Sheila Birling - Character profile

Question 1

Describe Sheila Birling’s social status.

Answer 1

Sheila Birling is firmly middle class.

Question 2

What is Sheila Birling’s relationship to Gerald Croft?

Answer 2

Sheila Birling is engaged to Gerald Croft, who is of a higher social status than her.

Question 3

How does Priestley initially portray Sheila Birling in the stage directions?

Answer 3

Priestley portrays Sheila as a “pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.”

Question 4

How does Sheila evolve as a character throughout the play?

Answer 4

Sheila gains maturity as the play progresses, particularly following her acknowledgment of the part she played in Eva Smith’s suicide. Her jealous instincts are replaced by a sense of maturity by the end of the play.

Question 5

What literary technique does Priestley use to develop Sheila Birling’s character?

Answer 5

Priestley uses character development to evolve Sheila Birling’s personality and mindset throughout the play.

Question 6

How does Sheila’s receptiveness to the inspector’s message impact her character development?

Answer 6

Sheila’s receptiveness to the inspector’s message leads to her noticeable evolution as a character, as she reflects on her actions and gains insight into her own behavior.

Question 7

What is the significance of Sheila’s resentment towards her parents’ lack of social responsibility?

Answer 7

Sheila’s resentment towards her parents’ lack of social responsibility highlights the generational divide between the younger and older characters in the play.

Question 8

Describe Sheila’s response to the inspector’s message.

Answer 8

Sheila takes on board the inspector’s message and continues to reject her parents’ views even after his departure.

Question 9

How does Sheila symbolically represent the inspector after his departure?

Answer 9

Sheila acts as the proxy or representative of the inspector after his departure, embodying his message and challenging her parents’ perspectives.

Question 10

What role does Sheila play in challenging her parents’ views?

Answer 10

Sheila actively rejects her parents’ views and takes on a more socially responsible stance, aligning herself with the inspector’s message.

Question 11

How does Sheila’s acceptance of the inspector’s message contribute to her character development?

Answer 11

Sheila’s acceptance and implementation of the inspector’s message signify her growth and maturation as a character, as she moves away from her parents’ viewpoints and embraces a more socially conscious outlook.

Question 12

Compare Sheila’s response to the inspector’s message with that of her parents.

Answer 12

While Sheila embraces the inspector’s message and takes on a more responsible role, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Birling, remain resistant and fail to acknowledge their own culpability.

Question 13

What does Sheila’s obsession with material objects reveal about her engagement to Gerald?

Answer 13

Sheila’s obsession with material objects highlights that her engagement to Gerald is based on materialism and capitalism rather than genuine love.

Question 14

Explain the significance of the ring in Sheila and Gerald’s relationship.

Answer 14

The ring serves as a visual marker of ownership and commitment from Gerald to their relationship, symbolizing their engagement.

Question 15

How does Priestley use the ring as a metaphor in the play?

Answer 15

The ring serves as a metaphor for the nature of Sheila and Gerald’s marriage, representing a relationship founded on strategic upward social mobility and business relations rather than love.

Question 16

Why does Sheila feel that their engagement isn’t real until the ring is presented?

Answer 16

Sheila believes their engagement isn’t genuine until a monetary investment, represented by the ring, is made, indicating the materialistic nature of their relationship.

Question 17

How does Priestley present Sheila and Gerald’s engagement?

Answer 17

Priestley presents Sheila and Gerald’s engagement as superficial and business-oriented, emphasizing the lack of genuine emotion and connection in their relationship.

Question 18

What role does Sheila’s developing maturity play in the return of the ring to Gerald by the end of the play?

Answer 18

Sheila’s developing maturity allows her to realize the superficiality of her engagement to Gerald and ultimately leads her to return the ring, symbolizing her rejection of materialism and her growth as a character.

Question 19

How does Priestley initially portray Sheila at the start of the play?

Answer 19

Priestley portrays Sheila as immature, insecure about her own beauty, and possessing a jealous mindset.

Question 20

What is the significance of Sheila’s initial behavior in the play?

Answer 20

Sheila’s initial behavior sets the stage for her character development throughout the play, allowing Priestley to explore themes of maturity, social responsibility, and the consequences of superficiality.

Question 21

How does Sheila’s reaction to Eva’s death, at the beginning of the play, reflect her warped view of the world?

Answer 21

Sheila’s immediate reaction to Eva’s death, questioning her beauty, demonstrates her belief that a person’s value is tied to their outward appearance, revealing her shallow perspective.

Quote : “Pretty?”

Question 24

Why does Priestley use Sheila’s jealousy to encourage a negative perception of her?

Answer 24

Priestley utilizes Sheila’s jealousy to encourage the audience to view her negatively, highlighting the shallowness and superficiality present in certain characters and societal norms.

Question 24

What does Sheila’s jealousy towards Eva’s beauty reveal about her perception of social classes?

Answer 24

Sheila’s jealousy towards Eva’s beauty suggests that she believes those in higher social classes, who can afford to enhance their appearance, hold greater value than those in lower classes.

Question 24

How does Mrs. Birling’s reaction to Gerald’s affair contribute to Sheila’s jealousy?

Answer 24

Mrs. Birling’s acceptance of Gerald’s affair reinforces Sheila’s jealousy and suggests that infidelity is commonplace, furthering Sheila’s insecurities.

Quote: “You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.”

Question 24

How does Priestley use Sheila’s initial behavior to develop her character throughout the play?

Answer 24

Priestley uses Sheila’s initial immaturity, insecurity, and jealousy as a starting point for her character development, allowing her to evolve and adopt the inspector’s message of social responsibility.

Question 24

How does Priestley portray Sheila as a victim of her environment and societal constraints in early 20th-century Britain?

Answer 24

Priestley depicts Sheila as a victim of her surroundings and societal restrictions, highlighting the limited rights and opportunities available to women during this time period.

Question 24

What societal factors contribute to Sheila’s dependency on men and her perceived need for marriage in early 20th-century Britain?

Answer 24

Factors such as limited rights, poor education, and unequal pay for women contribute to Sheila’s financial dependency on men and her perceived need for marriage to maintain her accustomed lifestyle.

Question 24

What does Sheila’s joy at receiving the engagement ring from Gerald signify about the societal expectations placed on women during this time?

Answer 24

Sheila’s joy at receiving the engagement ring symbolizes the societal expectation for women to find financial security through marriage, reinforcing the idea that women were valued based on their ability to attract a man and increase their social status.

Quote: It is at this point that Sheila feels “really feels engaged”.

Question 25

How does Priestley depict Sheila Birling as a product of parental manipulation in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 25

Priestley portrays Sheila as the result of manipulation by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Birling, suggesting that her immature and materialistic behavior stems from their influence.

Question 25

How does Priestley use Sheila’s attachment to her lifestyle and house to illustrate the financial motivations behind marriage for women in 1912?

Answer 25

Priestley utilizes Sheila’s attachment to her lifestyle and house to highlight the financial motivations behind marriage for women in 1912, as marriage was often the only means for women to sustain their accustomed lives.

Sheila has become attached to her “fairly substantial” lifestyle and “heavily comfortable” house.

Question 26

What evidence from the play supports the idea that Sheila’s materialism is influenced by her parents?

Answer 26

Sheila’s materialistic reaction to the engagement ring mirrors Mr. Birling’s capitalist and business-focused mindset, as seen in his speech about “lower costs and higher prices.”

Question 27

How does Priestley use Sheila’s character to convey his message to the audience?

Answer 27

Priestley intends for Sheila to serve as a representation of the younger generation and their potential for rejecting traditional, outdated mindsets, thereby allowing for the creation of a more socialist and reformed society.

Question 28

What is the significance of sympathizing with Sheila despite her dislikeable behavior?

Answer 28

By eliciting sympathy for Sheila despite her flaws, Priestley encourages the audience to recognize the impact of parental influence and societal norms on individuals, promoting empathy and understanding in their assessment of characters and society.

Question 29

How does Priestley create parallels between Sheila and Eva Smith in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 29

Priestley establishes similarities between Sheila and Eva to demonstrate the influence of women’s upbringing on their lives, comparing Sheila’s privilege in her higher-class lifestyle with Eva’s struggle and squalor.

Question 30

What are some explicit similarities between Sheila and Eva in the play?

Answer 30

Both characters are described as “pretty” by Priestley, with Sheila being a “pretty girl in her early twenties” and Eva being described as “twenty-four” and “very pretty” by the inspector.

Question 31

How does Priestley use the characters’ perceptions of the future to highlight the impact of social class?

Answer 31

Priestley contrasts Sheila’s excitement for a future of higher social status through marriage with Gerald with Eva’s suffering, which was so great that she ultimately committed suicide, emphasizing the stark divide in opportunities and outcomes based on social class.

Question 32

What is the significance of the class distinction between Sheila and Eva in the play?

Answer 32

The class distinction between Sheila and Eva underscores the carefree life enjoyed by the privileged class compared to the constant suffering faced by the lower class, serving as a vehicle for Priestley to promote socialism.

Question 33

How does Sheila’s similarity to Eva contribute to Priestley’s agenda of promoting socialism?

Answer 33

Sheila’s similarity to Eva allows the audience to empathize more with her and makes it believable that she would change her beliefs upon realizing their similarities, thus furthering Priestley’s agenda of promoting socialism.

Question 34

How does Sheila’s experience, despite not being as extreme as Eva’s, contribute to her responsiveness to Priestley’s message?

Answer 34

Despite not being exploited to the same extent as Eva, Sheila’s experience of being controlled by men and surrendering her autonomy enables her to empathize with Eva and become more responsive to Priestley’s socialist message.

Question 35

How does Priestley portray Sheila’s response to her role in Eva’s death in “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 35

Priestley depicts Sheila as accepting her responsibility for Eva’s death without making excuses, contrasting her with other characters who attempt to avoid or deny their involvement.

Question 36

What distinguishes Sheila’s response from the reactions of other characters in the play?

Answer 36

Sheila openly acknowledges her responsibility for her actions, in contrast to characters like Eric, Mrs. Birling, Mr. Birling, and Gerald, who either avoid the truth, refuse to accept responsibility, or try to downplay their involvement.

Question 37

How does Priestley use Sheila’s response to convey his message to the audience?

Answer 37

Through Sheila, Priestley encourages the audience to adopt a perspective of genuine care and compassion towards the disadvantaged and persecuted lower class, highlighting the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions to better society and reduce suffering.

Question 38

What is significant about Sheila’s response to Eva’s death?

Answer 38

Sheila’s genuine horror and compassion in response to Eva’s death, as demonstrated by her reaction of “How horrible,” serves as an example of the empathy and understanding needed to promote positive change in society.

Question 39

How does Priestley leave Sheila’s character development ambiguous at the end of “An Inspector Calls”?

Answer 39

Priestley leaves Sheila’s character development ambiguous through the use of reverse syntax and cyclical structure, prompting questions about whether she has truly changed for the better or reverted to her previous ideological position.

Quote: “It frightens me, the way you talk”.

Question 40

What is significant about Priestley’s use of reverse syntax in Sheila’s dialogue?

Answer 40

Priestley’s use of reverse syntax in Sheila’s dialogue highlights her uncertainty and leaves room for interpretation regarding her character development, particularly in terms of her fears and motivations.

Quote: “It frightens me, the way you talk”.

Question 41

How does Sheila’s hesitation regarding her engagement to Gerald contribute to the ambiguity of her character development?

Answer 41

Sheila’s hesitation and eventual acceptance of Gerald’s ring symbolize her potential return to previous ideological positions and her acceptance of nepotism, classism, and patriarchy, challenging the notion of permanent change.

Quote: (half serious, half playful) “We’d have to start all over again”.

Question 42

What is the significance of Priestley using cyclical structure in Sheila’s character presentation?

Answer 42

Priestley’s use of cyclical structure in Sheila’s character presentation suggests the possibility of her returning to her initial ideological position, adding to the uncertainty surrounding her character development by the end of the play.

Quote: (regarding the engagement ring) “ You mean this?”

Question 43

How does Priestley demonstrate Sheila’s receptiveness to the Inspector’s message throughout the play?

Answer 43

Priestley shows Sheila’s instantaneous recognition and understanding of the Inspector’s message, particularly evident in her response to her father’s dehumanizing approach to business with “these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people.”

Question 44

What does Priestley suggest about Sheila’s mindset through his use of stage directions during her interaction with the Inspector?

Answer 44

Priestley visually demonstrates Sheila’s evolving mindset by having her move closer to the Inspector in wonder, symbolizing her growing receptiveness to his socialist ideology.

Question 45

How does Priestley convey Sheila’s maturity and acceptance of responsibility compared to other characters in the play?

Answer 45

Priestley contrasts Sheila’s immediate acceptance of blame and willingness to change with the majority of other characters who deflect responsibility, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and the need for socialist reform.

Question 46

Why does Priestley present Sheila as the most socially responsible character in the play?

Answer 46

Priestley presents Sheila as the most socially responsible character to encourage the audience to oppose accepted yet objectively immoral societal values and embrace new, more modern views, ultimately promoting socialist reform.

Question 47

How does Priestley use Gerald’s dismissal of Sheila’s emotions as “hysterical” to highlight Sheila’s passion for social responsibility?

Answer 47

Priestley uses Gerald’s dismissal of Sheila’s emotions as “hysterical” to underscore Sheila’s passion for the Inspector’s message and her commitment to social responsibility, contrasting with the indifference of other characters.

Question 48

How does Sheila’s acceptance of responsibility mark a significant change in her character?

Answer 48

Sheila’s immediate acceptance of responsibility without deflecting blame onto others demonstrates a significant change in her character, reflecting her maturity and growth throughout the play.

Question 49

What is the significance of Sheila’s promise never to repeat her mistakes?

Answer 49

Sheila’s promise never to repeat her mistakes indicates a permanent change in her behavior, highlighting her commitment to personal growth and social responsibility.

Question 50

How does Priestley use Sheila’s laughter in response to Mrs. Birling’s mistreatment of Eva to convey her rejection of societal norms?

Answer 50

Priestley uses Sheila’s laughter as a symbol of her rejection of Mrs. Birling’s mistreatment of Eva, highlighting her defiance against societal norms and her alignment with the Inspector’s message of social responsibility.

Question 51

What does Priestley’s portrayal of Sheila as likeable and relatable suggest about his intentions for the audience?

Answer 51

Priestley’s portrayal of Sheila as likeable and relatable suggests his intention for the audience to identify with her views and emulate her sense of social responsibility, ultimately promoting his message of socialist reform.

Question 52

How does Priestley use Sheila’s assumption of the Inspector’s role at the end of the play to reinforce his message?

Answer 52

Priestley uses Sheila’s assumption of the Inspector’s role at the end of the play to reinforce his message by encouraging the audience to take on extra social responsibility, aligning with Sheila’s transformation and promoting socialist ideals.

Question 53

How does Sheila’s rejection of her parents’ values contribute to the didactic nature of the play?

Answer 53

Sheila’s rebellion against her parents’ established views, such as condemning her father’s exploitation of labor and rejecting her mother’s use of “impertinent,” is critical to the moral teaching of the play, as it challenges societal norms and promotes social responsibility.

Question 54

How does Sheila’s alignment with the Inspector demonstrate her awareness of his supernatural attributes?

Answer 54

Sheila’s acknowledgment of the Inspector as beyond the nature of a normal human, reflected in her repetition of his final words and recognition of the homophone of his name as “ghoul,” highlights her awareness of his omniscience and suggests an image of him as an avenging angel on a moral crusade.

Quote : “Fire and Blood and Anguish”.

Question 55

What does Sheila’s rejection of Gerald symbolize in terms of societal corruption and inequality?

Answer 55

Sheila’s rejection of Gerald, symbolized by returning the engagement ring, signifies her rejection of the corruption, gender, and class inequality present in society, prioritizing principle and morality over financial security and rejecting the individualist school of thought he represents.

Quote: “Is this the one you wanted me to have?”

Question 56

How does Sheila’s rejection of Gerald reflect her personal growth and understanding of societal injustices?

Answer 56

Sheila’s rejection of Gerald occurs after she becomes aware of the corruption and exploitation within society, demonstrating her changed perception of him and her refusal to ignore injustices, even when the Inspector’s authenticity is called into question.

Quote : “You and I aren’t the same people anymore.”