Sheila

Answer 1

Changes in how she speaks/behaves from the start of the play to later
Effects of her relationship with Eva
Effects of her relationship with other characters
How do her reactions change during the play? E.g. Gerald’s ring -> give back ring
How do her attitudes change during the play?
Comments at the end

Answer 2

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”
Direct juxtaposition of Capitalism and Socialism
Hints that capitalism makes people think of others as ‘cheap labour’ - focus on profit + business
Priestley is exposing his audience to the harsh reality of capitalism
Capitalism dehumanizes people, makes us think of them as profit e.g. Mr B sees Sheila’s engagement with Gerald as profitable, views his daughter as a commodity

Answer 3

“The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.”
Evidence for how she has changed throughout the play
More assertive towards her parents, different to beginning where she did what they said
She is insightful + intelligent: she understands the point while her family don’t

Question 4

‘but these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people’ - sheila

Answer 4

conjunction of ‘but’, clear rebuttal; phrase ‘cheap labour’ is dehumanising and reduces working class to machines; also categorises people solely on their economic value; ‘people’ highlights the juxtaposition + sheila engages with a motif (younger generation are more susceptible to change, seen in eric + sheila)

Question 5

‘i told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl, i’d never go near the place again and i’d persuade mother to close our account with them’ - sheila

Answer 5

highlights that sheila and birling are alike, upper class control the working class by using their power + status to manipulate the situation, more abrupt and dismissive language used, ‘that girl’

Question 6

‘if she’d been some miserable plain little creature, i don’t suppose i’d have done it’ - sheila

Answer 6

dehumanising, zoomorphism, disdainful, also displays sheila’s insecurities and jealousy

Question 7

‘i’m staying’ - sheila

Answer 7

defiance to the patriarchal norms, assertive, also highlights sheila’s ability to reject gerald’s control in a way eva could not

Question 8

‘you wait, mother’ - sheila

Answer 8

drastic change from sheila’s old ‘mummy’ (shows sheila’s character development) and seems more spiteful + threatening, acts as a statement, not a term of endearment

Question 9

‘[horrified] no! oh- horrible- horrible!’ - sheila

Answer 9

short syntax, fragmented speech repetition + exclamatories mimics sheila’s disjointed frame of mind as she realises what has taken place (eva was pregnant). also highlights how sheila is the complete opposite of her mother who has no remorse or emotion towards eva

Question 10

‘and it’s what they don’t seem to understand’ - sheila

Answer 10

us and them language, separating herself + eric from their parents, a clear divide, young + old

Question 11

‘it frightens me the way you talk’ - sheila

Answer 11

more us and them language showing the clear divide between parents + children, verb ‘frightens’ indicates how appalled and disgusted she is with her parents + their lack of morality

Question 12

“I was in a furious temper” and “it was my own fault” and “I behaved badly too. I know I did.”

Answer 12

Sheila, responsibility
Act one beginning

Sheila is instantly open toward accepting responsibility and is self critical of her selfish actions
Sheila went to the manager to get him to fire Eva on what could be called a mere whim. She was angry with a mere smile and destroyed Eva’s life. There is a huge imbalance in power between the rich and poor in society, in addition to the imbalance in actual money. Britain is not quite the completely feudal society of the medieval period but it is quasi-feudal in terms of huge class differences.

Question 13

When I was looking at myself in the mirror I caught sight of her smiling at the assistant, and I was furious with her. I’d been in a bad temper anyhow

Answer 13

Sheila
Act one - beginning

She by chance saw Eva smiling. Smiling in of itself is not a breach of any job or being rude to a customer. Sheila being in a negative state emotionally may have transferred some of her anger on to Eva by either being unhappy at seeing someone smiling or being paranoid that the smile was indicative of her sneering at Sheila. Regardless of all this it does not warrant someone losing their livelihood and having their life destroyed.

Priestley is showing how much at the mercy of the wealthy elite the working class are. There is a huge power imbalance and this power if abused can even ultimately be fatal

Question 14

” if I could help now, I would” and “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody”

Answer 14

Sheila, responsibility
Act one - beginning

Priestley evidences Sheilas commitment to changing her attitudes towards social responsibility.

Question 15

“I suppose we’re all nice people now”

Answer 15

Sheila, responsibility
Act three- end

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 immortal actions.
This is said in response to Mr Birling saying Goole not being a real inspector makes all the difference.

Sheila is concerned about the reality regardless of external factors such as the police, authorities but the real, deeper, fundamental world of right and wrong and not of ‘well we be caught and shamed publicly or not?’. The latter mentality is borne out of a self-centred desire to remain safe and to preserve status and image. Sheila does not care about such things. For her a mother and her child died.

Question 16

You see, Gerald, you haven’t to know the rest of our crimes and idiocies.

Answer 16

Sheila
Act 3

Again Priestley using Sheila to say the Birlings and thus the upper-middle class are not perfect, that they too have their share of ‘crimes and idiocies’. They are not any less or any more human than their working class counterparts.

The discriminatory classist attitude of social apartheid and prejudice prevalent at the time made some of the rich see the poor not quite as ‘sub-human’ but definitely not on the ‘same level’ of humanity as them. Priestley seeks to tear this apart and show ‘look, we are all people, we all have good and bad, mistakes, be we rich or poor’.

Question 17

(eagerly) That’s just what I feel, Eric. And it’s what they don’t seem to understand.

Answer 17

Sheila
Act three- end

This is said to Eric who is upset by what he sees as his parents indifference to Eva’s death. Again inter-generational differences and both of the younger Birlings being far better people than their parents, so thus a hope for a better future.

Question 18

And Eric’s absolutely right. And it’s the best thing any one of us has said tonight and it makes me feel a bit less ashamed of us. You’re just beginning to pretend all over again.

Answer 18

Sheila
Act three- end

Eric says the same as Sheila, it matters whether the inspector is real or not, what matters is a young woman died.

Also the parents do not understand and it seems do not want to understand. This lack of understanding is borne out of ignorance and also the values being disseminated amongst the upper classes at that time which inhibit interaction between the rich and poor and thus perpetuate class hierarchy and the attendant inequality and discrimination that come along with it. Priestley wants people to understand. Sometimes to understand, people need to be shocked, to be stunned and this is what he hopes the play would achieve in its own small way, but he is aware that like the elder Birlings some may not care and seek to maintain the unfair, classist, capitalist society of Britain at that time.

Question 19

But that won’t bring Eva Smith back to life, will it?

Answer 19

Sheila
Act three- 3

: Mr Birling tells Eric he has to stay to account for the money he has stolen, Sheila is saying that is not the real issue here. The real issue is Eva’s death. Money can return, can come back, Eva won’t.

Human life, human dignity take priority over money. Caring for others takes priority over greedy self-interest or in the eyes of Priestley and other leftists, a more egalitarian Socialist system which seeks to care for all is superior to a selfish capitalist one which perpetuates inequality and poverty.

Question 20

So nothing really happened. So there’s nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn. We can all go on behaving just as we did.

Answer 20

Sheila
Act 3- end

Priestley is being ironic, through Sheila, here and highlighting the possibility and dangers of not reflecting on tragedies such as Eva. There would have been wealthy industrialists like Mr Birling who could care very little if one of their former workers like Eva died but people in general should be better than that and learn from this and change their ways, and that is Priestley’s fundamental goal in ‘An Inspector Calls’ to shock his audience, expose horrible realities, disgust people and make them decide in their own way to work towards a fairer, better more just and kinder society.

Question 21

” I felt rotten about it at the time”

Answer 21

heila, responsibility
Act one-beginning
Priestleys use of the informal adjective “rotten” demonstrates sheilas 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

Question 22

“It’s you two who are being childish- trying not to face the facts”

Answer 22

Sheila, old vs young generation
Act three- end

Sheila recognises her parents faults. Priestley uses irony to expose the lack of responsibility and immaturity of mr and mrs Birling, as sheila (the child) labels her parents as “childish”.
Sheila’s mother tells her to stop being childish and Sheila reacts. The truth is that she is indeed the more mature one.

The elder Birlings prioritise things such as business profits (Mr Birling does), status, reputation, image and the suffering of a human being is either secondary or even irrelevant. These little labels such as the various ‘titles’ and ‘positions’ Mr Birling has had are small, petty things in the grander scheme of things, in the greater context of human suffering, of human happiness and a fairer society. Sheila is more noble, a bigger person but also more of an adult than either her parents

Question 23

“Pretty girl in her early twenties” and “very pleased with life and rather excited”

Answer 23

Sheila, maturity
Beginning- act one
Sheila is initially portrayed through the stage directions as living comfortably and blissfully ignorant of society’s injustices. Priestley does this to develop sheila as a character later in the play, into a more socially responsible person.

Question 24

“You and I aren’t the same people”

Answer 24

Sheila, maturity
Act two- middle

Sheila had gained maturity since her initial engagement with Gerald. Sheilas perception of Gerald has changed and she can no longer ignore the injustices in society.

Question 25

"You don't seem to have learnt anything"

Answer 25

Sheila, maturity Act three- end Here sheila acknowledges the purpose of the inspector's inquiry- a moral teaching. Priestley does this to portray the older generation as stubborn and opposed to changing their stance on responsibility. Eva can't be apologised to ,she won't be returning back to life but at least the Birlings could learn something from this. Not only the Birlings but those among the upper-middle classes watching Priestley's play. This is said in response to her father saying that he does take all of this seriously but in the sense that he will suffer more than anyone else. Sheila is not concerned at this moment with her father but it is the tragedy of Eva Smith that takes priority. Sheila is not self-centred and thinking of only her family and its reputation but of a fellow human being and human dignity and morality in general. She is a far more noble person than her father, a wealthy industrialist. Priestley is thus again undermining the capitalist elite in society through portraying Mr Birling negatively.

Question 26

"No not yet. It's too soon. I must think."

Answer 26

Sheila, maturity Act 3- end The pivotal moment is where sheila must decide either to accept or reject Gerald and the capitalist individualism he stands for. The use of this imperative "must" is a direct message from priestley to the audience- to think for themselves.

Question 27

"Now I really feel engaged"

Answer 27

Sheila, materialism Act one- beginning Sheilas obsession with material objects is demonstrated when sheila needs the physical token of a ring to "really feel engaged." This ring is a visual marker of ownership and commitment from Gerald to their relationship

Question 28

"Is it the one you (Gerald) wanted me to have?"

Answer 28

Sheila, materialism Act one - beginning Priestley's use of this question reveals the extent of patriarchal control Gerald has over Sheila. Beginning with the choice of ring and inevitably extending to controlling the minutiae of quotidian life (little details of everyday life)

Question 29

"Pretty?"

Answer 29

Sheila, socialist vs capitalism Act one- beginning It can be inferred that sheilas 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.

Question 30

"But these girls aren't cheap labour- they're people"

Answer 30

Sheila, socialism vs capitalism Act one- beginning Priestley demonstrates sheilas instantaneous recognition of the inspector's message, as she objects to her fathers dehumanising and capitalist approach to business. Working class female employees like Eva Smith are not just objects to be utilized for making money and profits, not just 'cheap labour', they are human beings, people with all that entails in terms of feelings, emotions, a basic right to respect and dignity. Priestley wants the capitalist elite to stop viewing their workers purely as tools to be used to make money but as people, human beings.

Question 31

I've told my father - he didn't seem to think it amounted to much - but I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Did it make much difference to her?

Answer 31

Sheila Act one- beginning Sheila upon being shown the picture of Eva Smith goes in to tears and leaves. She then returns. This quote alludes to her telling her father about getting Eva fired. We see the contrast between her and her father. Her father is in different and essentially does not care but she felt 'rotten'. There is a generational difference, highlighted once again in this quote where once again we see Sheila's essential goodness and caring nature.

Question 32

So I'm really responsible?

Answer 32

Sheila Act one- beginning Rather than the arrogant statements of her mother who is dismissive of her role in Eva's demise and a clear feeling that Eva as a member of the working class is inferior, Sheila has none of that. She is more sincere, less entrenched in class snobbery and has a more human attitude. She genuinely asks if she is guilty for Eva's death.

Question 33

I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn't get rid of that girl, I'd never go near the place again and I'd persuade mother to close our account with them.

Answer 33

Sheila Act one - beginning Sheila admits to her role in Eva Smith being fired from her job and thus ending up destitute, penniless. She also shows the huge power that the wealthy in society can wield and how abuse of this power can have horrible consequences. Perhaps Priestley is telling wealthier viewers of his play to be aware of their power and not misuse it and even unintentionally cause great harm to others.

Question 34

" impertinent is such a silly word"

Answer 34

Sheila, socialism vs capitalism Act two-middle Sheila has developed in maturity and rejects her mothers use of the formal adjective "impertinent" to criticise Eva as "such a silly word" 'Impertinent' is such a silly word because it implies hierarchy. Sheila has the right to speak down to socially 'inferior' people like Eva Smith to whom she admits she was rude to in the shop but they cannot dare reply as equals let alone with the same degree of rudeness for that would be 'impertinent'. The word impertinent in that play and the wider context of British society implies that certain people can speak to others in a certain way and others cannot speak to others in another way. Those in 'lower', 'inferior', social positions do not have the right to speak to others in a certain manner. It is based on classism, and is discriminatory and unjust.

Question 35

And Eric's one of them.

Answer 35

Act two Sheila This is said in the context of young men drinking too much. Eric is not immune to this vice. Despite being of a middle class background this does not render him perfect or automatically make him more virtuous or morally superior to others e.g. the working class. Priestley is dispelling upper class notions that they are morally superior. He is showing they are as human as anyone else. We are all humans. We all share on society composed of human beings, rich or poor and as we see in the play our actions impact others. This quote also alludes to the elder Birling's arguable failure in raising Eric properly an additional flaw of this upper class family, thus reinforcing the fact that the upper class are not necessarily superior and must also engage in self-scrutiny and introspection.

Question 36

"Oh- how horrible"

Answer 36

Sheila Birling, Responsibility Act one- beginning Sheila is the only character who expresses genuine motion towards the suicide of Eva Smith. Priestley demonstrated this through the use of a dash, indicating sheilas authentic displeasure.

Question 37

"I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Did it make much difference to her?"

Answer 37

sheila pushes to back of mind excusing herself act 1

Question 38

"If I could help her now, I would" and "I'll never, never do it again to anybody"

Answer 38

act 1 and showing sheilas commitment to change. showing her potential to be converted to socialism by the inspector

Question 39

'daddy' 'father'

Answer 39

shows sheilas change between act 1 and act 3, maturing and growing up

Question 40

Very pleased with life and rather excited

Answer 40

Sheila is described this way at the start of the play, which is contrasted massively at the end of the play. Shows the effect the Inspector has on the younger generation. act 1

Question 41

"It's you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts"

Answer 41

sheila criticising and recognising her parents faults. irony labelling parents as childish. act 3

Question 42

'you don't seem to have learnt anything'

Answer 42

SHEILA Responsibility Sheila is shocked that the others just want to go back to how it was now they think the Inspector was a fake.act 3

Question 43

"No not yet. It's too soon. I must think."

Answer 43

i must think is a direct message from priestley to the audience about making a social change. sheila act 3 in response to her ring being offered back to her

Question 44

'now i feel really engaged'

Answer 44

Shows Sheila's own materialism towards her engagement, as well as general immaturity. act 1

Question 45

"But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people"

Answer 45

sheila objects to her father's dehumanising and capitalist approach to business. socialist? act 1