Sybil Birling

Question 1

True or false? Sybil is from a higher class than Arthur.

Answer 1

True. According to the stage directions, Sybil is Arthur’s “social superior”.

Question 2

Give one example which shows etiquette is important to Sybil.

Answer 2

Sybil criticises Arthur for complimenting the cook in front of Gerald, as it wasn’t considered polite to mention the servants.

Question 3

What is Sybil’s attitude towards Gerald and Sheila’s engagement?

Answer 3

She appears to approve of the engagement — the stage directions repeatedly described her as “smiling” during the celebratory meal, and she offers them her
“congratulations and very best wishes”.

Question 4

Do you think Sybil has a good relationship with her children? Explain your answer using examples.

Answer 4

She has a bad relationship with her children. She fails to notice Eric’s alcoholism, and she is dismissive of Sheila’s worries that Gerald might be lying to her, telling her she will “have to get used” to Gerald being distant. During the investigation, instead of supporting Sheila, he was clearly distressed, she remains cold towards her and tells her off “severely”, saying she is behaving like a “hysterical child”.

Question 5

When Sheila and Arthur criticises Sybil and Act Two, she responds by saying “it wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment”. What does this suggest about her character?

Answer 5

This shows that Sybil is too proud to admit responsibility— She would rather blame other people for Eva / Daisy’s death than accept she is also at fault. This quote also shows that she would rather bring Sheila’s and Arthur’s mistakes back into focus than discuss her own, which suggests her pride matters more to her than her own family.

Question 6

Why does Sybil say that she rejected Eva / Daisy’s appeal?

Answer 6

She thinks Eva / Daisy showed “gross impertinence” by using the surname Birling. She also doesn’t believe Eva / Daisy is telling the truth about her circumstances, because she doesn’t think a girl in her position would turn down money.

Question 7

At the end of Act Two, who does Sybil say is to blame for Eva / Daisy’s death? Give two people.

Answer 7

She blames Eva / Daisy
(“the girl herself”) and the father of Eva / Daisy’s child.

Question 8

How is Sybil ‘trapped’ by the Inspector?

Answer 8

Sybil is trapped as the Inspector leads her to blame the person who got Eva / Daisy pregnant, meaning she accidentally condemns her own son, saying he should be “dealt with very severely”.

Question 9

How does Priestley present Sybil as a stubborn character? Use examples in your answer.

Answer 9

Sybil is shown to be stubborn when she repeatedly insists that she hasn’t done anything wrong. This stubbornness is emphasised by the way she speaks. For example, when she claims she accepts “no blame” for Eva / Daisy’s death “at all”, the phrase “at all” makes her sound very certain. This emphasises the firmness of her convictions.

Question 10

Why does Sybil believe she did he “duty” in rejecting Eva / Daisy’s appeal?

Answer 10

Sybil thinks that because Eva / Daisy lied about being married, she also isn’t telling the truth about refusing stolen money. Because of this, she doesn’t see Eva / Daisy as being a “good case”, so she believes it was her duty to reject the appeal.