Sheila Flashcards
Key Ideas: Sheila
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.
Sheila Start
- “Oh – it’s wonderful! Look – Mummy – isn’t it a beauty?”
Childish, immature talk, perhaps spoilt as the daughter of a rich man. Materialistic happiness at her core.
- “ What was she like? Quite young?” …. “Pretty?”
Priorities for Sheila as to weigh p the importance and significance of the death. Flawed morals.
- “ Because I was in a furious temper”
Enough justification for the entitled rich to harass and belittle others.
Sheila Middle
- “ impertinent is such a silly word”
Implies classism is silly and outdated, and social hierarchy should b overruled. Also suggests that Mrs. B is criticised as the younger generation sees entitled behaviour as silly and absurd.
- “ No, he’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves.”
A. Inspector makes confessions appear and incriminate the Birlings (collective of ourselves)
B. Priestly suggests the upper class spell their own demise through their entitled behaviour.
- “ you wait, mother.”
Hierarchy of discourse flipped. Imperative suggests Sheila is distancing herself from Birlings and siding with the Inspector, and defying the conventions of behaviour as a daughter.
Sheila End
- “ I started it.”
Short Sentence, accepting responsibility, personal pronoun.
- “Fire and blood and anguish”
“It’s you two who are being childish — trying not to face the facts”
Repeating the Inspector, adopted his ideology and fully criticises her parents actions
