Act 3 Moment 3 (pg.54-57)
This is the scene where Eric reveals how he can never go to his father to ask for help and Sheila
reveals that Mrs Birling refused to help Eva, killing her as well in the process. The Inspector gives a
huge speech about how everyone is everyone’s responsibility and leaves. The Birlings are left with
blames and accusations in the house.
Inspector: ‘You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone’
Eric: ‘She wouldn’t take any more, and she didn’t want to see me again’
- She is a good character
- Doesn’t want to be a burden
- Ends it herself
Eric: ‘how did you know that?’
- Omniscient, all knowing
Sheila: ‘She told mother’
- Determined that the truth will be revealed tonight
Mrs Birling: ‘(alarmed) Sheila!’
- Showed that Mrs Birling knew all along
Mrs Birling, distressed, shakes her heads but does not reply
Inspector: ‘She went to your mother’s committee for help, after she’d done with yoi. Your mother
refused that help.’
- Calm and summarizes everything
Eric: ‘(nearly at breaking point) yes, and you killed her-’ ‘damn you, damn you’
- Shouting
- Highly fragmented sentences
- He is upset and nearly can’t get his words out
Mrs Birling: ‘(very distressed now) No- Eric- Please- I didn’t know- I didn’t understand-’
- Upset
- Not an excuse
- She would never understand
Eric: ‘(almost threatening her) You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried-
you-’
- Sums up their relationship
- He lashes out, he’s also drinking at the same time
- Generation divide
Sheila: ‘(frightened) Eric, don’t- don’t-’
- Telling him to calm down
This is the scene where Eric reveals how he can never go to his father to ask for help and Sheila
reveals that Mrs Birling refused to help Eva, killing her as well in the process. The Inspector gives a
huge speech about how everyone is everyone’s responsibility and leaves. The Birlings are left with
blames and accusations in the house.
Inspector: ‘You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone’
Eric: ‘She wouldn’t take any more, and she didn’t want to see me again’
- She is a good character
- Doesn’t want to be a burden
- Ends it herself
Eric: ‘how did you know that?’
- Omniscient, all knowing
Sheila: ‘She told mother’
- Determined that the truth will be revealed tonight
Mrs Birling: ‘(alarmed) Sheila!’
- Showed that Mrs Birling knew all along
Mrs Birling, distressed, shakes her heads but does not reply
Inspector: ‘She went to your mother’s committee for help, after she’d done with yoi. Your mother
refused that help.’
- Calm and summarizes everything
Eric: ‘(nearly at breaking point) yes, and you killed her-’ ‘damn you, damn you’
- Shouting
- Highly fragmented sentences
- He is upset and nearly can’t get his words out
Mrs Birling: ‘(very distressed now) No- Eric- Please- I didn’t know- I didn’t understand-’
- Upset
- Not an excuse
- She would never understand
Eric: ‘(almost threatening her) You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried-
you-’
- Sums up their relationship
- He lashes out, he’s also drinking at the same time
- Generation divide
Sheila: ‘(frightened) Eric, don’t- don’t-’
- Telling him to calm down
