An Inspector calls : Mrs Birling Key Quotes

(Speaking to Sheila about working a lot) “important work” “get used to that”

• themes of gender

• Priestly uses Mrs B and Sheila to illustrate the patriarchal system of 1912

• Mrs B peeetuates gender norms and highlights the idea that women had much less power

• Illustrates fact the gender came before class as even upper class women had to live by rules of men

• Highlighted by the fact that Mrs B is trying to teach this too her daughter

“Gross impertinence” and “prejudiced” (when talking about Eva Smiths charity case)

• Mrs B presents the arrogance and snobbery of upper class women, she is proud to have been prejudiced

• Priestly later humiliates her after she says that the blame/responsibility should be on the father of the child as the father is her own son, links to ignorance

“My husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago”

• highlights the influence of the upper class, both Mr and Mrs Birling are offended and shocked by the fact that the inspector does not seem to care about who they are and is not scared of them, highlighting the injustices of Edwardian society

• Priestly uses there attitudes to show the corruption and moral wrongness of society that lets the classes by so divided

“Give in” “quietly and sensibly”

• theme of responsibility

• She is proud of how she did not give in to the inspector’s questions

• He pride at he inhability to change illustrates her continued sense of superiority

• Her wish to return to calm implies she wants to ignore the issues rather than face them

• Also shows generational differences as she (a member of the older generation ) refuses to change

“You seem to have made a great impression of the child”

• talking to inspector about Sheila

• ‘Child’ highlights the fact that’s Mrs Birling doesn’t respect Sheila as an adult and still sees her as a child (infantilising her)

• She belittles the effect of the inspector as she suggestions the impression will wear off