CHARACTER: Sheila

Question 1

What is the main role of Sheila as a character?

Answer 1

• Shows the power of an individual in a biased society.
• Challenge ideas about gender.

Question 2

How is Sheila treated as inferior by other characters at beginning of play?

Answer 2

• Her mother cuts her off when she speaks.
• Gerald tries to tell Sheila to leave the room at the beginning of Act 2.
• Sheila is infantilised by her parents: called “child” on multiple ocassions.
• Eric seems more immature but isn’t infantilised in this way.
• Shows how women were treated inferior and were controlled. Didn’t have own mind.

Question 3

In what broad way are Sheila and Eva similar?
What way are they different?

Answer 3

• Both treated as inferior due to their gender.
• BUT, because Sheila is middle- class, she is slightly more protected.

Question 4

What is the significance of Sheila calling her parents: “mommy” and “daddy” how does this change? Why?

Answer 4

• Has infantile behaviour. Immature, even though she is “in her twenties.” #looks up to parents
• Child- like: doesn’t think for herself
• Later “mother” and “father” - no longer immature as now understand reality of how her parents mistreat others and needs to be serious.Now has own mind

Question 5

How does Sheila react when she recieves the ring vs when she gives it back?

Answer 5

• Recieves it: Materialistic = so happy about precious ring.
• Then, gives it to Gerald when realises he cheated on her. She runs on logic/ reason after she understands what happened to Eva.

Question 6

How is Sheila seen as materialistic at beginning of play?

Answer 6

1.) So happy about ring
2.) Speaks about clothes with her mother: as Eric points out.
(sheltered = doesn’t understand what’s happening in society.)

Question 7

How does Sheila take on the role of The Inspector and when?

WHy?

Answer 7

• Act 3: After Inspector leaves.
• Mirrors the language The Inspector used.
• She not only points out she’s responsible, she wants others to notice they are responsible as well.

Question 8

At this time, young women were supposed to obey and listen to their fathers.
Why does Sheila go against this?

Answer 8

• Priestly is trying to tell audience to escape conventional thoughts on gender as the old generation are stuck in their own ways and young women can make a difference!

Question 9

What is the significance of Sheila changing drastically in such a short period of time?

Answer 9

• Role model for audience to change in the way she did and speak up for ignored people in society.
• Anyone…! can do it