Sheila Birling - Quotes Flashcards
Act One: A phrase to describe Sheila
‘(pretty girl in her early twenties)’
Act One: Sheila is still resentful about something that happened a year ago
‘Except for all last summer when you never came near me’
Act One: Sheila uses slang language that her mother doesn’t approve of
‘You’re squiffy’
Act One: Sheila still comes across quite young because she addresses her mother in this way
‘Mummy’
Act One: The first thing that Sheila asks about Eva is how she looks
‘Pretty?’
Act One: Sheila is the first to catch on that she might have done something wrong
‘You talk as if we were responsible-‘
Act One: This is the first sign that Sheila has socialist views, and she isn’t afraid to disagree with her father
‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’
Act One: Sheila is the most affected by Eva’s death, and cannot stay in the room
‘(little cry, gives a half stifled sob, and then runs out)’
Act One: At first Sheila cannot believe that she has actually done something wrong
‘So I’m really responsible?’
Act One: Sheila is the first to accept her responsibility
‘It was my own fault’
Act One: Inspector can tell that Sheila was jealous of Eva
‘jealous of her…you used the power you had…to punish the girl’ (IG)
Act One: Sheila knows that IG knows everything and is just waiting for everyone to admit what they have done
‘Of course he knows’
Act Two: Sheila is used to being told to calm down by her parents
‘He means that I’m getting hysterical now’
Act Two: Sheila openly says that she is in the wrong
‘I know I’m to blame’ ‘It was my fault’
Act Two: Sheila goes as far as to put all of the blame on herself, even though the rest of her family have also done things wrong, which is the complete opposite reaction compared to her parents
‘It’s simply my fault that in the end she - she committed suicide’
Act Two: Sheila understands that regardless of class, everyone is essentially the same
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl’
Act Two: Sheila is regularly being told to be quiet by her parents and being told that she is childish
‘Please be quiet, Sheila’ ‘You’re behaving like a hysterical child tonight’
‘Don’t be childish, Sheila’ (Mrs. Birling)
Act Two: Sheila tries to make her family understand that they have driven a girl to suicide
And probably between us we killed her’
Act Two: Sheila is sick of being treated like she is still a child by her parents
‘I’m not a child, don’t forget’
Act Two: Sheila is able to look at the situation with Gerald positively, because he is being honest with her for once
‘I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before’ (about Gerald)
Act Three: Sheila is disappointed with herself about what she has done
‘I’m ashamed of it’
Act Three: Sheila has taken something from what has happened, but it annoys her that her parents have not
‘The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything’
Act Three: Sheila is able to see what is and isn’t important out of what has happened that night
‘That’s what’s important - and not whether a man is a police officer or not’
