TJNOTES
Sheila essay
The character of Sheila Birling undergoes the most dramatic character
reformation out of all the others in 'An Inspector Calls'. She is used as a
vessel for Priestley to present his Socialist ideas, and his belief that the
young are the future. This is evidenced in the scene in which the Inspector
tells Sheila's mother that 'the young are more impressionable'.
The play starts off at Sheila's engagement party. She is presented almost
immediately to be childish, and more than a little naive. The first words we
hear her say are said 'gaily and possessively', as instructed by the stage
directions. This concealed possessiveness also hints at an undercurrent of
unease. This is later reinforced with her asking Gerald to 'go on, you just
object!', in a mock aggressive tone. Allegorically, this is symbolic of all
children of well-off capitalist families sensing something wrong with this
way of thinking. However, all the discontent they feel is glossed over with
banality and vapidity, hence the heavy use of the word 'mock'. A sense of
tension is established between Sheila and her fiancee fairly early on when
she mentions 'last summer, when you hardly came near me'. This is done
half seriously, half playfully. The rest of this particular conversation with
Gerald continues in this tone, instilling a sense of anticipation on the
audience. Sheila also calls her mother 'Mummy', a childish affectation,
deliberately done to present her as spoilt and innocent of the world. She is a
representation of all the upper class stereotypes, done so as to make the
audience relate to her personally, or at least recognise a character trait she
has in a friend or relative.
Sheila is the second member of the Birling family to be interrogated by the
Inspector about the death of Eva Smith. She begins to sympathise with the
girl's plight, saying warmly that 'it's a rotten shame', with regards to her
father firing Eva. Later on, she noticeably defends the girls, by exclaiming
that 'they're not cheap labour-they're people.' This scene begins her
metaphorical transformation from blithe, class orientated capitalist, into a
believer and advocator of Socialism. Although not said explicitly, Sheila's
lines definitely become more profound and left leaning. Then, we learn how
Sheila was involved. She confesses to getting the girl fired in a fit of temper.
We are told it is 'the last steady job she had'. Unlike her father before her,
Sheila is physically distressed and begins to cry. Her anger at herself also
manifests itself as she snaps at Gerald, when it is clear he hadn't actually
done anything to provoke it. She projects her anger at herself onto him as a
coping mechanism. This is a metaphor, hearkening back to capitalism blame
Sheila essay
The character of Sheila Birling undergoes the most dramatic character
reformation out of all the others in 'An Inspector Calls'. She is used as a
vessel for Priestley to present his Socialist ideas, and his belief that the
young are the future. This is evidenced in the scene in which the Inspector
tells Sheila's mother that 'the young are more impressionable'.
The play starts off at Sheila's engagement party. She is presented almost
immediately to be childish, and more than a little naive. The first words we
hear her say are said 'gaily and possessively', as instructed by the stage
directions. This concealed possessiveness also hints at an undercurrent of
unease. This is later reinforced with her asking Gerald to 'go on, you just
object!', in a mock aggressive tone. Allegorically, this is symbolic of all
children of well-off capitalist families sensing something wrong with this
way of thinking. However, all the discontent they feel is glossed over with
banality and vapidity, hence the heavy use of the word 'mock'. A sense of
tension is established between Sheila and her fiancee fairly early on when
she mentions 'last summer, when you hardly came near me'. This is done
half seriously, half playfully. The rest of this particular conversation with
Gerald continues in this tone, instilling a sense of anticipation on the
audience. Sheila also calls her mother 'Mummy', a childish affectation,
deliberately done to present her as spoilt and innocent of the world. She is a
representation of all the upper class stereotypes, done so as to make the
audience relate to her personally, or at least recognise a character trait she
has in a friend or relative.
Sheila is the second member of the Birling family to be interrogated by the
Inspector about the death of Eva Smith. She begins to sympathise with the
girl's plight, saying warmly that 'it's a rotten shame', with regards to her
father firing Eva. Later on, she noticeably defends the girls, by exclaiming
that 'they're not cheap labour-they're people.' This scene begins her
metaphorical transformation from blithe, class orientated capitalist, into a
believer and advocator of Socialism. Although not said explicitly, Sheila's
lines definitely become more profound and left leaning. Then, we learn how
Sheila was involved. She confesses to getting the girl fired in a fit of temper.
We are told it is 'the last steady job she had'. Unlike her father before her,
Sheila is physically distressed and begins to cry. Her anger at herself also
manifests itself as she snaps at Gerald, when it is clear he hadn't actually
done anything to provoke it. She projects her anger at herself onto him as a
coping mechanism. This is a metaphor, hearkening back to capitalism blame
