Sheila Flashcards
Context
Her status is that of firmly middle-class. She’s engaged to Gerald Croft who is of a higher social status to her.
Priestley portrays Sheila in the stage directions as “a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited” . This initial portrayal develops and she gains maturity as the play progresses, following her acknowledgement of the part she played in Eva Smith’s suicide. Sheila is receptive to the Inspector’s message and noticeably evolves as a character. Her jealous instincts are replaced by a sense of maturity by the end of the play.
Sheila is a part of the younger generation, alongside Eric. Each child shows resentment towards the lack of social responsibility their parents feel. She takes on board the Inspector’s message and takes on the role of his proxy (represents the Inspector) upon his departure by continuing to reject her parent’s views.
Key quotes
Pg 5: ‘Oh-its wonderful! Look- Mummy- isn’t it a beauty?
4) Act One: Sheila “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”
6) Act One : Sheila “If she’d been some miserable plain little creature, I don’t suppose I’d have done it”
70: ‘You’re forgetting one thing I still can’t forget. Everything we said had happened really had happened. If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But it might have done.’
Pg 71: ‘No, because I remember what he said, How he looked, and what he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish. And it frightens me the way you talk’
Jealousy theme
The immediate reaction of Sheila to news of Eva’s death was to question her beauty: “Pretty?”. Here, it can be inferred that Sheila’s grief was greater due to Eva being pretty.
This demonstrates Sheila’s warped view of the world, as the value of someone’s life depends on their outward beauty. This view of value being linked to beauty extends to social classes, as those who are rich are able to improve their appearance with more beautiful clothes and make-up. Therefore, the logical extension of Sheila’s evaluation of people is that upper classes are of a greater value than the lower classes. Priestley does this to encourage the audience to form a negative perception of Sheila and view her as shallow.
However, Sheila’s jealousy is validated by the revelation of Gerald’s affair with Eva Smith. Mrs Birling’s reaction to Gerald’s affair reinforces Sheila’s jealousy and that men having affairs is commonplace: “you’ll have to get used to that, just as I had”. Priestley does this to evidence the sacrifices women are forced to make in order to maintain the stability that marriage offers. The threat of Eva Smith extends beyond Gerald’s loyalty. If Gerald values Eva’s beauty to Sheila’s, this would compromise Sheila’s livelihood as she would lose the provider in her life.
Symbolism
Priestley demonstrates Sheila’s instantaneous recognition of the Inspector’s message, as she responds to her father’s dehumanising and capitalist approach to business with “these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people”.
However, Sheila is also presented as ignorant of the suffering occurring outside of her privileged bubble; the Inspector enlightens Sheila. Sheila’s empathy is evident through the use of the plural noun “girls”, as she can relate to the patriarchal oppression they face.
➔ The impact of the Inspector’s message is visually demonstrated by Priestley through the stage directions as “she goes closer to him wonderingly”. This physical movement towards the Inspector is a reflection of Sheila’s mindset moving towards that of the Inspector’s socialist ideology.
➔ Priestley suggests, through the Inspector, that Sheila’s youthfulness is responsible for her assimilation (understanding) of the Inspector’s message as “we often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable.”
➔ Sheila’s change in mindset to become more receptive to the Inspector’s message allows her to continue his message and act as his proxy, when the Inspector departs. She understands the greater significance of the Inspector as a moral teaching, rather than just the threat of prosecution as she realises his omniscience: “(laughs rather hysterically) Why - you fool - he knows. Of course he knows.”
Sheila is portrayed as the ideal exemplar to the audience, showing them how they should react to the Inspector’s message. In this manner, Priestley encourages the audience to take on the role of the Inspector and propagate (spread) the need for greater social responsibility
A02 analysis
Oh - how horrible”
Sheila is the only character who expresses genuine motion towards the suicide of Eva Smith. Priestley demonstrates this through the use of a dash, indicating Sheila’s authentic displeasure.
“I was in a furious temper” and
“It was my own fault” and “I behaved badly too. I know I did”.
Sheila is instantly open toward accepting responsibility and is self-critical of her selfish actions
“I felt rotten about it at the time”
Priestley’s use of the informal adjective “rotten” demonstrates Sheila’s lack of maturity in vocabulary. However, she also shows remorse for her actions, which she instantly knew was wrong. Arguably, this is Priestley conveying the message that maturity is proportional to the level of social responsibility you feel, rather than using formal vocabulary
“If I could help her now, I would” and “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody”
Priestley evidences Sheila’s commitment to changing her attitude towards social responsibility
“I suppose we’re all nice people now”
Priestley uses this rhetorical device, coupled with a sarcastic tone to convey Sheila’s disapproval of her parents and Gerald’s lack of remorse. The lack of a potential criminal conviction doesn’t alleviate their immoral actions
