper classes are unfeeling, disloyal, entitled and judgemental

• Upper class women infantilise and invalidate their children

• Only do good works for their public image

Responsibility

• ‘I did my duty’

  • Capitalist duty of keeping rich rich and poor poor, neglects moral duty

• ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’

  • Does not regret actions, cold nature of Mrs B

• ‘Firstly i blame the girl herself. Secondly i blame the young man’

  • Deflects responsibility onto Eric inadvertently

Pride

• ‘Don’t contradict me like that’

  • Symbolic of conservatism and resistance to change, contrasted by Sheila’s representation of the younger generation who embrace the need for change and socialism

• ‘Prominent member of the Brumley women’s charity’

  • Not held by care or compassion; way to gain influence and status

Class

• ‘Her husbands social superior’

  • Husbands mannerisms cause embarrassment to her; reflects image, perception

• ‘You’re not supposed to say such things’

  • Maintain an image of not associating and ignoring the existence of lower classes

• ‘Disgusting affair’

  • Due to Geralds inter-class nature, not his disloyalty to Sheila

• ‘Girls of that class’

  • Divided Britain, contempt of upper classes

Empathy

• ‘A rather cold woman’

  • Societal norms- loving, maternal; Priestley convey a detached attitude towards suffering isn’t normal

• ‘You’ll have to get used to that, just as i did’

  • Upholding patriarchal norms, societal double standard