Sheila Birling

• 1. “pretty girl”


  Is superficial - beauty defines women
• 2) “rather excited” 


  Childlike and not taken seriously
• 3) “She’s got a nasty temper sometimes”


  Foreshadows we will see her temper which is a character flaw
• 4) “Now i really feel engaged” 


  Materialistic

  Their engagement lacks a close bond
• 5) “If she’d been some miserable plain little creature, I don’t suppose I’d have done it”


  Jealous, immature, insecure and shallow

  Initial lack of empathy and only recognises Eva’s humanity later
• 6) “And if I could help her now, I would-“


  Accepts blame

  Remorseful and reflective
• 7) “You were the wonderful Fairy prince. You must of adored it, Gerald.”


  Sarcasm indicates pain but now asserts independence by not blindly accepting excuses

  No longer naive and passive
• 8) “I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before”


  Shows her growth by valuing honesty which reveals her maturity
• 9) “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody.”


  Deep remorse and commitment to change

  “again” = moral evolution
• 10) “We all helped to kill her” 


  Shows her maturity towards accountability