Sheila Birling Flashcards
What does Sheila change to throughout the corse of the play?
From a selfish, vain girl into a moral and sensitive woman
What is Sheila used in the play to show?
That the younger generation are more likely to change and want a fairer society
What are the opening stage directions to describe Sheila?
‘Very pleased with life and rather excited’
What kind of life does Sheila have, and how does she have this?
Following the traditional expectations of a daughter of a wealthy family in the early twentieth century, she doesn’t work and has an easy life
What quotes show her obedient side?
‘Mummy’ and ‘Daddy’
What quote prove how she confirms to gender expectations of the time?
“Is it the one you wanted me to have?”
What does Sheila do to Eva Smith, and why?
Gets her sacked from Millwards because she thought she was mocking her
What does she admit to why she made her get sacked? (quote)
“I was in a furious temper”
What does the quote, “I’d persuade mother to close our account with them” show?
She used her social power as a good and wealthy customer to have a lower-class girl sacked
What quote shows her initial selfish response to hearing about the suicide?
“I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh i wish you hadn’t told me”
What quote shows how she learns in the corse of the play and regrets her actions?
“I know i’m to blame -and i’m desperately sorry”
What does Sheila have throughout the play?
Wise instincts
What quote shows that she knows what the Inspector is doing?
“He’s giving us rope - so that we’ll hang ourselves”
What does the quote, “she isn’t living on the moon” suggest?
That she’s aware of the unspoken loose morals of upper class gentlemen
Because Sheila isn’t naive, what does she know about men?
That they use prostitutes and she knows about dirty old men like Alderman Meggarty
What does Sheila do which hints to her becoming like the inspector?
She asks questions, reveals Eric’s drinking problems, and contradicts her parents
What quote proves she contradicts her parents?
“You mustn’t try to build a wall between us and that girl”
What does the quote, “I suppose we’re all nice people now” suggest?
She becomes the mouthpiece for the Inspector by questioning the other characters and voicing socialist opinions when the Inspector has left
What quote shows her courage when making her own decisions?
“You and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here”
What does Sheila rejecting Gerald’s ring show?
The potential that both women and the young have to play an important role in changing society
What does the decisions she makes reflect?
The change in her character
What does her focus on frivolous concerns shifts support?
The need for social justice
