2.1.7
Characterisation of Women
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Mrs Birling
Mrs Birling is submissive to her husband, despite being of a higher class than him. Her main role in society is to make her husband look good.
Female submission
- Although Mrs Birling is of a higher class than Mr Birling, she is submissive to him (lets him control her) because she is female.
- She scolds him gently. But ultimately, he has the power in the family because he is male.
Social roles
- Mrs Birling’s main roles in society (and in the play) are to dress well, to make her husband look good, and sit on the board of a charity.
- She does this so she can look giving and charitable – again, this makes both her and her husband look good.
Sheila
Sheila's role is to be her fiancé Gerald's ornament (object of decoration). As a woman, she is expected to forgive him for being unfaithful.
Sheila's engagement
- At the start of the play, Sheila only feels properly engaged to Gerald when he gives her the ring.
- Her role is to be decorative for him, bear his children, and make him look good.
Forgiving Gerald
- At the end of the story, Sheila is encouraged to marry Gerald even though he’s had an affair.
- People don’t think his transgression (offensive act) is that serious – people don’t think that Eva is an important factor.
- Mr Birling seems to think that Gerald should be forgiven because he is a man who was having fun.
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Practice questions on Characterisation of Women
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Which of these are true about Mrs Birling?True / false
- 2
- 3Main roles of Mrs Birling:Fill in the list
- 4
- 5Sheila's roles:True / false
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