Mrs Birling

Act 1

Her husbands social superior

Act 1

Cold woman

Act 1

‘Mummy ‘ said by Sheila shows mrs B s control over her children and highlights her tendency to infantalise her children

Act 1

To Mr B ‘ you’re not supposed to say such things ‘reflects her authoritarian attitude and desire to maintain social pretenses. This demonstrates her need to uphold social expectations and control over others.

Act 2

‘Morbid curiosity ‘ Mrs Bs lack of concern for Eva shows her true colours and reflects the nature of the upper class and their detachment from social issues, revealing her moral blindness and self-interest.

Act 2

‘Disgusting affair ‘ prefers to remain oblivious to the truth reinforcing the stereotype

Act 2

‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of ‘

Act 2

‘ Girl of that sort ‘ euphemism thinks of the working class as too unseemly to even refer to properly

Act2

Refuses to believe others think of her actions as ‘cruel and vile ‘

Act 2

‘It isn’t true ‘ refuses to believe Eric’s alcoholism

Act 3

I had done no more than my duty

Act 3

Hysterical