Sheila is definitely the most curious character after the inspector. Sheila seems to be very inquisitive, especially about wondering what Gerald’s part in the story is. What is weird about Sheila though is that when she finds out about Gerald’s affair she does not stay angry, instead she says how she respects his honesty by saying “I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before”. This quote is said by Sheila after Gerald has been questioned about his affair with Eva Smith.
Another way to describe him would be to examine his obsession with Sheila. Every day he would watch Sheila in awe and dream he could have her. He never talked to her, yet knew all her moods. Just before the date, he prepared the canoe for departure with many amenities so that Sheila would be relaxed. These luxuries included cushions for her to lean on and a radio for music on the way back.
Which shows that he didn’t learn anything, if you suppose that the Inspector was a ghoul trying to warn their family, he failed. Birling is more concerned about the scandal that can be occurring and him not getting the Knighthood. Whereas Sheila seems really upset, almost disappointed in her parents as they still don’t understand that actions cause consequences. Even when Gerald helps to figure out that it wasn’t a real police inspector, Mr. and Mrs. Birling feel relieved as act as if nothing has happened, but Sheila notices that even if no one died, they all did what they did and should not be happy about
If she’d been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it.”. From the beginning of the play, Sheila has been portrayed a playful kid, always fooling around. However, when the story of Eva is told to her, she immediately loses her mind and deeply regrets what she has done. Although she claims that she could not know what would
The pride and complacence of the Birling’s seems all the more foolish to an audience who knows what is going to happen to the English people. The lessons that Eric and Sheila learn are even more poignant when one realizes that very soon all classes in England, upper, middle and lower, will be involved in the same tragic war.
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
The narrator also shows reflectiveness towards the ending of the story again by saying “Poor Sheila! Before the month was over, the spell she cast over me was gone, but the memory of that
All these questions are asked by the audience and is milling around in the minds of the Birling Family. Character issues: The Inspector as the catalyst for highlighting the different tensions in the family, is abrupt in his questionning, interjects and brings the family back to the main issue, dismissing squabbles. There is tension between his self-possession and the birling family who at times show hysteria, self-doubt, being thunderstruck, needing a drink etc. Priestly shows tensions in the family by contrasts in the character’s personalities and world view. There is immediate tension between Birling and the Inspector.
Priestley presents the characters of the Inspector and Mr Birling as complete opposites, with totally different views and attitudes towards society. Arthur Birling is a self-made businessman, who has held several political positions, but whose only aim is to increase his own importance and wealth. He is a rather pompous and selfish individual who tries to impress everyone around him, by telling them how great and successful he is. He has very capitalistic views, for he only cares about himself and his family and is unsympathetic towards anyone else. Furthermore, Mr Birling has a very high opinion of himself.
Mr Birling is one of the characters in the play that has the most impact on Eva Smith’s death and was most clearly depicted by the author. He is a “Hard