Sheila Birling

• Who are Sheila's parents in the play?

  Mr and Mrs Birling
• What is Sheila's social status?

  Middle-class
• How does Priestley initially portray Sheila in the stage directions?

  As "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited"
• What significant change does Sheila undergo throughout the play?

  She gains maturity after acknowledging her role in Eva Smith's suicide
• What does Sheila's evolution as a character signify in the context of the play?

  It highlights the importance of social responsibility and personal growth
• Who is Sheila engaged to?

  Gerald Croft
• What does Sheila's need for a physical token, like a ring, symbolize?

  It symbolizes materialism and the nature of their engagement
• How does Priestley portray the engagement between Sheila and Gerald?

  As superficial and business-oriented rather than based on love
• What does Sheila's jealousy reveal about her character at the beginning of the play?

  It shows her immaturity and insecurity regarding her own beauty
• What is Sheila's status in the play?

  Sheila is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Birling, and the sister of Eric Birling. Her status is that of firmly middle-class.
• How is Sheila initially portrayed in the stage directions?

  Priestley portrays Sheila in the stage directions as "a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited".
• How does Sheila's character develop over the course of the play?

  Sheila gains maturity as the play progresses, following her acknowledgement of the part she played in Eva Smith's suicide. She becomes receptive to the Inspector's message and noticeably evolves as a character.
• What is the relationship between Sheila and the younger generation in the play?

  Sheila is a part of the younger generation, alongside Eric. Each child shows resentment towards the lack of social responsibility their parents feel.
• What is the nature of Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft?

  The engagement between Sheila and Gerald is one formed on materialism and capitalism. Sheila needs the physical token of a ring to "really feel engaged", which is a visual marker of ownership and commitment from Gerald to their relationship.
• What is the metaphor behind Sheila needing a ring to "really feel engaged"?

  The notion of this ring validating their relationship is a metaphor for the nature of their marriage, which is founded on strategic upward social mobility and business relations between the Crofts and Birlings, rather than love.
• How does Sheila initially react to the news of Eva Smith's death?

  Sheila's immediate reaction to the news of Eva's death was to question her beauty, saying "Pretty?".
• What does Sheila's reaction to Eva's death reveal about her worldview?

  Sheila's reaction demonstrates that she has a warped view of the world, as the value of someone's life depends on their outward beauty. This view extends to social classes, as those who are rich are able to improve their appearance with more beautiful clothes and makeup.
• Why does Priestley portray Sheila as having a jealous mindset at the start of the play?

  Priestley portrays Sheila as immature and insecure of her own beauty in order to allow him to develop the character later on in the play as she adopts the Inspector's message of social responsibility.
• How is Sheila's jealousy validated in the play?

  Sheila's jealousy is validated by the revelation of Gerald's affair with Eva Smith. Mrs Birling's reaction to Gerald's affair reinforces Sheila's jealousy and that men having affairs is commonplace.
• How can Sheila be viewed as a victim of her environment and the society of early 20th century Britain?

  Sheila merely judges others by their beauty as a result of being judged on this sole value herself. Women in 1912 had very little rights, were expected to marry and fulfill domestic roles, and were dependent on men financially and for stability in their lives.
• What is the purpose of marriage for middle-class and upper-class women like Sheila in 1912?

  Marriage's purpose must always have an element of financial motivation and not be solely for love, as women were forced into marriage as the only means of sustaining the lives they had become accustomed to.
• How does Priestley portray Sheila as a product of her parents' manipulation?

  Sheila's materialistic reaction to the ring is reflected by Mr Birling's capitalist and business-focused speech. Priestley intends for his play to be educational in its message and target the younger generation, so it is crucial that Sheila rejects the traditional and outdated mindset of the older generation.
• What are the key similarities between the characters of Sheila and Eva Smith?

  Priestley makes the similarities between Sheila and Eva explicit, as they are both described as "pretty girls in their early twenties". However, their perceptions of the future are presented as a stark contrast, with Sheila being "very excited" about her potential life of higher social status, while Eva's suffering led her to commit suicide.
• Why does Priestley create these similarities between Sheila and Eva?

  Priestley creates these parallels between Sheila and Eva to demonstrate the impact that women's upbringing and social class have on their lives. The juxtaposition of their experiences allows Priestley to convey his promotion of socialism through this didactic play.
• How does Sheila's response to her own responsibility differ from the other characters in the play?

  Sheila is portrayed as accepting of her role in Eva's death, refusing to make excuses for her behavior, in contrast to the other characters who attempted to avoid responsibility or had to be forced by the Inspector to talk.
• How does Sheila's response to Eva's death demonstrate Priestley's message in the play?

  Through Sheila's genuine care and compassion in response to Eva's death, Priestley is able to convey the message that to better society and reduce suffering, it is necessary to start seeing the world from the perspective of the disadvantaged and persecuted lower classes, rather than distancing oneself from them.
• What is the ambiguity surrounding whether Sheila has undergone a permanent change by the end of the play?

  The question as to whether Sheila has completely changed for the better by the end of the play is left in an ambiguous fashion by Priestley, as revealed by the use of reverse syntax in the phrase "it frightens me, the way you talk".
• What are the key details about Sheila's character and background?

  • Sheila is the daughter of Mr and Mrs Birling, and the sister of Eric Birling
  • Her status is that of firmly middle-class
  • She is engaged to Gerald Croft, who is of a higher social status
  • She is initially portrayed as a "pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited"

  
• How does Sheila's character develop and change over the course of the play?

  • Sheila gains maturity as the play progresses, following her acknowledgement of the part she played in Eva Smith's suicide
  • She becomes receptive to the Inspector's message and noticeably evolves as a character
  • Her jealous instincts are replaced by a sense of maturity by the end of the play
• What do Sheila's reactions and behaviors reveal about her worldview and the societal influences on her?

  • Sheila's initial reaction to Eva's death, questioning her beauty, demonstrates a warped view that the value of someone's life depends on their outward appearance
  • This view extends to social classes, as Sheila believes those who are rich and can afford beautiful clothes and makeup are of greater value
  • Sheila's behavior is influenced by the restrictions and expectations placed on women in early 20th century Britain, where they were expected to marry and fulfill domestic roles, and were financially dependent on men
• How does Priestley use the relationship between Sheila and Eva Smith to convey his message in the play?

  • Priestley creates parallels between Sheila and Eva to demonstrate the impact of women's upbringing and social class on their lives
  • The stark contrast between Sheila's excitement for her future life of higher social status and Eva's suffering leading to suicide allows Priestley to convey his promotion of socialism
  • Sheila's ability to empathize with Eva's perspective due to their similarities makes her the most responsive to Priestley's message, helping to further his agenda
• How does Sheila's response to her own responsibility differ from the other characters in the play?

  • Sheila is portrayed as accepting of her role in Eva's death, refusing to make excuses for her behavior
  • This is in contrast to the other characters, who attempted to avoid responsibility or had to be forced by the Inspector to talk
  • Sheila's genuine care and compassion in response to Eva's death allows Priestley to convey his message that society needs to start seeing the world from the perspective of the disadvantaged
• What is the ambiguity surrounding Sheila's character development by the end of the play?

  • Priestley leaves the question of whether Sheila has undergone a permanent positive change ambiguous by the end of the play
  • This ambiguity is revealed through the use of reverse syntax in the phrase "it frightens me, the way you talk"
  • The uncertainty about what is scaring Sheila suggests her development may not be as complete or permanent as it initially appears
• What stance does Gerald maintain towards the inspector?


  He maintains a stance of not accepting responsibility.
• How does Gerald's tone towards the inspector come across?

  His tone is misleading and reluctant.
• What message does Priestley convey through Sheila regarding society?

  To better society and reduce suffering, one must see the world from the perspective of the disadvantaged.
• How does Sheila demonstrate genuine care in response to Eva's death?

  Sheila expresses horror by saying, "how horrible!"
• What is the ambiguity surrounding Sheila's change by the end of the play?


  • Priestley leaves the question of Sheila's complete change ambiguous.
  • Reverse syntax in "it frightens me, the way you talk" creates uncertainty.
  • Sheila's fear may relate to her parents' lifestyle and social responsibility.
• What does Sheila's half-rejection of Gerald and his ring signify?

  It implies that she may return to her initial ideological position.
• How does Sheila's acceptance of Gerald's ring symbolize her views?

  It symbolizes her acceptance of nepotism, classism, and patriarchy.