Mrs Birling Quotes Act 1
English Lit: AQA GCSE An Inspector Calls, topic 5.2.1
Mrs Birling - Key Quotes
Mrs Birling says the following key quotes in Act 1:
‘Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things’
- Mrs Birling has strong views about appropriate conversation topics, both at the dinner table and in front of company.
- She scolds (tells off) Mr Birling many times for what she thinks are inappropriate comments or topics.
- But although she is of a higher social class than him, she still has very little power over him because he is the male.
- This means he is the head of the household and in charge of the family. The rules of a patriarchal (male-ruled) society were more important than the rules of social standing.
‘When you’re married you’ll realise that men...'
- ‘When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’
- Mrs Birling highlights the gender differences in pre-war Britain – women generally had much less power and place in society than men.
- Even upper-class women had to live by the rules of men.
- Mrs Birling highlights this by trying to teach her daughter about the expectations for women.
Mrs Birling - Key Quote (Act 1)
‘I don’t think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 1:
Etiquette
- Mrs Birling, being of a higher social class, understands the rules of pre-war etiquette (custom behaviour) very well.
- She scolds (tells off) her husband for discussing business at the dinner table, when they are celebrating and her daughter is present.
Society and reputation
- Mrs Birling is obsessed with how she and her family are perceived by others – she does not want to risk Gerald thinking that they do not know how to behave properly in society because this could damage the Birlings’ reputation.
Women
- She also disapproves of Mr Birling mentioning business matters in front of Sheila.
- This is because it was not considered appropriate to discuss business with women, who were thought to be too fragile, unintelligent and emotionally unstable to take part in such conversations.
Test yourself on Mrs Birling Quotes Act 1
What does this quote from Mrs Birling highlight about women in pre-war Britain?
‘When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’