sheila birling Flashcards
words to describe sheila before the inspector came
infantile
superficial
malicious
resentful
words to describe sheila after
enlightened, contrite, a mouthpiece
oedipus complex
psychoanalytic theory proposing that children have possessive sexual desires for their opposite-sex parent while viewing their same-sex parent as a rival
deadly sin
envy
proxy
the authority to represent someone else
sheila becomes the inspectors proxy
how is sheila being priestleys voice ironic
because 1912 women had no vote therefore if sheila or eric had a say the second call at the end the play wouldn’t happened
much like ww1 and 2
what is sheila’s tragedy
women were disenfranchised and she likely wouldn’t find a better husband if she didn’t marry gerald
quote showing sheila’s childish nature at the start
“look mummy-isn’t it a beauty?”
- interrogative shows her seeking approval
- materialistic
“half serious,half playful”
-foreshadows change to her character
-jokes to hide her serious concerns
oxymoronic phrase
“not yet”
- not a firm no as it’s her only way to gain independence
- not a firm no
- no political power
quote to show sheila’s naive capitalist bubble
“sheila is a pretty girl in her early 20s very pleased with life and rather excited”
“but these girls aren’t cheap labour they’re people”
- humanises them
- the plural suggests vast amounts
- already has socialist views
“(laughs rather hysterically) why-you fool he knows…you’ll see.you’ll see.”
- she knows lying is futile
- rapid pace, she’s unhinged
- insightful
- priestleys anger
quote to show sheila’s growth to show her independence
“don’t interfere please father”
- sheila is the one to interrupt her father showing a shift in power dynamic
- father not daddy shows her growth
- a command
“i’m to blame and i’m desperately sorry”
only one of the birlings to show true remorse and responsibility
“desperately”
