Mrs Birling, Quotes + Notes
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Topics covered on this page:
1/4: Mrs Birling Notes 2/4: Priestley's Message (intended effect on audience) 3/4: Mr Birling's Character Development/changes 4/4: Mrs Birling's Key Quotes Bank 1/4: Mrs Birling Notes
Sybil Birling is an unsympathetic woman.
With some public influence, she sits on charity organisations and she married the Lord Mayor, Arthur Birling, two years ago. Sybil is mother of Sheila and Eric Birling. Priestley describes her as a "about fifty, a rather cold woman," and her husband's "social superior." She is described as a rather cold woman and is her husbands social superior. She is an icily impressive woman, the only one of all the Birlings to almost resist The Inspector's attempts to make her realise her responsibilities. She has a lack of understanding of how other people live and thinks that all classes behave in a certain way, this is shown in her snobbish comment "a girl of that sort" and in her unwillingness to believe that the a lower class girl would refuse to take stolen money or marry a foolish young man responsible for her pregnancy. Mrs Birling is a very naive character. She doesn't think there is any problem in her family at all and all problems exist outside, only seeing what she wants to see. She is quite prepared to put the blame onto the father of the child because she doesn't know the father is her own son. It is only when Mrs Birling realises that her son, Eric, was the father of Eva Smith's child and her actions have resulted in the death of her own grandchild that she begins to show any signs of remorse. The speed at which she recovers after the inspector leaves reflects her coldness and lack of conscience. Now that we have understood the character, it is important to understand the author's intentions behind the character. But to achieve Grade 9, there is the CGP Inspector Calls text guide with 100x more detailed notes. |
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2/4: Priestley's Message (intended effect on audience)
- She represents the wealthier, privileged classes and their selfish attitudes.
- She sees the lower class as morally inferior – Priestley hated this kind of attitude and believed that people with these attitudes had to change if society was going to work.
- She makes us see just how awful life was for the lower classes at this time (1912) – the class divide was huge.
- She played her part in the death of Eva Smith – she turned her away (from her charity) when she needed help. The girl was penniless and pregnant – but Mrs Birling thought she was lying, as no girl ‘of that sort’ would refuse money.
3/4: Mrs Birling's Character Development/changes
- She does not change at the end of the play – perhaps this is why ‘An Inspector Calls’ again, to try and make her change. In fact, she was pleased to hear that the Inspector did not exist.
- Sybil Birling is the most resistant to change, and represents her demographic of society with this behaviour.
- Chased money and status throughout the play.
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4/4: Mrs Birling's Key Quotes BankThe most important Mrs Birling quotes, by act.
Act 1
Many of these quotes, similar to Mr Birling, portray Mrs Birling as selfish.
Pg 2: 'Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things' Pg 3: ‘Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!’ Pg 3: 'Now Sheila don’t tease him. When you're married you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business.' Pg 4: ‘Now Arthur, I don’t think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this.’ Pg 30/32 (different editions): Thinks her family are perfect '(staggered) It isn't true. You know him, Gerald - and you're a man - you must know it isn't true.' Act 2Pg 30: Classist Snob. Thinks she is socially and morally superior ‘I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-’
Pg 30: 'That - I consider - is a trifle impertinent, Inspector' Pg 30: 'Please don't contradict me like that' Pg 30: Accuses Sheila of staying for: ‘Nothing but morbid curiosity’ Pg 31: ‘I’m talking to the inspector now if you don’t mind’ Pg 31: Intimidation ‘You know of course that my husband was lord Mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate.’ Pg 32: Lying to cover her back 'Though naturally I don't know anything about this girl' Pg 33: ‘Over excited... And she refuses to go.’ Pg 34: Ignorant ‘It would be much better if Sheila didn’t listen to this story at all’ Pg 35: Thinks upper class are perfect '(staggered) Well, really! Aldermand Meggarty! I must say, we are learning something tonight' Pg 38: 'I don't think we want any further details of this disgusting affair' Pg 38: ‘It’s disgusting to me.’ Facade to make her look good '(with dignity) Yes. We’ve done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving cases.' Page 41: 'I don’t understand you Inspector'Page 42: 'And if I was, what business is it of yours?' Pg 43: Classist Snob because Eva used her name. 'Yes I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence.' Pg 43: 'Yes, I think it was simply a piece of gross impertinence – quite deliberate – and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.' Pg 43: ‘But I think she had only herself to blame’ Pg 44: Snobbish Attitude 'If you think you can bring any pressure to bear upon me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.' Pg 44: 'You have no power to make me change my mind.' Pg 44: I didn’t like her manner. She’d impertinently made use of our name, though she pretended afterwards it just happened to be the first she thought of. She had to admit, after I began questioning her, that she had no claim to the name, that she wasn’t married, and that the story she told me first – about a husband who’d deserted her – was quite false. It didn’t take me long to get the truth – or some of the truth – out of her. Pg 44: 'Simply a gross piece of impertinence' Pg 45: Gets rid of blame on her. 'I'll tell you what I told her. Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.' Pg 46: Blames her own husband ('agitated now) Oh, stop it, both of you. And please remember before you start accusing me of anything again that it wasn't I who had her turned out of her employment – which probably began it all.' Pg 46: 'All a lot of nonsense- I didn’t believe a word of it. ' Pg 47: Classist Snob ‘As if a girl of that sort would refuse money.’ Pg 47: ‘I’m sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But I accept no blame for it at all.’ Pg 47: 'I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have. If, as she said, he didn't belong to her class, and was some drunken young idler, then that's all the more reason why he shouldn't escape. He should be made an example of. If the girl's death is due to anybody, then it's due to him.' Pg 48: '(severely) You’re behaving like an hysterical child tonight.' Pg 48: 'And if you'd take some steps to find this young man and then make sure that he's compelled to confess in public his responsibility – instead of staying here asking quite unnecessary questions – then you really would be doing your duty.' Pg 49: Naive, Ignorant ‘I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it’ Pg 49: '(understanding now) But surely...I mean...it’s ridiculous...' |
Act 3
Pg 52: '(with a cry) Oh – Eric – how could you?'
Pg 55: '(very distressed now) No – Eric – please – I didn’t know – I didn’t understand-'
Pg 62: Snob ‘(Triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn't I say I couldn't imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?’
Page 63: 'I felt it all the time. He never talking like one. He never even looked like one'
Pg 63: ‘I wish I'd been here when that man first arrived. I’d have asked him a few questions before I allowed him to ask us any.’
Pg 63: 'I was the only one who didn’t give in to him’
Pg 70: ‘Gerald you’ve argued this very cleverly and I’m most grateful’
The final line: [As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls.]
Complete! If you need to see every single important quote, use the CGP Inspector Calls text guide.
Pg 55: '(very distressed now) No – Eric – please – I didn’t know – I didn’t understand-'
Pg 62: Snob ‘(Triumphantly) Didn’t I tell you? Didn't I say I couldn't imagine a real police inspector talking like that to us?’
Page 63: 'I felt it all the time. He never talking like one. He never even looked like one'
Pg 63: ‘I wish I'd been here when that man first arrived. I’d have asked him a few questions before I allowed him to ask us any.’
Pg 63: 'I was the only one who didn’t give in to him’
Pg 70: ‘Gerald you’ve argued this very cleverly and I’m most grateful’
The final line: [As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls.]
Complete! If you need to see every single important quote, use the CGP Inspector Calls text guide.
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GCSE/IGCSE Notes > English Literature Notes > Mrs Birling - An Inspector Calls