EdExcel Literature: Mrs Birling

Mrs Birling is a prominent member of her society and believes that, as a result, she should be treated in a manner that befits her stations. She's unable to grasp the situation at hand and takes no responsibility in the part she plays.

Mrs Birling is initially described as "a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior." This initial perception is never challenged and Priestly reinforces these ideas throughout the entire play. While Mrs B served on charity boards, she only helped those who she considered deserving (those that were honest and had tried to help themselves first). This therefore reinforces her cold nature, as she's unable to take into account people's backgrounds and why people might not be telling the whole truth.

When she's interviewed by the Inspector, she continually references her social position and Eva's and uses that as an excuse for the actions - she's unable to see how she should have acted differently.

While being interviewed by the Inspector she makes a vital blunder. She digs her family into a hole, much to the satisfaction of the Inspector. She believes (before she realises her own son is to blame) that the man responsible for putting Eva Smith into her position should "confess in public his responsibility." She quickly backtracks when she realises her blunder, but her pompous manner here reinforces her inability to see beyond the immediate