Sheila Birling Quotes Flashcards
“Look mummy- isn’t it a beauty”
From the start, we can see that Sheila is an immature and naïve young girl as the use of the childlike noun “Mummy” makes it clear that her mindset isn’t that of an adult, she conforms to her role as a child and woman in the Edwardian era as her submissiveness is on full display. Alternatively it could link to how she is being infantilised and sheltered from the truths of the outside world as all she is worried about in this moment is her ring. The woman audience may feel empowered by their rights to go against gender norms.
“I wish you hadn’t told me. What was she like? Quite young?… Pretty?”
We can start to see Sheila’s lack of maturity and selflessness here as her first reaction to Eva Smiths death include questions asked that show her childlike mindset. Instead of empathy she is trying to compare herself to the young lady, due to her lack of self esteem. This wasn’t outside the norm as young ladies in search of a husband in that time period often wanted to look the best to outshine the competition. Priestly uses her at this point to show how capitalist lifestyle can give life to unconsciously selfish people
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people”
Here we can see the start of Sheila’s transformation from a childlike mindset. She makes the fact clear that working class female employees like Eva Smith are not just objects to be utilized for making money and profits ;but are humans with emotions and a right to respect and dignity. Priestly wanted capitalist elite to stop viewing their workers purely as tools to make money but as “people”
“I felt rotten about it at the time and now, I feel a lot worse.”
Sheila, upon being shown the picture of Eva Smith, goes into tears and leaves. We can already see a generational difference in empathy towards Eva Smith as her Emotions far outweigh the emotions that Mr Birling had towards Eva’s death. Also another contrast is seen as her father essentially doesn’t care whereas Eva feels “rotten”. We see Sheila’s goodness and caring nature. Very quickly, Sheila has turned into the representative of socialism along with the inspector
“Mother I think it was cruel and vile.”
At this point, she is almost condemning her families actions as we yet again see generational differences between he and her mother. Mrs Birlings complete lack of empathy is rivalled by Sheila’s overwhelming empathy for Eva. Contrasting Ideas between socialism and capitalism.
“But that wont Bring Eva Smith back to life will it?”
As Mr Birling tells Eric he needs to return the stolen money, Sheila is saying that it isn’t the real issue at hand. Eva’s death is way more important. Money can be made again, especially by a well-off family like the Birlings, but Eva wont. Sheila acting as Priestley’s mouthpiece shows us how Priestly seeks a socialist system which seeks care for all instead of a greedy self intrest.
