Mrs Birling Quotes & Analysis – An Inspector Calls (AQA GCSE)
Note: All quotes below are from J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls (AQA GCSE English Literature). Use these Mrs Birling quotes to revise class, responsibility, power and hypocrisy.
TL;DR Top 11 Mrs Birling Quotes (Quick List)
- “but surely …. i mean … it’s ridiculous”
- “Girls of that class –”
- “I think she had only herself to blame.”
- “I used my influence to have it refused. And I’m glad.”
- “I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have.”
- “I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.”
- “I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame.”
- “You have no power to make me change my mind.”
- “I’m afraid we’re a rather cold, hard‑headed lot and not easily moved to sentimentality.”
- “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him.”
- “I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.”
On this page:
Mrs Birling Quotes Table (Act + Theme)
| Quote | Act | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| “Girls of that class –” | 2 | Class prejudice, hypocrisy |
| “I think she had only herself to blame.” | 2 | Responsibility, blame |
| “I used my influence to have it refused. And I’m glad.” | 2 | Abuse of power, class |
| “I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have.” | 2 | Blame, dramatic irony, family |
| “I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.” | 2 | Denial, pride |
| “I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame.” | 2 | Responsibility, selfishness |
| “You have no power to make me change my mind.” | 2 | Power, conflict with Inspector |
| “I’m afraid we’re a rather cold, hard‑headed lot and not easily moved to sentimentality.” | 2 | Attitudes to emotion and suffering |
| “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him.” | 3 | Generational divide, pride |
| “I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.” | 3 | Denial, stubbornness |
Video Summary (Mrs Birling in 30 seconds)
Mrs Birling is a symbol of upper-class prejudice in An Inspector Calls. Priestley presents her as “cold” and “hard-headed”, refusing to accept responsibility for Eva Smith’s death. She blames Eva (“only herself to blame”) and the “young man” (dramatic irony: her own son Eric). This shows how Priestley uses Mrs Birling to argue that society must change and the privileged must accept responsibility for the vulnerable.
Sybil Birling is a powerful upper‑class woman in An Inspector Calls and the head of a women’s charity
in Brumley. She cares more about protecting her family’s status than helping those in need. Priestley uses
Mrs Birling to criticise the hypocrisy, prejudice and lack of social responsibility shown by the Edwardian
upper classes before the First World War.
- Curated top 10 exam quotes for Mrs Birling.
- Clear explanations of class, responsibility and hypocrisy.
- Act‑by‑act and theme‑based breakdowns for AQA GCSE English Literature.
- Example Grade 8–9 paragraph you can adapt in the exam.
More revision: An Inspector Calls quotes hub | AQA GCSE English Literature
Who is Mrs Birling? (Context for AQA GCSE)
Mrs Birling is introduced as a “rather cold woman” who believes strongly in traditional class and gender roles.
She leads a women’s charity, but when Eva Smith (calling herself “Mrs Birling”) asks for help, she uses her
influence to have the case refused. Throughout the play she refuses to accept any responsibility for Eva’s
death, which allows Priestley to present her as a symbol of selfish upper‑class attitudes before World War One.
Top 10 Mrs Birling Quotes to Memorise
“that class” suggests she sees them as all the same and beneath her. Use this when writing about
Priestley’s criticism of the upper classes.
blames the victim instead. This quote is ideal when the question focuses on
responsibility or Priestley’s message about how we treat vulnerable people.
Eva. Link this to the idea that charity, in Priestley’s view, can be controlled by prejudiced people
who care more about power than justice.
“young man” is her own son, Eric. Use this to show how Priestley exposes her hypocrisy and lack of
self‑awareness.
questioning. This quote is useful when explaining how the older generation refuse to change.
reveals fake sympathy. You can analyse the conjunction “But” as cancelling out any genuine remorse.
Inspector’s moral message. Ideal for questions on conflict or the Inspector’s influence.
empathy. Use this to support points about how Priestley criticises selfish capitalist attitudes.
Inspector. This contrasts with Sheila and Eric, who have learned from the experience.
alternative viewpoint. This is a strong ending quote for essays about responsibility and change.
Mrs Birling Quotes by Act
Act 1
Mrs Birling appears less frequently in Act 1 but her attitude to gender and class is clear. You can use
these lines when writing about social expectations and family roles.
spaces. Useful for questions on gender and expectations of women.
Act 2
Most of Mrs Birling’s key lines are in Act 2, when she is questioned about turning Eva away from the
charity.
Act 3
In Act 3, Mrs Birling refuses to change even after the truth about Eric is revealed.
son realistically.
Mrs Birling Quotes by Theme
Class and Social Responsibility
- “Girls of that class –”
- “I used my influence to have it refused. And I’m glad.”
- “I think she had only herself to blame.”
Gender and Family
- “I think I had better go into the drawing‑room and leave you men.”
- “I blame the young man who was the father of the child…”
- “Eric, I can’t believe it. There must be some mistake.”
Generational Divide and Change
- “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him.”
- “I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it.”
Sample Grade 8–9 Exam Paragraph on Mrs Birling
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley presents Mrs Birling as a symbol of cold, upper‑class selfishness
who refuses to accept responsibility for others. When she insists that Eva “had only herself to blame”,
Mrs Birling uses a blunt, judgemental tone which suggests she views the girl’s suicide as entirely her own
fault. Her reference to “girls of that class” shows how she dehumanises working‑class women, reducing them
to a stereotype rather than seeing them as individuals who deserve help. Priestley encourages the audience
to condemn this attitude, especially when we later discover that the “young man” she blames is actually her
own son, Eric. Mrs Birling’s refusal to change, even after the Inspector’s visit, allows Priestley to warn
his post‑war audience that society cannot improve unless the privileged accept responsibility for those who
have less power.
Mrs Birling Quotes – Quick FAQ
How many Mrs Birling quotes should I learn for AQA GCSE?
Around 8–10 well‑chosen quotes is enough. Focus on lines that show her class prejudice
(“Girls of that class –”), her refusal to accept blame (“I think she had only herself to blame”) and the
dramatic irony around Eric. Make sure you can explain each quote and link it to a theme.
What is the best Mrs Birling quote for writing about class?
“Girls of that class –” is one of the strongest. The unfinished sentence and vague phrase “that class”
suggest Mrs Birling’s prejudice is so deep she does not even need to explain it. This makes her a clear
symbol of snobbish upper‑class attitudes.
How does Priestley use Mrs Birling to explore responsibility?
Priestley shows Mrs Birling blaming everyone except herself: Eva, the “young man” and even the Inspector.
Quotes such as “I did nothing I’m ashamed of” and “I consider I did my duty” highlight her refusal to
accept that her actions had deadly consequences, which encourages the audience to reject her attitude.
How can I use Mrs Birling in a Grade 8–9 essay?
Link Mrs Birling to wider ideas about social responsibility, class prejudice
and the older generation’s refusal to change. Compare her to Sheila and Eric, who feel
genuine guilt, and use 2–3 quotes to show how Priestley uses her as a warning to his audience.
More An Inspector Calls Character Quotes
Use these pages for other AQA GCSE character quotes and analysis: