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An inspector calls
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Shelia Birling 🛍️❤️
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Created by
Jasmine Price
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Cards (52)
Sheila Birling
is the
daughter
of
Mr
and
Mrs Birling
, and the
sister
of
Eric Birling
Sheila's status is firmly
middle-class
Sheila
is engaged to
Gerald Croft
, who is of a
higher social status
than her
Priestley portrays Sheila as a
pretty
girl in her
early twenties
, very
pleased
with
life
and rather
excited
Sheila gains
maturity
as the play progresses, following her acknowledgement of the part she played in
Eva Smith’s
suicide
Sheila
is
receptive
to the
Inspector’s message
and noticeably
evolves
as a
character
Sheila's jealous instincts
are replaced by a sense of
maturity
by the end of the play
Sheila
is part of the
younger generation
, alongside
Eric
, and shows
resentment
towards the lack of
social responsibility
their
parents
feel
Sheila
takes on the role of the
Inspector's
proxy upon his departure by continuing to
reject
her
parents'
views
Sheila's
engagement
with
Gerald
is based on
materialism
and
capitalism
Sheila's
obsession
with
material objects
is demonstrated when she needs the
physical token
of a
ring
to "
really feel engaged
"
The
engagement
between
Sheila
and
Gerald
is
superficial
and
business-oriented
, rather than based on
love
Sheila
is initially portrayed as
immature
and
insecure
of her own
beauty
Sheila's jealousy
is validated by the revelation of Gerald’s affair with
Eva Smith
Sheila's jealousy
is a result of her
environment
and
societal restrictions
placed on women in early
20th century
Britain
Sheila's
materialistic
reaction to the ring is reflected by Mr Birling’s
capitalist
and
business-focused
speech
Priestley intends for his play to target the
younger
generation and promote a more
socialist
and
reformed society
Priestley
creates similarities between
Sheila
and
Eva Smith
to demonstrate the
impact
of women's
upbringing
on their lives
Sheila's
acceptance
of her role in
Eva's
death is a distinct
contrast
to the other
characters
in the play who attempt to avoid
responsibility
Mr. Birling
initially pretends not to know who the
Inspector
is referring to and then
refuses
to accept
responsibility
Gerald's tone towards the Inspector is
misleading
and
reluctant
Through
Sheila
,
Priestley
conveys the message to
better society
and
reduce suffering
To achieve this, it is necessary to start seeing the world from the
perspective
of the
disadvantaged
and
persecuted lower-classes
The question
of
whether Sheila has completely changed for
the
better by the
end
of the
play is left ambiguous by Priestley
Sheila's
feminine compassion
is demonstrated notably in response to
Eva's death
Sheila's uncertainty
is reflected in her
half-rejection
of
Gerald
and his
ring
Sheila's
change in
mindset
allows her to act as the
Inspector's
proxy when he
departs
Sheila
is portrayed as the
ideal
exemplar to the
audience
, encouraging them to take on the role of the
Inspector
for greater
social responsibility
Sheila
accepts
responsibility
for her
actions
immediately without deflecting
blame
onto others
Sheila's acceptance
of
responsibility contrasts
with other
characters
who
deflect blame
onto
Eva
Priestley
presents
Sheila
as the most
socially responsible
character in the play
Sheila's
receptiveness
to the
Inspector's
message is
dismissed
by other
characters
in the play
Gerald exercises his
social authority
over Sheila, objecting to her
social responsibility
and
remorse
Historically
,
hysteria
has been used as a means to
control women
, preventing them from attaining
positions
of
power
Priestley
encourages the audience to relate to
Sheila
and her view of increased
social responsibility
Sheila's language
is infused with
rhetorical devices
that resonate with the
audience
Sheila
takes on the role of the
Inspector
after he
leaves
, intending for the
audience
to
emulate
her and take on extra
social responsibility
Sheila
rejects the
values imposed
by her
parents
,
Mr.
and
Mrs. Birling
, as the
play progresses
Sheila
challenges her parents directly,
condemning
her
father's exploitation
of
labor
and
rejecting
her
mother's language choices
Sheila's
rejection of her parents is shown through her
refusal
to follow
commands
and a shift in her
tone
from
informal
to
serious
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