Analysis of Act Two - Sybil Refused to Help Flashcards
How does Sybil react to seeing Eva / Daisy’s photo?
Sybil pretend that she doesn’t recognise Eva / Daisy, which shows that she doesn’t want to admit to her actions.
What fact does the Inspector reveal about Eva / Daisy that causes Sheila to exclaim “How could she have wanted to kill herself?”
The Inspector reveals that Eva / Daisy was pregnant when she came to Sybil’s charitable committee for help.
Why is it significant that Eric is absent when Sybil tells her story about Eva / Daisy?
It is significant that Eric is absent because he would have realised that the girl his mother was describing was the same girl that he got pregnant. Priestley spreads out the revelations to help build tension and anticipation.
The Inspector tells Arthur that men like him “have responsibilities as well as privileges”. What ‘responsibilities’ do you think he is referring to?
The Inspector could be referring to Arthur’s responsibility for looking after his workers. Arthur has the ‘privilege’ of being a business owner, but this means he has a ‘responsibility’ to make sure his workers are well paid and well supported.
Why do you think Sybil isn’t “ashamed” of refusing to help Eva / Daisy?
Sybil isn’t ashamed of her refusal to help Eva / Daisy because she argues that she did not “duty”. Sybil refuses to believe that Eva / Daisy the committee meant that she doesn’t deserve that assistance.
