Sheila Birling

• '[Sheila and Gerald are seated upstage]'


  By association with Gerlad, Sheila's position has elevated just as it will in society.
• '[Sheila is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited]'

  • At the beginning of the play, Sheila is an archetype of wealthy girls - carefree, ignorant, sheltered and immatture.
  • This initial portrayal shows how Sheila is unaware of the hardships of life and is kept away from these things by her parents.
  • She develops and gains maturity as the play progresses, following her acknowledgement of the part she played in Eva Smith's suicide.
  • Her irrational jealous instincts are replaced by a sense of maturity.
• [Sheila and Gerald are seated upstage]'


  By association with Gerlad, Sheila's position has elevated just as it will in society.
• 'Yes, go on Mummy'

  • The childish connotations conveys how sheltered sheila is and immature.
  • Highlights the stark difference of when sheila does change.
• '[half serious, half playful]'

  • Sheila must restrict and constrain her true thoughts and feelings to comply with the wants of her man.
  • women must conform and be subservient.
  • The juxstaposition between the emotions show
• '[excited] Oh Gerald is this the one you wanted me to have?''Now I feel really engaged'

  • A puppet who cannot think for herself - she mirrors her family's views and then the Inspector's
  • Ring is a visual marker of ownership - Gerald has the power in the relationship.
  • The notion of the ring validating their marriage is a metaphor for the strategic nature of their marriage.
  • Materialistic and shallow.
• 'Oh - how horrible!' Was it an accident' '[rather distressed]' 'I wish you hadn't told me'

  • Imediate, visceral reaction of sympathy
  • But does not understand hardship. suffering and despair.
  • Can't fathom suicide - sheltered by parents.
  • Sees a glimpse of reality and is
• '[Cutting in]' '[flaring up]'

  • Changing point of sheila -now voices her opinions
  • Just as Inspector did - She is challenging Birling
  • Cartharsis - able to express her indiluted feelings without caring about offending others
• 'Perhaps that spoilt evrything for her'

  Understands the Chain of events
• 'But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people'

  • Fragmented dialogue reflects her passion and despair at the situation.
  • Adversative conjunction highlights her opposition to her parent's views.
  • Juxstaposition between labour and people mirrors the opposing views of capitalists and socialsts.
  • Sheila reprimands her father for dehumanising the working class and using them as tools for his own gain.
• 'with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out'

  The prop of the picture evokes a visceral reaction due to her capacity for sympathy.
• '[miserably] So I'm really responsible' 'distressed' 'i'll never,never do it again to anybody'

  Imeediately accepts responsibility and quickly is inclined to change
• 'oh don't be stupid ' '[with sharp sarcasm] of course not. You were the wonderful fairy prince'

  Use of sarcasm shows her growth and being able to scrutinise others.

  Now an ally of socialism - a soldier fighting alongside the Inspector to win the war between capitaism and socialism.
• 'It doesn't make any real difference y'know'

  'you two are being childish - trying not to face the facts'

  ' [bitterly] I suppose we're all nice people now'

  Use of sarcasm to highlight and scrutinise the absurdity of the family trying to escape responsibility.
• 'No, not yet. It's too soon. I must think'

  • At the end of the play - Denies the prop of the ring (a symbol of conformity and posession) as she rejects the patriarchy and societal expectations.
  • No longer materialistic and superficial as she has now gained conciousness of the detriment of wealth.