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Mrs Birling (Context (Member of women's charity, Priestley helped…
Context
Member of women's charity, Priestley helped develop Welfare State to actually help people unlike Mrs. Birling
Idea that authority is misplaced in society - leaders were often wealthy and out of touch with the people, looking for power rather than actually helping, shows that the wealthy do not deserve admiration and power
Represents obnoxious and entitled upper classes, inherent denial reflects lack of compassion - teaches that we must be more caring and aware to be less like Mrs. Birling
Quotes
Responsibility
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'Oh - a lot of silly nonsense!', 'Sheila, don't talk nonsense' - instinctive reply is to be dismissive, refuses to accept and change which links to fixed upper classes
'I think she had only herself to blame' - assumes the worst of the lower classes, thinks they are to blame for circumstances when she perpetuates them
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'Look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility' - deflects from herself, completely naive, dramatic irony because she is the last to realise that the father is Eric
Gender
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'I don't think we want any further details of this disgusting affair' - protecting herself, not Sheila, still wants the marriage, doesn't want to ruin business deal and reputation
'You seem to have made a great impression on this child' - assumes role of matriarch, demeans Sheila
Class
'my husband was Lord Mayor' - assumes characteristics of Mr. Birling, uses social class to make an impression, shows how easy she is used to things coming, stereotypical upper class - naive and presumptuous
'girls of that class' - alienates herself, cannot understand and doesn't want to understand the circumstances of the poor, thinks money makes her better.
'I used my influence to have it refused' - women's charity yet refuses to help women, repetition of personal pronouns emphasises her self-centred nature, only in charity for power
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