Sheila Flashcards
(14 cards)
“Was it an accident” (before investigation)
-> people of higher class couldn’t fathom the idea of a person or a lower class willingly ending their life due to the struggles they have had to endure
-> reflects how Sheila has been protected her whole life and is ignoratnt towards others struggles
-> could also Sheila and others of higher class as naïve, showing how they are wilfully ignorant towards the struggles of the poor and working class.
Sheila, who has been protected her whole life by her parents and Gerald, has not yet witnessed the harsher side of it, acts as a foil for Eva smith who had to endure many atrocities her whole life due to her not being as privileged or of a higher class without anyone to protect or help keeps her safe
“Oh why had this to happen” (during investigation)
-> The phrase “had this to happen” is a passive construction, where “this” (the tragedy) is the focus rather than the person who caused it
-> The passive voice reflects Sheila’s inability to take direct responsibility over her actions, she isn’t admitting that it was her fault Eva got fired from Millard’s.
-> Reflects the recurring semantic field of responsibility across the play
The line comes when she mentions that the people in the shops were giving her looks, this shows how she wasn’t actually sad that Eva died, and that it was her fault. She is more embarrassed that she was caught, and is upset she can’t go back to millwards as her reputation has been tarnished
Was she pretty (before investigation)
-> reflects how Sheila was very superficial
-> Would not have really cared for Eva of she wasn’t pretty to look at
-> Eva smiths death didn’t really mean much to her, all she cares about is if she’s pretty not the fact that the committed suicide
• Willful ignorance (naivety)
Could also reflect gender stereotypes of the time where a woman being Pretty was the most important thing about her
Very pleased with life (before investigation)
Shows her ignorance of her actions to see past inequality and mistreatment
The adverb ‘very’ modifies the verb ‘pleased’ and almost exaggerates her ignorance of the real world
‘Mummy’ and ‘daddy’ (before investigation)
Whjch act as colloquialism to reflect how she seems to live in a sort of a bubble, and cant see past the harsh realities of life
What 7 deadly sins does Sheila represent
-> envy
‘Plain, miserable Creature’
Noun ‘creature’ may arguably dehumanise Eva, and can even further segregate the classes at the beginning of the play
‘Now I really feel engaged’ (before investigation
She’s very materialistic
‘Now’ can have implications that the ‘perfect’ ring is the reason for her feelings
“They’re not cheap Labour, their people
Foreshadows her subconscious whjch clearly believes in socialism but is hidden under the guise of the pressure from mr and Mrs Birling
‘Mother, stop it!’
PERCEPTIVE
Mother suggest distance, as if they truly know each other, instead of the nativity and ignorance that existed between them before
Realises that the actions of upper class are immoral, she thinks it’s ride lugs to put in airs and graces and try defy the inspector
I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before
She respects Gerald more for being honest, showing how she places more value above social positions,
She recognises that even if the inspector was real or not, they still behaved immorally, accepts that
I remember how he looked, and what he made me feel
She firmly aligns herself with him, and as a 1940s audience they would fully align with her
You knew it then. You began to
learn something
And it frightens me the way you talk,
The repetition of the pronoun ‘you’ between the two lines serves to highlight how she begins to distance herself from her family, particularly Mr and Mrs Birling.
She addresses them with some disdain by the end of the play and is arguable ashamed of their behaviour. Priestley may be sending another message about a society who mistreats its vulnerable members.
(Slowly, carefully now), you mustn’t try to build up a kind kf wall between us and that girl
She refuses to take the inspector as being fake or numerous, she knows that she has done that to someone, she feels guilt, and she takes responsively
