Circle words that apply to Sheila Birling Sheila Birling – Character Analysis Character Development

Capitalist Charitable Selfish

Using the quotations, how does the character act/change?

Argumentative
Rich Socialist

Naïve/innocent Loving Key Quotations Act One

Kind
Feels Responsible Aware Act One
Sheila Birling starts off as a typical young woman in her early
Arrogant (stage direction) ‘a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life twenties, enjoying life and feeling excited. However, as the
Pessimistic Optimistic Proud and rather excited’ play unfolds, she undergoes significant development. In the
course of the story, she confronts Gerald, finally
‘(Half-serious, half-playful) Yes-except for all last summer when you comprehending his actions that were previously hidden from
never came near me.’ her.
Questions to answer on character
‘(Quiet and serious now) All right then, I drink to you.’
For each one: full sentences, try to prove with a quotation
and analysis ‘You talk as if we were responsible-’

Easy ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour. They’re people.’

✓ What is your personal opinion of Sheila Birling? ‘When I was looking at myself in the mirror I caught sight of her smiling
✓ How did Sheila react when she found out the Inspector was not at the salesgirl, and I was furious with her.’ Act Two
real? Why did she react in this way? ‘Were you seeing her last spring and summer…were you?’ Sheila's acknowledgment of herself as a "selfish vindictive
✓ How does her view of her parents change throughout the play? creature" and her accepting guilt are crucial moments in her
‘Why – you fool – he knows! Of course he knows.’ character development in the play. She recognizes her
✓ Describe Sheila’s change throughout the play. contribution to Eva's death, expressing deep remorse with the
words, "I know I am to blame – and I am desperately sorry."
This signifies her growing awareness and sense of
Act Two responsibility. A crucial moment for Sheila occurs when she
Medium realizes the consequences of her actions, as she remarks,
‘I must obviously be a selfish vindictive creature.’ "No, he’s giving us rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves!" This
✓ How far do you agree that Sheila is to blame for Eva’s death? metaphor reveals her understanding of moral accountability.
✓ What is the most important moment in the play for Sheila ‘And I know I am to blame – and I am desperately sorry…’
Birling? Justify this. ‘(Rather wildly, with laugh) No, he’s giving us rope – so that we’ll hang
✓ How would an audience of the time (1940s) react to her? Why? ourselves!’
✓ Sheila is highly affected by the Inspector: ‘Why – you fool – he
knows! Of course he knows.’ Why is this?
Act Three
✓ Why does Sheila take responsibility and how does this impact
on her and her parents relationship? ‘But now you’re beginning all over again to pretend that nothing much Act Three
has happened.’
Sheila Birling's character in the play plays a crucial role in
(To parents) ‘…it’s you two who are being childish – trying not to face the conveying messages about social responsibility and causing
Hard/challenge
facts.’ tension within the family. Her criticism of her parents, shown
✓ Judge Sheila’s responsibility in the play. as "you're beginning all over again to pretend that nothing
‘We hardly ever told him anything he didn’t know. Did you notice that?’ much has happened," highlights her awareness of their
✓ How does Sheila Birling feel about social responsibility? moral avoidance. Sheila emphasizes the generational gap
✓ How does Priestley show the tension between the family? Link ‘(Flaring up) Well, he inspected us, all right! …Between us we drove that with the statement, "it’s you two who are being childish –
to the theme of Age. girl to suicide.’ trying not to face the facts," revealing how the younger
✓ Sheila is the conscience of the family. How far do you agree with generation sees the older one as unwilling to acknowledge
‘(Tensely) I want to get out of this. It frightens me the way you talk.’ societal responsibilities.
this statement?
✓ What does the use of stage directions show us about Sheila?
✓ Sheila demonstrates Socialism. Link this to the context of the
1940s.