Sheila Flashcards
Sheila
Give three reasons for first impressions of Sheila including an immature nature.
- Despite stage directions saying she is “in her early twenties” she calls her parents “mummy” and “daddy”.
- Infantile, immature mode of address.
- Reciprocated by Mr and Mrs B who call her “child” and “childish”.
Sheila
Give two reasons and evidence for first impressions of Sheila including a materialistic nature.
- Comment about engagement ring
- “will never let it go out of my sight”
- Eric says she and Mrs B are “talking about clothes”.
Sheila
How is she made to seem inferior by Mrs B?
- “Of course she does”
- Mrs B answers for her when Gerald says “I’ve been trying hard enough. You know I have”
Sheila
How is she made inferior by Gerald?
- Tries to have her removed from interrogation.
- “I think Miss Birling ought to be excused”
- Not treated as his equal.
Sheila
How does Sheila’s attitude towards Gerald change as the play moves on?
- “you fool - he knows”
- Passivity has been replaced with fiery indignation.
- “You’re forgetting I’m supposed to be engaged to the hero” - sarcasm stops Gerald romanticising his interaction with Eva.
Sheila
What is significant about her returning the ring to Gerald?
- It is very mature and it contrasts to the tantrum she had when Gerald confessed.
- No longer governed by emotions but by logic.
Sheila
How is she presented by Priestley as a role model?
- Learns the message of Social Responsibility quickly.
- Teaches audience that they should own their own mistakes and make other accountable for theirs too.
Sheila
Why is the contrast between the reaction of the older generation and Sheila important?
- Parents think they’ve gotten away and laugh.
- Encourage children to do the same .
- “they can’t even take a joke”.
- Allows Priestley to criticise old generation who are fixed in their ways.
Sheila
How does Sheila’s address towards parents change?
- In Act Two she starts to call Mrs B “Mother” and Mr B “Father”.
- This is a symbol of how she has matured from the childlike address of Mummy and Daddy in Act 1.
Sheila
Why is Sheila answering for Mrs B significant?
-Inspector asks Mrs B if she’s a member of the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation.
-Sheila answers “yes she is, why?”
Dramatic turnaround from Mrs B answering for Sheila.
Shows audience that they, too can change for the better.
Sheila
Why is her interrogative role in Act 3 significant?
Questions them which shows her change:
“Is that when the Inspector came, just after father had said that?”
“But that won’t bring Eva Smith back to life, will it?”
Sheila
Which of the Inspector’s lines does Sheila repeat?
Sheila repeats the line “Fire, blood and anguish”
-Sheila has not only learnt a valuable lesson from Inspector, she has somewhat taken on his role too.
Sheila
Why is Sheila mirroring the words of the Inspector significant?
- Encourages audience to challenge conventional thinking/question the behaviour of others.
- To hold to account others who have power over them.
- If Sheila can change from being so shallow, so can they.
Sheila is used as a ……..
proxy for the Inspector to convey the idea that Capitalism can change and valuable lessons can be learnt.
Sheila
Why is her calling Eric “squiffy” significant?
- The contemporary slang (means slightly drunk) draws audiences’ attention to Sheila’s use of informal language.
- Portrays Birling siblings as adapting members of younger gen that change language along with time.
- Foreshadows both the characters adapting to social responsibility.
