Sheila

• (pretty girl in her early twenties)'


  Act One: A phrase to describe Sheila
• Except for all last summer when you never came near me'


  Act One: Sheila is still resentful about something that happened a year ago
• You're squiffy' 'ass' 'chump'


  Act One: Sheila uses slang language that her mother doesn't approve of
• Mummy'


  Act One: Sheila still comes across quite young because she addresses her mother in this way
• Pretty?'


  Act One: The first thing that Sheila asks about Eva is how she looks
• You talk as if we were responsible-'


  Act One: Sheila is the first to catch on that she might have done something wrong
• But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people'


  Act One: This is the first sign that Sheila has socialist views, and she isn't afraid to disagree with her father
• (little cry, gives a half stifled sob, and then runs out)'


  Act One: Sheila is the most affected by Eva's death, and cannot stay in the room
• So I'm really responsible?'


  Act One: At first Sheila cannot believe that she has actually done something wrong
• It was my own fault'


  Act One: Sheila is the first to accept her responsibility
• jealous of her...you used the power you had...to punish the girl' (IG)


  Act One: IG can tell that Sheila was jealous of Eva
• Of course he knows'


  Act One: Sheila knows that IG knows everything and is just waiting for everyone to admit what they have done
• He means that I'm getting hysterical now'


  Act Two: Sheila is used to being told to calm down by her parents
• She feels responsible' (IG)


  Act Two: Sheila is immediately able to admit to IG that what she has done is wrong, much to her mother's dismay
• I know I'm to blame' 'It was my fault'


  Act Two: Sheila openly says that she is in the wrong
• It's simply my fault that in the end she - she committed suicide'


  Act Two: Sheila goes as far as to put all of the blame on herself, even though the rest of her family have also done things wrong, which is the complete opposite reaction compared to her parents
• You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl'


  Act Two: Sheila understands that regardless of class, everyone is essentially the same
• Please be quiet, Sheila' 'You're behaving like a hysterical child tonight' 'Don't be childish, Sheila' (Mrs. Birling)


  Act Two: Sheila is regularly being told to be quiet by her parents and being told that she is childish
• And probably between us we killed her'


  Act Two: Sheila tries to make her family understand that they have driven a girl to suicide
• I'm not a child, don't forget'


  Act Two: Sheila is sick of being treated like she is still a child by her parents
• I rather respect you more than I've ever done before' (about Gerald)


  Act Two: Sheila is able to look at the situation with Gerald positively, because he is being honest with her for once
• I'm ashamed of it'


  Act Three: Sheila is disappointed with herself about what she has done
• The point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything'


  Act Three: Sheila has taken something from what has happened, but it annoys her that her parents have not
• That's what's important - and not whether a man is a police officer or not'


  Act Three: Sheila is able to see what is and isn't important out of what has happened that night
• He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector-'


  Act Three: Although Sheila doesn't think it matters, she does agree that there was something strange about IG
• (bitterly) I suppose we're all nice people now'


  Act Three: Sheila starts to get bitter with her parents because they are trying to pretend they haven't done anything
• You're just beginning to pretend all over again'


  Act Three: Sheila is blunt with her parents that they are living a lie
• Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide'


  Act Three: Sheila is greatly affected by the fact they have killed a girl
• Everything we said happened really had happened'

  Act Three: Sheila understands that IG didn't make anything up and although he might be real, what they all did was real
• It frightens me the way you talk' (said twice)


  Act Three: Sheila is worried by the fact her parents aren't capable of taking any blame
• We can all go on behaving just as we did' (sarcasm)


  Act Three: Sheila starts to get sarcastic with her family and agree with them in a sarcastic tone