Sheila Birling Flashcards
True or False? Eric says that Sheila is lazy and bad-tempered.
False. Eric says that Sheila has “a nasty temper sometimes”, but he doesn’t say she’s lazy.
Give an example that suggests Sheila thinks Gerald is lying to her at the start of the play.
She is described as being “half serious, half playful” when she teases him about the previous summer, which suggests she knows he isn’t telling the complete truth.
Give an example of Sheila appearing childish at the start of the play.
She uses childish language when she turns to her mother for approval of her engagement ring, saying “Look - Mummy - isn’t it a beauty?”
Does Sheila take the side of her parents or the Inspector?
She takes the side of the Inspector. She shows sympathy towards Eva / Daisy and accepts responsibility for her part in Eva / Daisy’s death.
What evidence is there that Sheila is a jealous character?
She has Eva / Daisy dismissed because she feels jealous that Eva / Daisy is pretty and looks better in a dressed than her. She admits that if Eva / Daisy had been a “miserable plain creature”, she wouldn’t have led Sheila to get her fired.
Do you think Priestley Sheila as intelligent? Give examples to support your answer.
Sheila is presented as being intelligent as the play goes on. For example, she notices that the Inspector already seems to have the information he needs, telling Gerald “he knows” about his affair with Eva / Daisy. She is also the first person to spot that the inspector is leading Sybil into a trap.
Which of these best describes Sheila’s initial reaction when she finds out about Eva / Daisy’s death?
A. indifferent
B. anxious
C. upset
C. She is upset, exclaiming “how horrible!”
Why does Sheila reveal Eric’s drinking problem?
She says that it is “simply bound to come out” anyway, and she also thinks they “must stop these silly pretences”, which shows she doesn’t think they should hide things anymore.
Give one example that shows Sheila is a moral character.
She accepts her role in Eva / Daisy’s death, saying “I know I’m to blame”.
Why is it significant that Sheila still doesn’t accept Gerald’s proposal after finding out that the Inspector was a hoax?
Her decision shows that she knows the Inspector’s identity doesn’t actually change anything. Even though Gerald’s actions won’t cause a public scandal, he has still acted immorally and as a result she can’t forgive him just yet. This emphasises her morality.
How does the Inspector’s visit affect Sheila? Explain your answer.
- It causes Sheila to rethink
her behaviour — she
claims she’ll “never, never”
do anything like she did to
Eva / Daisy again and the
audience believes that she
means it. - She adopts some of the
Inspector’s tactics herself,
such as asking Gerald
again whether he was “in
love” with Eva / Daisy after
he initially doesn’t answer. - She also beings to
undermine her parents like
the Inspector does, such
as telling her father not to
“interfere” when she is
talking to Gerald. This
shows that she has grown
in confidence.
