Sheila Birling

Question 1

How is Sheila portrayed before the Inspector’s arrival?

Answer 1

1. privileged
2. yet shows potential and spirit to develop a different mindset form her parents -> asks Gerald where he is, different mindset to Mrs Birling

Question 2

How is Sheila portrayed during her interrogation?

Answer 2

3. Nevertheless she is naive and superficial
4. spoilt and lacks emotional self control,
5. is ignorant and has shallow judgements
6. her parents in trying to protect her actually prevent her from developing
7. learns from the Inspector and accepts responsibility and feeling remorse, she develops insight

Question 3

How is Sheila portrayed after the interrogation?

Answer 3

8. her emotional insight allows her to get an understanding of the Inspector’s methods and mission, before he has left - look how she warns her mother and also how she anticipates Eric’s involvement with Eva

She shows an insight into the identity before the others do; she is intellectually quick - quicker than her parents

She shows genuine remorse and understanding of what she and her parents have done that is wrong

allows her to become the play’s voice of reason once the Inspector has left. Admire her strength and integrity. She stays true to her new convictions - despite the two phone calls undermining the message of the Inspector. Even when she is virtually alone in doing so. She is brave.

Question 4

What was J.B Priestley’s intentions through Sheila Birling? Conclusion

Answer 4

J.B. Priestley uses her to point out the world of difference between the experiences of working class young women and those belonging to affluent middle class households - to show the fundamental inequality in society at the turn of the century. However, he shows that with the benefit of education, women like Sheila would be capable of great moral strength - her generation being the leaders of the post-war rebuilding of the nation and the creation of the welfare state.

Question 5

What quotes show that Sheila is ignorant of the conditions for working class women of her age?

Answer 5

• “How could I know what would happen afterwards?”
• “she was pretty and looked like she could take care of herself”
• “Why had this to happen?”

(rhetorical questions demonstrate her ignorance as she does not fully comprehend the effects of her actions on Eva)

Question 6

Why did Priestley portray Sheila as ignorant?

Answer 6

To show a fundamental unfairness in society between the way in which young working class and wealthy women are treated.