Sheila Birling

Question 1

ACT 1

“Oh - Gerald - you’ve got it - is it the one you wanted me to have?”

Answer 1

• shows Sheila’s submissive nature at the beginning of the play
• she sumbits to the patriarchal stereotypes of her gender
• she doesn’t think for herself

THEME: GENDER

Question 2

ACT 1

“What was she like? Quite young? … Pretty?”

Answer 2

• shows Sheila’s superficiality
• she is the sin of vanity, valuing looks over more important things
• shows sheila’s frivolous and innocent self at the beginning of the play

THEME: GENDER

Question 3

ACT 2

“I know i’m to blame - and i’m terribly sorry… i can’t stop thinking about it.”

Answer 3

• shows sheila’s impressionable nature
• she takes responsibility for her actions
• direct contrast to her parents
• priestley’s mouthpiece - she shows audiences the need to accept your mistakes and move forward with a socialist mindset

THEME: GUILT

Question 4

ACT 1

“I don’t dislike you as i did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, i rather respect you more than i’ve ever done before.”

Answer 4

• shows a shift in sheila’s personal morals
• development from superficial mindset of valuing looks over important things to valuing actions above everything
• her conscience has been awakened by the inspector

THEME: GENDER

Question 5

ACT 3

“It’s you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts.”

Answer 5

• Shows sheila’s development - from calling her mother ‘mummy’ and submitting to her rules, to being able to acknowledge her parents’ actions and oppose them

THEME: AGE/GENERATION

Question 6

ACT 1

[half serious, half playful] “except for last summer, when you never came near me.”

Answer 6

• first indication that there are cracks within the facade of this perfect family
• she subtly exposes gerald, showing hints of her defiance

THEME: GENDER

Question 7

opening stage directions

“pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited”

Answer 7

shows sheila’s naivety and youth in the beginning of the play.

“excited” brings connotations of a young child unable to suppress their joy.

THEME: AGE/GENERATION

Question 8

ACT 1

“you’re squiffy”

Answer 8

sheila’s use of colloquial language shows her youth

introduces the casual sibling dynamic between eric & sheila

THEME: AGE/GENERATION

Question 9

ACT 1

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.”

Answer 9

• the beginnings of sheila’s socialist mindset
• acting as priestley’s mouthpiece -> this line serves a message to the audience to evaluate their views on labour

THEME: SOCIALISM VS CAPITALISM