What is the importance of Sheila in the play, 'An Inspector Calls '? 'An Inspector Calls ' written by J.B. Priestley in 1945, revolves around an investigation about a working-class girl who has committed suicide due to the Capitalist nature of society. In this play Priestley uses each character to represent an important message to deliver to the audience, mostly about the theme of responsibility. Priestley uses the young Sheila Birling, a carefree lady, to drive the play forward. Her importance shows the audience the need for a social change where gender equality is concerned and it highlights differences in attitude among the generations. In addition, it seems that Sheila becomes a 'Second Inspector ' towards the end of the play in order to reinforce Priestley 's message.
The importance of Sheila is to illustrate the Social Divide in 1912, between the upper-class and the lower-class. The fact that Mr. Birling, who owns "Birling and Company," is a well-known and successful businessman, would suggest that Sheila would like to secure a wealthy husband (Gerald Croft, next heir to the Croft Industries) in order to continue her affluent lifestyle. The Inspector makes Sheila aware of the fact that she mistreated Eva Smith by insisting that she must be dismissed from Milwards. In a flashback Sheila confessed that she had reported her to the staff and said "This girl is very impertinent." In this scene, she said that out of jealousy and spitefulness; she uses the word
In act 2, Mrs. Birling is inspected as she refused her responsibility to give Eva the charity she needed as a result of being pregnant at the hand of her son. Mrs. Birling claims the inspector "look for the father of the child as it is his responsibility". As the audience are aware of the situation yet Sybil Birling is not the dramatic irony is allowed to play out as Mrs. Birling further pushes away her responsibility. She regrets her recommendations of who the inspector should really correct after knowing her son (Eric) is the father responsible. This regret after knowing the truth shows she was not true to what she said and only made these suggestions because she is a capitalist who will say anything to not be held
In Act 1 of ‘Inspector Calls, Priestley utilises juxtaposition to present Sheila Birling as an empathetic character who subverts the expectations of the bourgeoisie in Edwardian England. This can be seen when Sheila’s response juxtaposes with Birling’s “These girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”. It is clearly evident to the audience that Sheila goes against Birling capitalist ideology; this highlights that Sheila is willing to change her ways and shows empathy by regretting her decision, unlike Birling because of his obstinate and hubristic attitude. While Mr Birling is a symbol of capitalist ignorance of the bourgeoisie, Sheila is a symbol of hope and change as the new generation who recognises the humanity of the proletariat. by recognising
If you were stuck on the canoe who would you pick, the Bass or Sheila? First, he could always pick Sheila because he has been in love with her forever. He thinks that she is quite beautiful and cares for her greatly. He also adores her because of her long tan legs and enjoys watching her tan during the summer. He thinks her white dress shows off her figure more than her normal bathing suit.
In short story, The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant, author W.D. Whetherell characterizes Sheila Mant to be a lazy, self centered, and rude teenager. Fisrtly, the reader finds out that in a low stakes game of softball Sheila does not like having a lot responsibilities. The narrator confronts her and tells her to move to a different spot but gets a response from Sheila saying “‘ I don’t like the responsibility of having a base’’(9). This shows how Sheila does not like having to be responsible for her faults in the game, so it is something that a reader would notice about her character and think that she is not responsible or just lazy. The next encounter with Sheila is a big turning point in the story for the reader to learn about Sheila’s
Title: The Birling family is like a pack of wild animals without a leader. Eva Smith committed suicide after Brumley women organisation wouldn't help her in 1912 the birlings influenced her. Sybil Birling and Gerald Croft are the worst offenders because they do and say things. It is undeniable that Sybil is the least guilty because she was angry that a lower class person used her family name while asking for help. Gerald is the most guilty because he cheated on Sheila and lied to Eva Smith.
She probably thinks she’s a monster, a hideous creature. Just by saying a most simple of words can hit someone like stabbing a knife through their chest. And it makes them not see themselves as the beautiful person they really
Sheila is not really interested in the narrator. When the boy picked up Sheila and she got in the boat, she was looking the opposite direction. “I was glad she wasn’t facing me” (Wetherell 295). Sheila was not
The author, Arthur Miller, uses these women to suggest that reputations during this time were extremely important and if tarnished could ruin lives. One woman with the most pristine reputation is Elizabeth Proctor. She is an admirable character throughout the play. Elizabeth is a very moral person and believes in
By this she means how can she speak poorly of my husband only three hours after their wedding, she must stand by him because she promised herself to him and that’s what you do in
J.B Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1945, the last year of World War 2 but sets it in 1912 a time of inequality where upper and lower class was distinguished and treated differently within society and where a big gap existed among poor and rich people. The play introduces us to the theme of social inequality and social responsibility displaying the fact that trade unions were very weak, workers had few rights, wages were very low and many other injustices where made specially towards women; they were treated very differently then men and they were looked on as less important in society. Lighting is changed at the arrival of the Inspector "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder" this displays a contrast between scenes and atmosphere. It also shows the change in mood; suggesting a cheerful environment and a very joyfully and delight mood, everybody feeling thrilled for Shelia 's engagement and celebrating united as a family. But it changes to "brighter and harder" at the arrival of the Inspector and
This is evident when she says “that- I consider- is a trifle impertinent, Inspector” this shows how arrogant she is, the inspector isn’t being inherently rude as he simply agreed with Sheila and because Mrs birling sees herself above the inspector in status she sees it as “impertinent” that the inspector should speak plainly to her because she is a fairly wealthy woman whose husband was a “lord mayor only two years ago and that he’s still a magistrate-“ and so the inspector should be giving her the proper respect. She sees herself as the most important person in the room at any given time and feels that everything affects her even when it doesn’t like when Gerald is talking about his affair with Eva, Mrs birling cuts in and says she doesn’t want to hear any more even when it doesn’t affect her and nothing is stopping her from leaving the room until it is her
“(Pg. 17). This means that Sheila is rude
Imagery of the bass, the river, and Sheila Mant One of the main themes of this story is that sacrifice. The narrator of this story is not given a name but he is fourteen year old. The narrator has a major crush on a women- seventeen year old, Sheila Mant. The narrator finally, and I say finally, asks Sheila on a date via the narrator’s boat.
This image remains when she confesses “I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn't get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again…” showing how conscious of her power, and filled with jealousy and rage, feels the need to act out like a spoiled kid to get what she wants. However this changes when the reader realizes, how unlike her parents, Sheila accepts the consequences of her acts. This is highlighted when she acknowledges to the Inspector “No, not really. It was my own fault...
One of the several themes that Priestley has introduced to the play is ‘Time,’ and this theme not only interlinks with some others like ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Social Responsibility,’ but also introduces a very important drama technique into the play for the audience called the dramatic irony. In Act One, Mr. Birling, as a representative of the older generation of the play and the head of the family, is talking to the others about the progress humanity is making and mentions the liner, Titanic saying it is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The word ‘absolutely’ in this context shows just how confident in his words Mr. Birling is, without understanding that it will all change. As the play is set back in 1912, but is performed much later in 1946, after the audience knows, and finds it ironic that Mr. Birling, thinking he is an old, wise man says such nonsense, as time will show.