Quotes to Context
"you seem to have made a great impression on this child"
Gerald interrogated - Mrs Birling, Mrs Birling still views Shelia as being a child although she is 23 years old.
Mrs Birling rejects Eva Smith's plea for charity because...
...she is proud. Mrs Birling is offended that someone of a low status steals her name.
This character worries his parents by being absent during Act 2. Early in the act he leaves the house and slams the door, then returns at the end to confess to the Inspector what he has done.
Eric takes responsibility for his actions.
According to Shelia what has Eric been doing for two years?
"steadily drinking too much"
"no, of course not. He's only a boy."
Gerald interrogated - Mrs. Birling - regarding Eric's drinking habits Mrs. Birling is unaware and hasn't been pay any attention to her children showing the lack of family connection between them. She also refers to Eric being a "boy" although he is actually a "young man" as the inspector reminds her.
Why does Mrs Birling remain nonchalant (casual/detached) even when she has seen the photograph?
Mrs. Birling remains nonchalant because she wants to remain above blame and be able to deflect to others, when accused of being responsible.
This character defends his wife, claiming she was right to refuse Eva Smith charity for her 'damned impudence!' He is unusually quiet as the details of Mrs Birling's story come out because...
...Mr Birling worries it will ruin his chances of a knighthood.
What did Eva go to the seaside town to do after Gerald left her?
"just to make it last longer"
"I hate those hard-eyed dough faced women. But then I noticed a girl who looked quite different. She was very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes."
Gerald interrogated - Gerald - "hate is very emphatic - conveying hatred. By "those" he is referring to the entire lower class he's saying that all of the lower classes are ugly. "I noticed" Gerald is looking at the girls, he judges them by their appearance. "dough faced women" the women have full pasty faces suggesting that they lead uninteresting lives. "hard eyed" - they are jaded and cynical, they are aware of the world. "very pretty" he judges her by appearance showing how Gerald is shallow.
What does the Inspector's visit expose about Eric that Mrs. Birling claimed not to be aware of?
That he was the father of Eva's child.
Who expresses very definite views as to who is 'entirely responsible' for Eva's death?
Mrs. Birling says that the person who got her pregnant is entirely responsible without knowing that is was Eric.
After Mr and Mrs Birling are demanding for the Inspector to apologise, what does Sheila say?
"Can't you see, both of you, you're making it worse?"
"i must obviously be a selfish, vindictive creature"
Sheila believes that Gerald sees her in this way because of what she did to Eva Smith.
When Gerald has confessed his role in knowing Eva, why does Mr. B intervene and begin defending him in front of Sheila?
Because he still wants them to marry, so his business can profit.
Who is described as the 'fairy prince' and by whom?
Sheila describes Gerald this way.
What does Mrs Birling think should happen to the father?
He should be made "an example of" and compelled to "confess in public his responsibility
"you and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner here"
Sheila respects Herald more for telling the truth, but feels like they do not really know each other. In order to have any relationship in the future, they would need to "start all over again, getting to know each other".
What specific form of language does the Inspector use to try and enforce guilt onto the family? Give an example from the text.
The inspector always acts as if he knows what the person has done. This method of questioning is very effective.
Quote the line in which the Inspector attempts to make Mr. Birling realize that Sheila isn't a dreamy little girl.
Your daughter isn't living on the moon, she is here in Brumley too.
The inspector: "Public men have ______________ as well as privileges"
"Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges"