How is Sheila Presented in An Inspector Calls?

Characters Overview

• Remember that the characters in the book are symbolic.

• Each of them represents a particular type or class.

• The one exception might be the Inspector.

Characters Overview

• One way of judging the characters is to look at the way they change, or don’t change by the end of the play.

• Ask yourself – are they different at the end?

Sheila: The Basics

• Pretty Girl

• Early Twenties

• “pleased with life”.

• “rather excited”

• Engaged to Gerald Croft

• Youngest child of Sybil and Arthur Birling

Sheila: At The Beginning

• Initially, we see her as infantilised by her parents: “Yes, go on, mummy. You must drink our health”.

• Her engagement is important for a number of reasons: “Gerald, I’m going to tell you frankly, without any pretences, that your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me. She'll make you happy, and I’m sure you'll make her happy”

Sheila: At The Beginning

Childish relationship with Eric: “(rather noisily) All the best! She's got a nasty temper sometimes – but she's not bad really. Good old Sheila!”

• Materialistic and Stereotypical: Sheila: (taking out the ring) Oh – it's wonderful! Look – mummy – isn't it a beauty? Oh – darling - (she kisses Gerald hastily.)

Sheila: When The Inspector Arrives

She lives a protected existents: “Birling: Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along.”

Shocked, dramatic and over-emotional: “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?!”

Sheila: Beginning To Mature

• Used as a contrast to Eva Smith – 24, pretty

• Challenges her parents ideologies: “But these girls aren't cheap labour – they're people”.

Finds t difficult to cope with her role in Eva’s death initially: “She looks at it closely, recognizes it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out.”

Sheila: Her Role In the Play

• Sheila is the character who works out the tragedy of Eva Smith most quickly.

• Milwards: When I was looking at myself in the mirror I caught sight of her smiling at the assistant, and I was furious with her. I'd been in a bad temper anyhow.

• When she admits that she was at fault for having Eva fired from Milwards. She asks the Inspector if “I’m really responsible?” p.23

• She also works out that Gerald has been up to no good. “I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too.” p.23

Sheila: Becomes a Socialist

• Sheila is sometimes called ‘the conscience’ of the play, as she is one most troubled by Eva’s story.

• She appeals for the others “We all started off like that – so confident, so pleased with ourselves, until he began asking us questions”

• At the end of the play she doesn’t seem ready to take Gerald back. “No. Not yet. It’s too soon. I must think.”

Shelia and Structure

Her Character:

Innocence Knowing

Childishness Maturity

Ignorance understanding

Her language:

Short phrases, sarcasm and emotion

Longer phrases, appeals and emotion

Key Themes That Link With Sheila

Sheila

Age Divide Parent /

Child

Wealth and

Status Role of Women

Relationships

Identity

Write about the similarities and differences between Sheila and Sybil Birling in the play An

Inspector Calls.

1. Introduction – summary and key words from the question.

2. How they are introduced – both self assured

3. How they respond to others – both chastise

4. How they respond to the inspector

5. Conclusion- why does JBP contrast them? Which character is most effective?

Selfishness in ‘An Inspector Calls.’

Priestley criticises the selfishness of people like the Birlings. What

methods does he use to present this selfishness?

Selfishness

• Morality

• Greed

• Selfishness of Birlings

• Selfishness of Gerald

• Selfishness of society as a whole.

Who is the most selfish character and why?

Mr Birling

• Selfishness and greed.

• Mr Birling is motivated by his own Capitalist beliefs and ideologies.

• Mr Birling refuses to acknowledge any social responsibility.

• More concerned about his reputation.

Mr Birling…

‘mixed up together like bees in a hive’

‘Community and all that nonsense’

‘a man has to mind his own business and look

out for himself and his own.’

Mr Birling…

'We were paying the usual rates and if they didn't like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else. It's a free country, I told them.‘

'Well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down, and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate we’d have added about twelve per cent to our labour costs.'

Sheila

• Selfishness and envy

• Repetition of Eva/Daisy’s beauty

• Sheila appears jealous and acts on her own insecurities

• Sheila is willing to take responsibility, less selfish than the older generation.

Sheila…

“(rather distressed) Sorry! It’s just I can’t help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight.”

“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”

Sheila…

‘She was very pretty and looked like she could take care of herself.’

“I was absolutely furious. I was very rude to both of them, and then I went to the manager and told him that this girl had been very impertinent- and – and”

Gerald

• Selfishness is questionable

• Does Gerald act out of pity or his need to be a hero?

• Does Gerald represent the selfish nature of patriarchy – or is it chivalry?

Gerald…

‘You were the wonderful fairy prince. You must have enjoyed it, Gerald.’

‘I didn’t install her there so I could make love to her.’

‘I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.’

Gerald…

‘My God! ...I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in properly – that she’s dead!’

Mrs Birling

• Rejects Eva Smith on the basis of her fake name

• Demands punishment for the young man but appears hypocritical when it’s Eric

• Refuses to help a young woman in need

• Seems unfazed and unchanged by the Inspector.

Mrs Birling…

‘We’ve done a great deal of useful work in helping deserving causes.’

‘I didn’t like her manner. She impertinently made use of our name.’

‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’

Mrs Birling…

‘She came to you for help at a time when no woman could have needed it more.’

‘I blame the young man. He ought to be dealt with very severely.’

Eric

• Selfishness or immaturity?

• Is Eric just impulsive?

• Eric feels remorse.

Eric…

‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.’

You killed her – and the child she’d have had too – my child.’

‘You’re beginning to pretend as if nothing’s really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. The girl’s still dead, isn’t she?’

Why does Priestley include the theme of

selfishness?