The Inspector - Treatment of Shiela

Question 1

Inspector: “(impressively) I’m a police Inspector, Miss Birling. This afternoon a young woman drank some disinfectant, and died, after several hours of agony, tonight in the infirmary.”

Sheila: “Oh – how horrible! Was it an accident?”

Answer 1

Sheila’s first reaction is shock but then it reveals how naive she is (she asks “was it an accident?” when the Inspector clearly said “a young woman drank some disinfectant.”)

Question 2

“No, wait a minute, Miss Birling.”

Answer 2

Calls her by her family title, makes her seem special and a part of the family, unlike her father who often talks down to her.

Question 3

“(rather distressed) Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh, I wish you hadn’t told me. What was she like? Quite young?”

Answer 3

Out of all the characters, it is obvious that Sheila is the most sympathetic from what she has heard from the Inspector.