Mrs Birling

Role

• Upper-class, socially powerful woman.

• Represents class prejudice and hypocrisy.

• Uses her position in charity to judge poorer women.

• Refuses to accept responsibility.

Key ideas

• Class.

• Gender.

• Charity.

• Hypocrisy.

• Social inequality.

Versatile quotes

“I did nothing I’m ashamed of”

• Absolute denial.

• Ironically, the audience knows she contributed to Eva’s suffering.

• Shows lack of self-reflection.

“girls of that class”

• “that” creates distance.

• “class” reduces Eva to social status.

• Reveals entrenched class prejudice.

“a girl of that sort”

• Dehumanising and dismissive.

• “sort” suggests moral judgement based on class.

“I accept no blame for it at all.”

• Absolute language.

• Direct rejection of responsibility.

• Contrasts with Sheila and Eric.