How does Priestley express ideas about Sybil Birling in 'An Inspector Calls'

Welfare State

Mrs Birling is used as a contrast of the future welfare state; in 1912 rich people would decide on their own prejudices on who deserves welfare and who doesn’t.  So Priestley’s attack is also how the rich keep even the most basic human rights away from the poor. When describing hearing Eva Smiths case she says “She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position” Mrs Birling’s reference to a “girl in here position” highlights her class prejudice and how just because she was of a lower class wasn’t considered to be genuine or believable.  It might be a coincidence that she is called ‘Sybil’ but there is a clear use of sibilance by Priestley “feelings…scruples…simply…absurd” this highlights the sinister sound of Mrs Birling, designed to show her evil intent.

Irony

Priestley also highlights the hypocrisy of Mrs Birling, when she is referring to Eva Smiths case. Mrs Birling describes  “the elaborate fine feelings and scruples which were simply absurd” shows a strong sense of irony. Mrs Birling refers to Eva’s feeling of elaborate, and then she attempts to use the most advances vocabulary she can “ridiculous airs…scruples…absurd” to disguise her snobbery and prejudice.  Her clear discrimination of the lower class is displayed when she tells the inspector “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”  The demeaning labelling of her as a “girl” rather than a woman shows how superior she feels. She also feels morally superior suggesting that a lower class girl “would ever refuse money” trying to suggest that the poor are always after money, this again is heavily ironic.  As after all Eva Smith only wanted a couple more shillings a week while the main attraction of the marriage of Sheila and Gerald is the alliance between the 2 firms, allowing “lower costs, higher prices” showing Priestley’s view that it is the rich that crave money not the poor.

Blame

As the play progresses Mrs Birling’s characteristics become more clear, despite it being quite clear to Sheila who the father of Eva’s daughter is Mrs Birling seems oblivious to the reality of what is occurring. Rather than facing the reality Mrs Birling decides to attack, the father who is unknown at this stage “I blame the young man…he didn’t belong to her class and was some drunken young idler” the way that Mrs Birling not only critices the young man for being drunk and leaving a young girl with an unborn baby but also because “he didn’t belong to her class” this shows how Mrs Birling’s marginalization of the working class community is exactly the opposite of the sought of society Priestley would want to create. Even after it is apparent to Sheila who the father is; Mrs Birling blindness is so apparent as she continues to unknowingly castigate her own son “certainly, he ought to be dealt with severely-“ and Sheila replies “ mother – stop – stop” shows how Sheila is the opposite of her mother and is picking up events at a rapid rate. Sheila comment of  “don’t you see” is a metaphor, not only does it suggest Mrs Birling doesn’t understand but also referencing to Mrs Birling blindness and lack of thoughts. Mrs Birling’s further throwaway remark “you’re behaving like a hysterical child tonight” again is another example of her completely misreading of the situation as in fact Sheila is quite intelligent in her evaluation that the father of the son must be Eric.

Conclusion

Overall, it is quite clear that Mrs Birling (much like her husband) is a perfect example of the ills capitalism and what needs to change. Priestley would like a society where the state provides welfare to those who need it, not by the prejudices of the rich. A society where money isn’t what epitomizes success but people ability to care after one and other.  As suggested by Inspector Goole “We are one body. We are responsible for one another” shows how each specific character has a clear simplistic purpose. For Mrs Birling it’s to be symbolic of the greediness that capitalism involves.