Gender

• "Is it the one you wanted me to have?"

  • Girls are shown to be passive and submissive
  • Sheila abides to Gerald and wants his approval
• "I think it's perfect. Now I really feel engaged."

  • Sheila represents a stereotypical female of her time period
  • She is seen to be vain, proud and living in her own bubble
  • At the beginning, Sheila is seen to be oblivious and unaware
  • She is more concerned with the ring than the actual engagement
  • She is shown to be superficial
• "sign or token of their self respect."

  • Mr Birling thinks women are defined by their looks
  • He thinks all women think the same way and doesn't see them as individuals
• "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"

  • This shows even women can be sexist
  • She doesn't try to empathise with Eva which suggests she is incapable of showing emotion
  • She is judgemental of the working class
• "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position"

  • This shows even women can be sexist
  • She doesn't try to empathise with Eva which suggests she is incapable of showing emotion
  • She is judgemental of the working class