Mrs Birling Quotes

'her husband's social superior'

from her introduction, she is described as a person who sees herself as being above everybody else
phrase 'social superior' establishes that she feels she married below her station, and views herself in comparison to her husband

'Arthur, you shouldn't be saying such things.'

tone created by the line shows how Mrs Birling talks down to her husband
presents the contrast in background between Mr Birling's new money and Mrs Birling's old money

'You'll have to get used to that, just as I had.'

Mrs Birling reminds Sheila of her place in society, being that she is expected to be subservient to her husband
the phrase 'get used' implies that she didn't like the situation herself, but had no other option

'Girls of that class'

encapsulates Mrs Birling's unfounded prejudice against those of a lower class, linking people's class to their morals
hypocritical of Mrs Birling considering her husband is from a lower class and both have a lack of morals themselves

'You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago'

tries to abuse her power over the inspector to make him stop interrogating the family
highlights how she thinks of herself as being above the average person, attempting to use her influence to undermine the law

'Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case'

matter of fact tone illustrates Mrs Birling's lack of regret and shame for what she did
adverb 'naturally' insinuates that this is practically instinctual to her, and believes what she did was obviously correct

'She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were absurd in a girl in her position'

shows how Mrs Birling thinks those of a lower class are less sophisticated emotionally, despite her own lack of morality
assumes that because Eva is pregnant and single, she is a bad person who deserves her misfortune

'I did nothing I'm ashamed of or that won't bear investigation'

'nothing' shows how Sybil refuses to accept that she had anything to do with Eva's death
presents her lack of willingness to accept responsibility or change for the better

'Eric, I can't believe it. There must be some mistake.'

had been oblivious to what Eric did, despite the inspector constantly alluding to it prior
verb 'must' reflects how Sybil's mind isn't able to be changed, being a narrow-minded traditional woman

'I consider I did my duty.'

illustrates Sybil's lack of sympathy and understanding for Eva, standing on her decision
noun 'duty' demonstrates how she feels that if nobody does what she does, then everything would fall apart

'If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him'

encapsulates her naive nature, being oblivious to the fact that she is talking her own son into even more trouble
repetition of 'due' reflects how set in stone her opinions are, not being open to change at all

'What business is it of yours?'

evidences her arrogance​ and sense of ​superiority​, questioning why the inspector is doing his job
'snobby' tone creates the impression that she sees herself as above the law

'She said the father was only a youngster - silly and wild and drinking too much'

proves Mrs Birling's lack of perception, not noticing how this description fits her own son
evidences Sybil's refusal to take Eva's case seriously, as her story is very much so within the realm of possibility