Sheila Birling Flashcards
Introduction
- Symbol of hope for future generations to bring about change in society- avoid oppressive ideas of 1912
- Her character encourages audience to reflect on their values
- Priestley’s mouthpiece for socialist ideas
Capitalism /Class
- Sheila is middleclass
- middleclass= vain, ignorant, materialistic, self-absorbed + possesses capitalist views of her family
CAPITALISM/CLASS, ‘Now I really feel engaged’ + ‘admiringly’
- ring solidifies her engagement
- needs material things to satisfy her - symbol of wealth
CAPITALISM/CLASS, Eva
- opposite priorities to Eva (working class)- large contrast between classes
- when she finds out about Eva’s suicide, ‘I wish you hadn’t told me’ - SELFISH
Gender
- In PATRIARCHAL EDWARDIAN society, women = commodities
- Sheila highlights the gender inequality- Priestley warning audience against oppressive 12 attitudes
GENDER, ‘She’s a pretty girl’
- FIRST thing we learn about Sheila
- highlights importance of looks for women
GENDER, ‘Mommy’ + ‘Daddy’
-Infantised her whole life
GENDER, ‘Nothing to do with you. Sheila, run along’
- kept of out of business/dismissed
- women are too weak
GENDER ,’Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business … now you’ve brought us together’
-Enters a strategic marriage, which boosts her father’s business
RESPONSIBILITY, CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES
-as play progress she breaks out of her shell of protection + infantalisation
RESPONSIBILITY, CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES, ‘You and I aren’t the same people’
- As play progresses she is exposed to harsh realities
- she recognises this ‘You and I aren’t the same people’
- perception of Gerald has changed, has gained maturity +can’t ignore injustices in society
RESPONSIBILITY, CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES ‘Don’t interfere please, father’
-contrast from ‘DADDY’ to ‘Father’ + starting to find her own voice as a woman
RESPONSIBILITY, CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES, ‘It was my own fault’
-begins to take responsibility
AGE ,;It’s you two who are being childish- trying not to face the facts’
- recognises her parents faults.
- Priestley uses irony to show the lack of responsibility of Mr and Mrs Birling as Sheila (the child) calls them ‘CHILDISH’
- younger generation more perceptive to new ideas- hope for the future
SOCIALISM
- Priestley uses Sheila as a mouthpiece for socialist ideas
- General Election 1945 - Priestley trying to promote socialist ideas so people vote labour
