Shiela Flashcards
Language changes
‘Yes go on mummy’ act 1, personal pronouns highlight selfish child like attitude
‘Mother I think that was cruel and vile’ act 2, growing maturity doesn’t feel intimate with mrs B lost respect for her
Unacceptable in pre war etiquette suggests anger and happy to break societal rules at this point
Superficial engagement
Formed on materialism and capitalism obsession with materialistic things shows she needs physical token of ring to ‘really feel engaged’ ring is visual market of ownership and commitment from Gerald, notation of ring validates relationship metaphor for nature of marriage, founded on strategic upward social mobility and business relations rather than love
Victim
Product of her environment, expected to fulfil domestic role in household, depends on male counterparts women earn small fraction of what men
Attached to ‘fairly substantial lifestyle’ and ‘heavily comfortable house’ can’t maintain for herself so needs man to provide for her, women in upper class forces into marriage as it’s the only means of sustaining the lives they’ve already accustomed to
Women only valued on their capacity to attract men, through men in which women can elevate their position in the social hierarchy
Victim hood through marriage
Through her joy when she received ring and whether it was ‘the one you (Gerald) wanted me to have’ Sheila feels ‘really engaged’ at this point comforted by Gerald financial security which is symbolised through the ring
Parental manipulation
Immaturity and materialistic reaction towards ring result of parents manipulation and influence
Materialistic reaction towards ring reflected through mr b capitalist and business orientated speech ‘lower costs higher prices’, crucial Sheila rejects traditional and archaic viewpoints allowing reformed socialist society to be created
Similarities between her and Eva smith
‘Pretty girl in her early twenties’- Shiela
‘Twenty four’ ‘very pretty’- Eva
However perceptions of future have a stark contrast as a direct result of divisions in social class, Shiela is ‘very excited’ by potential life of higher social class through marriage with Gerald but Eva committed suicide due to suffering
Priestly creates similar characteristics to make Shiela’s change of views more believable as she realises their similarities. Not exploited to same extent, nonetheless controlled by men and surrenders her own autonomy
‘These girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people’
Hyphen emphasises deep anger and remorse about treatment of girls unable to comprehend how they’re used as ‘cheap labour’ and which generalises them as objects dehumanising then
Shows her selflessness as she was able to sympathise with working class
Could also show her naivety doesn’t realise people will continue to act on their selfish ways won’t change cruel ways of upper class
