Eric Birling Flashcards
No, Sheila’s right. It doesn’t.
Sheila says it doesn’t make any difference whether the inspector was real or not. Her parents are concerned with their reputation and image and not with Eva’s death, so for them it does matter as they want to avoid any consequences for themselves from the authorities or news spreading of what has happened, however for Sheila and Eric that is not what matters, what matters is someone has died, whether the inspector was a real inspector or not. Eric and his sister’s value system is different to that of their parents and superior.
Well, I don’t blame you. But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.
Following on from her husband reprimanding Eric for his drinking and womanising, Mrs Birling says to Eric ‘I should think not. Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you’ and Eric replies with these words. Rather than being proud of his father who is rich, friends with powerful people and could have even become a knight, Eric is ashamed.
What Priestley is doing here is telling us that beyond the labels and image that many have the reality can be darker and uglier. No one might even know about the Birlings and what they did to Eva. Birling might even go on to become knighted, but for those who know the reality of the Birlings they would find some of their actions shameful. Priestley is again telling the upper class, the wealthy in British society not to be so conceited or engage in a perception of themselves as perfect and free from faults.
All the best! She’s got a nasty temper sometimes – but she’s not bad really. Good old Sheila!
- Sheila does indeed have a nasty temper as we find out later in the way she overreacts to Sheila and another working class lady when she (Sheila) tries out a dress. She is angered by what she perceives as them looking down at her. However this results in their dismissal and contributes to the series of events resulting in Eva’s suicide. Sheila’s ‘nasty temper’ proves to be fatal, in that it is not the only cause of Eva’s death but certainly contributes to it.
- However despite Sheila’s horrible temper she is ‘not bad really’, and overall from the play we would say that Sheila comes across as a decent and compassionate person. Full of profound remorse and agony at what has befallen Eva. Priestley shows us that people cannot be simply termed good or bad but have both of them inside them.
