Sheila

Question 1

1. “Mummy – isn’t it a beauty?”

Answer 1

• What: Shows childish excitement over engagement ring
• How: Noun “mummy” = infantile dependence + upper-class upbringing
    Exclamatory tone = materialistic joy
    Symbolism of the ring = traditional gender roles
• Why:
  - Priestley criticises how women are conditioned into shallow, passive roles
  - Shows Sheila’s starting point before transformation

Question 2

2. “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”

Answer 2

• What: Sheila objects to her father’s dehumanising view of workers
• How: Juxtaposition of “cheap labour” vs “people” = shift from profit to empathy
    Emotive language + dash = awakening of moral conscience
• Why:
  - Priestley uses Sheila as a voice of social responsibility
  - Marks first step in her moral transformation

Question 3

. “I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse.”

Answer 3

• What: Admits guilt for getting Eva fired from Milwards
• How: Repetition of “feel” = emotional self-awareness
    Colloquial language = sincere remorse
    Superlative “a lot worse” = growing empathy
• Why:
  - Priestley shows moral growth through reflection
  - Encourages audience to recognise emotional accountability

Question 4

4. “We really must stop these silly pretences.”

Answer 4

• What: Urges her family to stop lying to the Inspector
• How: Modal verb “must” = moral certainty
    Adjective “silly” = dismissive of their delusions
    Plural “we” = assumes collective responsibility
• Why:
  - Priestley positions Sheila as morally mature
  - Challenges the older generation’s dishonesty

Question 5

5. “You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.”

Answer 5

• What: Confronts her mother’s attempt to distance themselves from Eva
• How: Metaphor “wall” = class division + emotional separation
    Inclusive pronoun “us” = push for empathy
    Directive “mustn’t” = authoritative tone
• Why:
  - Priestley promotes the breakdown of class barriers
  - Uses Sheila to represent emotional intelligence

Question 6

6. “He’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves.”

Answer 6

• What: Sheila explains the Inspector’s method to Gerald
• How: Extended metaphor = self-incrimination through confession
    Dark imagery = exposure of hidden guilt
    Tone = knowing, perceptive
• Why:
  - Priestley shows the power of truth + self-realisation
  - Makes audience question their own role in injustice

Question 7

7. “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.”

Answer 7

• What: Sheila confronts her parents for not accepting blame
• How: Declarative tone = maturity + frustration
    Second person “you” = accusatory
    Noun “anything” = complete failure to change
• Why:
  - Priestley contrasts youth vs old in terms of moral growth
  - Urges audience to reject complacency

Question 8

8. “I suppose we’re all nice people now.”

Answer 8

• What: Sarcastic reaction to the others minimising Eva’s death
• How: Irony = exposes moral hypocrisy
    Plural “we” = collective responsibility
    Tone = bitter + disappointed
• Why:
  - Priestley attacks performative guilt + moral denial
  - Warns audience not to ‘move on’ without change

Question 9

9. “It frightens me the way you talk.”

Answer 9

• What: Sheila reacts to her parents’ cold attitude
• How: Emotive verb “frightens” = fear of repetition
    Personal pronoun “me” = vulnerability
    Tone = deeply disturbed
• Why:
  - Priestley uses Sheila as the moral conscience
  - Warns audience about ignoring lessons from the past