sheila

• during the opening of the play she appears to be immature and easily lead. She is childish and does what her parents tell her

  "I'm sorry daddy actually, I was listening"


  Sheila shows her naivety and lack of maturity in the way she reacts to her father. Quick to apologise and clear she behaves well. 'daddy' is a very childish term
• Her character develops and begins to stand up for herself

  " I tell you - whoever that inspector was, was anything but a joke"


  The change in sheila is clear. She has become more assertive using phrases like "I tell you"

  The events of the evening have made her aware of the serious impact her actions could have
• At a number of points, Sheila shown that she can see things the other characters cannot

  "Yes of course it is. Thats what I meant when I talked about building up a wall that's sure to be knocked flat"


  Sheila uses the metaphor of a wall being knocked down to show her insightful understanding of the inspector's methods"

  She knows that if they hide information from the inspector it will make things worse. The other characters do not realise this as quickly as sheila
• Sheila allows Priestely to show his opinions on youth. He had a hope in the younger generation of post-war Britain.

  He saw them as the ones who could solve all the problems that the country had with class, gender and social responsibility
• This (priestley's opinions on youth) is shown by how sheila was affected by Evas death and she accepts responsibility straight away. "I behaved badly too I know I did" This is not the case with the older generation as they don't accept responsibility or give an impression of changing
• Sheila: '"Oh - how horrible" only character to expicks gen.he motion towards Eva's suicide, demonstraka through a dash indicating authentic displeasure was in a furious temper'
• Sheila: '"and I behaved badly too I know I did" instantly accepts responsioicity and is self cnnical of ner seifish actions'
• Sheila: '"I felt rotten about it at the time" rotten. demonstrates Sheila's lack in voicabulary but Sindows remorse for her actions which she instantly knew as were wrong'
• Sheila: '"IF I could help her now I would" shows Commitment to changing attitude through social responsibility'
• Sheila: '"N I suppose were all nice people now." rhetorical device coupled with a sarcastic tone to cancy. Sheila's diss approval of ner parents and Gerald's remorse'
• Sheila: '"You and I arc'nt the same people" gained maturity since initial engagement. Her Perception of society has changed and can no longer accept injustices'
• Sheila: '"you don't seem to you learnt anything" acknowledges Inspector & ourpose moral reaching. Priestly does this to portray the acter generation as Shinborn'
• Sheila: '"Now I really feel engaged" obsessed with material. objects, neeas physical roken, ring, to realy feel engaged'
• Sheila: '"Is it the are you wanted me to have" reveals evrent of paniarchal control Gerald has over Sheria'
• But Those girls cet aren't cheap labour. they's people" demonstrates Sheria's instantaneou recognition of me inspector's message as she object her fatur's way of buisness
• “look mummy isnt it beautiful?”


  mummy is a very childish word. we can see sheilas childish nature in the way she uses mummy/daddy for her parents.

  She must care about her mothers opinion alot as she is asking her for approval on her engagement ring
• “now i really feel engaged”

  materialistic - she feels like she needs an actual ring on her finger to feel engaged. Cares more about a physical object
• “Oh, thats tragic”


  one of the first to react sadly to Eva’s death -> she must have sympathy for her knowing they are a really similar age.
• “pretty?”


  Jealous -> she is jealous as she knows that she aint the prettiest
• “Dont stay mummy”


  using childish nature again, mummy is very childish
• “I’m sorry I dont know why I did it”

  The first one to accept responsibility for their partaking in the suicide. This can show Sheila’s understanding of social responsibility
• “I‘m not a child I’d rather know the truth”


  matured since realising Gerald’s affair. Despite having a childish nature she refers to herself as not a child