Pages 27-33 (up to, INSPECTOR: "... when did you first get to know her?")
On the BBC film, from 27.00-32.51
Lesson Objectives
To explore the impact of Mrs Birling's entrance in the play, particularly how her entrance intensifies tension and conflict.
What is the dramatic effect of Mrs Birling coming in at the start of Act 2? What new information does her entry give us?
- Mrs Birling enters on a scene full of emotion: Gerald and Sheila are fractious and aggressive (28). Sheila enters despairing and wanting forgiveness (29) - and Mrs Birling enters with the arrogant confidence of capitalism,"briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed" (29). She behaves in exactly the same way as her husband behaved - but (DRAMATIC IRONY) we know what happened to Birling at the hands of the Inspector.
- In terms of new information, her entrance sets up the key revelation of Eric drinking. It illustrates the ripping away of lies, and shows how little the older generations knows about the younger generation, and indeed, how little the Birling family know about themselves, despite their initial apparent happiness and contentment.
- It also serves to make several key themes very important: AGE, THE YOUNGER vs THE ELDER GENERATION, the ARROGANCE OF CAPITALISM.
How has the timing of her arrival heightened the likelihood of conflict?
- Mrs Birling enters "briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed. Sheila feels this at once" (29). Mrs Birling doesn't even say anything: her manner (shown by her action of walking) and her very presence is enough to set everyone on edge, especially Sheila (who the audience are beginning to trust more and more now that she seems to be transitioning from Capitalist deceit to Socialist, Inspector-inspired honesty. If she is on edge, then her mother must be a bad character).
- Sheila and Mrs Birling clash straightaway: her very first words to her mother are, "No, Mother - please!". The words, full of negativity, with a polite please tacked on to the end almost like an afterthought, after a dash to emphasise the pause, more like an order than a polite request, reflect their strained relationship. The fact that she speaks in such an aggressive way to her mother during a social period which expected her to fulfil her social obligations to her mother by being a dutiful "yes-man" emphasises the distance between them. The mother herself speaks in a demeaning and patronising way to her ("But it's you - and not the Inspector here - who's doing it? 32) YET Sheila never lets her mother have the final say - she is constantly challenging ,reflecting the Socialist desire for truth and shared responsibility ("He hasn't started on you yet")
How do the characters interact with one another now?
- Mrs Birling PERFORMS; she PRETENDS. "Affecting great surprise" (29) - she is determined to perform to the expectations of her class, and pretend that all is well, and this includes "affecting" (ie pretending" great surprise at the bad behaviour of their wayward daughter.
- Even relationships that you wouldn't expect to show tension, show tension - for example, between Mrs Birling and her prospective son in law Gerald. He interrupts her, with the stage direction "Cutting, rather impatiently". The verb is the Inspector's, and Gerald uses it to show his authority and power - something that you wouldn't expect the future son in law to be (you'd think he would be dutiful, obedient, quiet and nodding, trying to make a good impression on his more-aristocratic future mother in law). "Rather impatiently" reflects the short-tempered, irritation that their relationship now gives him - again, straining the relationship even more.
- the Birlings are DYSFUNCTIONAL. They are constantly cutting in, questioning and interrupting and talking over and shouting at each other - there are traitors and rebels from within the ranks ("We really must stop all these silly pretences" 32) - they are not the model family for behaviour, and metaphorically, neither is their ideology of capitalism. But look at the Inspector - he's the man we want to be. While the capitalists are breaking down and fragmenting, the Inspector behaves "coolly" (30), "calmly" (31) and is "imperturbable" (31). He is calm, cool, in control and the person we aspire to be in this time of pressure - and so, symbolically, so is his socialist ideology (more propaganda).
- Mrs Birling enters on a scene full of emotion: Gerald and Sheila are fractious and aggressive (28). Sheila enters despairing and wanting forgiveness (29) - and Mrs Birling enters with the arrogant confidence of capitalism,"briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed" (29). She behaves in exactly the same way as her husband behaved - but (DRAMATIC IRONY) we know what happened to Birling at the hands of the Inspector.
- In terms of new information, her entrance sets up the key revelation of Eric drinking. It illustrates the ripping away of lies, and shows how little the older generations knows about the younger generation, and indeed, how little the Birling family know about themselves, despite their initial apparent happiness and contentment.
- It also serves to make several key themes very important: AGE, THE YOUNGER vs THE ELDER GENERATION, the ARROGANCE OF CAPITALISM.
How has the timing of her arrival heightened the likelihood of conflict?
- Mrs Birling enters "briskly and self-confidently, quite out of key with the little scene that has just passed. Sheila feels this at once" (29). Mrs Birling doesn't even say anything: her manner (shown by her action of walking) and her very presence is enough to set everyone on edge, especially Sheila (who the audience are beginning to trust more and more now that she seems to be transitioning from Capitalist deceit to Socialist, Inspector-inspired honesty. If she is on edge, then her mother must be a bad character).
- Sheila and Mrs Birling clash straightaway: her very first words to her mother are, "No, Mother - please!". The words, full of negativity, with a polite please tacked on to the end almost like an afterthought, after a dash to emphasise the pause, more like an order than a polite request, reflect their strained relationship. The fact that she speaks in such an aggressive way to her mother during a social period which expected her to fulfil her social obligations to her mother by being a dutiful "yes-man" emphasises the distance between them. The mother herself speaks in a demeaning and patronising way to her ("But it's you - and not the Inspector here - who's doing it? 32) YET Sheila never lets her mother have the final say - she is constantly challenging ,reflecting the Socialist desire for truth and shared responsibility ("He hasn't started on you yet")
How do the characters interact with one another now?
- Mrs Birling PERFORMS; she PRETENDS. "Affecting great surprise" (29) - she is determined to perform to the expectations of her class, and pretend that all is well, and this includes "affecting" (ie pretending" great surprise at the bad behaviour of their wayward daughter.
- Even relationships that you wouldn't expect to show tension, show tension - for example, between Mrs Birling and her prospective son in law Gerald. He interrupts her, with the stage direction "Cutting, rather impatiently". The verb is the Inspector's, and Gerald uses it to show his authority and power - something that you wouldn't expect the future son in law to be (you'd think he would be dutiful, obedient, quiet and nodding, trying to make a good impression on his more-aristocratic future mother in law). "Rather impatiently" reflects the short-tempered, irritation that their relationship now gives him - again, straining the relationship even more.
- the Birlings are DYSFUNCTIONAL. They are constantly cutting in, questioning and interrupting and talking over and shouting at each other - there are traitors and rebels from within the ranks ("We really must stop all these silly pretences" 32) - they are not the model family for behaviour, and metaphorically, neither is their ideology of capitalism. But look at the Inspector - he's the man we want to be. While the capitalists are breaking down and fragmenting, the Inspector behaves "coolly" (30), "calmly" (31) and is "imperturbable" (31). He is calm, cool, in control and the person we aspire to be in this time of pressure - and so, symbolically, so is his socialist ideology (more propaganda).