Sheila

• Sheila is first described as "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited"
• Sheila


  • Represents those who want to make a change
  • Is a malleable character that those who could create a bright future could shape
  • Takes on the inspector's knowledge and stance, and stands as his proxy on his departure
• Sheila's involvement in Eva's life


  Got her fired from Milward's, after which she would have to turn to prostitution to keep food on the table
• Sheila


  • Is presented as quite childish but reveals a more mature side as the play progresses
  • Aligns most with J.B. Priestley's socialist views
  • Her jealousy and insecurity are replaced with maturity, as she grows as a person
• Sheila is truly sorry for her actions, and knows that her actions have caused misfortune to others, that she must acknowledge-regardless of the person she has hurt's social standing
• Unlike her parents, Sheila is quick to take responsibility after she realises she was part of Daisy's suicide, and resents her parents' lack of social responsibility
• Sheila places no blame on Daisy, unlike the others (minus Eric)
• Sheila


  • May be one of the more relatable or likeable characters for the audience, having changed for the better and actually listened to the inspector
  • Strongly overcomes her feelings of disdain and disgust towards Gerald's betrayal for the greater good (in inverted commas) of their marriage
• Sheila refuses to make her parents feel comfortable about the situation, as older generations tend to be more prejudiced and against newer ideas coming from younger generations
• Sheila tries to break from gender roles by confronting Gerald about his affair, and setting boundaries between the two of them afterwards
• Sheila's change may not be permanent, as she still accepted Gerald's ring (a symbol of nepotism, classism, and patriarchy that Gerald holds)
• Sheila's outburst at the start, "these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people", signifies that she is the most likely to be receptive to the inspector's message
• Sheila is willing to overcome her ignorance and go against her family members, making her the ideal recipient of the inspector's message
• The stage directions "she [Sheila] goes closer to him [the inspector] wonderingly" represents her physically and mentally moving closer to a socialist ideology
• Sheila: '"it was my own fault"'
• Sheila: '"it's you two who are being childish - trying not to face the facts"'
• Sheila: '"destroying herself so horribly - and i've been so happy tonight. oh i wish you hadn't told me. what was she like? was she quite young?"'
• Sheila would be the perfect candidate for the suffragette movement that was rising at the time