5.2.3
Mrs Birling Quotes Act 3
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Mr and Mrs Birling - Key Quotes
Mr and Mrs Birling say the following key quotes in Act 3:
Mrs Birling: ‘but I didn’t know it was you’
- Mrs Birling only regrets her nasty comments about the mystery man who got Eva Smith pregnant when she realises it was her own son – she was more than happy for the man to receive swift and severe punishments because she did not know him.
- This reflects social pre-war capitalist attitudes. People looked after themselves and their families. Mrs Birling felt that punishment was necessary for this man – until the man is revealed to be Eric, and then she changes her attitude.
Mr Birling: ‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’
- Mr Birling, as is consistent (stays the same) with his character throughout the play, only cares about covering up this story so it doesn’t affect their reputations, social status, or his chance at receiving a knighthood.
- He consistently shows a selfish, self-centred attitude. He obsesses over his reputation. He is not very concerned with the consequences of his actions.
Mr Birling: ‘this makes a difference...'
- ‘This makes a difference, y’know. In fact, it makes all the difference’.
- As far as Mr Birling is concerned, the most important factor in the story is that Inspector Goole is not a real police inspector.
- This is vital for Birling because he knows that the story of Eva Smith is now unlikely to end in a scandal for him.
- He doesn’t care about his actions in the girl’s life, or the effect of these actions on the girls herself.
- If the Inspector has no connection to the police, he has no power to cause problems for Birling, and so Mr Birling is prepared to forget the whole story and continue with life as before.
Mrs Birling - Key Quote (Act 3)
‘I was the only one who didn’t give in to him.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 3:
Refusal to accept blame
- Mrs Birling views it as a victory that she did not accept any of the blame the Inspector tried to lay at her feet.
- She is almost smug in this statement because she mocks the others for answering Inspector Goole’s questions truthfully.
- In some cases, she mocks people for feeling the guilt he was trying to get out of them.
- Again, this emphasises her selfish, uncaring and cold nature.
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 Mrs Birling Quotes Act 3
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- 1Key quotes from Mr and Mrs Birling in Act 3:Fill in the list
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