Sheila Birling Analysis Flashcards
What is Sheilas Role in the play
Priestley uses Sheila to show how attitudes of the wealthy, higher-classes could be changed through educating them.
What is Sheila’s Role in the family
Daughter of Mr birling
Engaged to Gerald
Treated like a child throughout the whole play
Connection to Eva smith
When she was in a bad mood, Sheila went shopping at Milward’s (where Eva worked).
She got Eva fired because she felt that Eva was laughing at her – she threatened to stop her family shopping there unless the manager fired Eva
What is Sheila’s attitude like at the start of the play
Positive and pleasured and the life she is currently living
What is Sheila’s attitude like when none of her family accept the blame for the death of Eva smith
Sheila is disgusted that they will not accept any blame. This cracks the family image and shatters her relationship with her parents. She no longer admires or looks up to her parents
Does Sheila gain respect from the audience
As a character who not only learns about her mistakes, but also accepts them, Sheila gains some respect from the audience – especially as a young woman who begins to develop more socialist views in a highly-capitalist upper-middle-class family
What does the quote “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.” show
Sheila showing her socialistic views, also going against what her family is saying, representing the younger generations and how they are the future
What does the quote “You’re pretending everything’s just as it was before!” show
She is completly going against her family, even going as far as too out them on their mistakes, she is slowly becoming a small inspector Goole
What does the quote “I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry” show
She is accepting that she is one of the reasons why Eva smith Killed herself, despite that fact that her reason isn’t even as strong as others.
How does priestly compare sheila to eva and why
Both pretty and 20s
Creates an emotional connection from sheila towards death of eva and shows sympathy for eva
