SHEILA quotes Flashcards
- ‘mummy’ suggests immaturity –> due to being treated like a child, she acts like one.
. - ‘Isn’t it a beauty’ – her delight over the ring suggests a materialistic attitude often encouraged in girls of her class.
.
- Needs materialistic objects to feel secure in er engagement
(This is a good example to show her change through the play)
Through the play she takes on the Inspector’s ideologies and then at the end- refuses the ring (showing her development)
“Oh look, Mummy, isn’t it a beauty?” -Sheila (Act1)
&
“Now i feel really engaged” -Sheila (Act1)
talking about her engagement ring
- Shows her more compassionate side
.
- First of the family to adopt socialist views –> By having sympathy for the working classes
(start of her character development)
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”
-Sheila (Act 1)
talking to her father about his workers
- Believes that Eva’s good looks means she won’t suffer for losing her job.
–> Shows importance placed on looks by
patriarchal Edwardian society. (superficial)
.
“she was very pretty” …. “I couldn’t be sorry for her” - Sheila (Act 1)
- Shows her jealously and insecurity –> presenting her as thoughtless and petty.
- Her getting ‘furious’ shows the strong emotions of envy and wrath she has.
“I was absolutely furious” -Sheila (Act 1)
Sheila’s response to thinking eva was gossiping about her
(because Eva looked better in the dress than sheila)
- Could imply Sheila’s selfishness &
materialism
–> cares more about the inconvenience to her life than Eva’s death.
.
OR
.
- Shows her growing social conscience has overpowered her materialism
–> as symbolised by the dress shop. (Milwards)
“I feel now I can never go there again” - Sheila (Act 1)
- talking about the shop Milwards she got Eva fired from.
- Standing up to her mother to just tell the truth
.
* Metaphor of a wall refers to the way Mrs Birling wants to see the working class as different/alien.
.
- Shows Sheila is coming to understand the ideas of equality
“You musn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl” - Sheila (Act 1)
talking to Mrs Birling (Her mother)
- Has the confidence to challenge & critisice her mothers selfishness
.
- Further proof of her adopting socialist ideals and standing up for the working class (like at the start)
.
- Uses ‘mother’, rather than ‘mummy’ like she did at the beginning –> shows her growing maturity
“Mother, I think it was cruel and vile” -Sheila (Act 2)
- highlights her moral growth –> and frustration with her family’s refusal to take responsibility for their actions.
. - She feels helpless because she cannot convince her parents to reconsider their attitudes.
.
- Reinforces Priestly’s message about the need for progression and social change.
“The point is you don’t seem to have learnt anything”
-Sheila (Act 3)
- Openly admits her fear/(worry?) of her family’s inibility to take responsibility or change their views.
.
- *Sheila is Priestly’s mouthpiece here: He is sending the message that he is afraid of the people who think so selfishly for what might happen to everyone else beacuse of it.
“It frightens me the way you talk” -Sheila (Act 3)
- This links back to the Inspector’s idea of a ‘chain of events’
.
- Shows Sheila is now fully alined with the Inspectors ideals and accepts the idea of social responsibility.
Clearly shows her growth as a character
“Between us we drove that girl to suicide” -Sheila (Act 3)
- She is not ready to go back to normal after her character development. –> Younger generation being open to change/progression.
.
- Contrasts with the beginning - she is not eager to get married anymore —> shows maturity by needing time to think.
“It’s too soon. I must think” -Sheila (Act 3)
In response to Gerald asking to get re-engaged
(Sheila’s last words)
