Sheila

Question 1

Sheila (Social Class)

Answer 1

“She was a very pretty girl.. that didn’t make it any better” (ACT 2)

Juxtaposition: contrast in initial recognition of physical beauty with moral judgement reveals sheila’s disillusionment with the exploitative attitudes of the bourgeois, highlighting growing collective social conscience. progresses Sheila’s character, as she moves from ignorance to moral clarity. Reflection contributes to catharsis by forcing family to confront remorseless attitudes - her statement rejects unscrupulous logic used to justify exploitative behaviour.

Question 2

Shiela (responsibility)

Answer 2

“I’ll never, never do it again to anybody… I feel now I can never go there again” (act 1)

repetition: intensifies emotional transformation as she gains scrupulous awareness. Priestley uses this as a dramatic vehicle to critique exploitative bourgeois who dehumanise the proletariat. Shiela is emblematic of shift in 1945 society from naivety to disillusioned with capitalism.

Fragmented sentence structure: mirrors Sheila’s emotional turmoil

Question 3

Sheila: Older vs Younger

Answer 3

“At least im trying to tell the truth” (Act 2)

epigram: encapsulates collective social conscience Priestley advocates. Succinctness of statement contrasts sharply with verbose justifications of her parents, highlighting contrast between their remorselessness and her scrupulous self reflection.

deontic modality: communicates that she has emancipated herself from shackles of capitalism, as she is no longer indoctrinated by older generation’s stagnant views. She is moral compass for family.

Question 4

Shiela: Capitalism vs Socialism

Answer 4

“No he’s giving us the rope - so that we’ll hang ourselves.” (Act 2)

• Reflects anagnorisis for Shiela, as they confront consequences of unscrupulous and exploitative actions. This reveals that interconnectedness between Birling’s decisions and Eva’s demise. By presenting the inspector as a catalyst of progression for Shiela becoming disillusioned, priestley shows how socialism sparks responsibility and self-accountability.

absurdity of Inspector “giving them a rope” Aligns with principles of dadaism, as it symbolises self inflicted moral collapse of the Birlings. undermined bourgeois exploitative behaviours to persist unchecked.