SHEILA
Sheila starts the play as the young naïve woman excited at the prospect of marrying Gerald and happy that she has done well for her family by doing so. Yet by the end of the play she is transformed into a woman who defiantly attacks her family for their actions regardless of the consequences. Her transformation is complete by the end of the final act as she becomes the voice of the inspector after his departure.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
Shows herself as “pleased with life” when accepting Gerald’s proposal
(Act 1)Reveals her character to be spoilt and petulant as she demands Eva is sacked from Milwards (Act 1)
Hands Gerald back the ring (Act 2)
Transforms herself to be the member of the Birling family calling for them to take responsibility for their actions and change their ways (Act 3)
PURPOSE
Priestley uses Sheila to show the role of women from wealthy families. Her marriage is a simple business deal for her father that will see him join forces with the rival Croft family. Her function as a daughter is as another product for Birling to trade.
Priestley later uses Sheila though to show us how people and society can change. She is the hope for the future. Someone who stands up to the ignorant values of her family to demand a better, more equal future for all
STRETCH VOCAB
Naïve
Infantile
Petulant
Credulous
Materialistic
Reformed
Redeemed
Humbled
Chastened
Penitent
Mortified
Determined
Fearless
Resolute
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MR BIRLING
Mr Birling is her pompous father and whilst Sheila doesn’t have the issues that Eric has with dad, it is obvious to the audience that she is used by him to further his business interests. His patronizing and aggressive tone towards her at the end of the play suggests their relationship may be broken beyond repair.
MRS BIRLING
Mrs Birling is happy to see her daughter married off to a wealthy gentlemen, fulfilling her role for the family. Sheila is used by Priestley however to show the audience her mother’s arrogance. The repeated warnings to her mother to take the inspector seriously fall upon deaf ears right before she blames her own son for everything.
ERIC
Eric seems to have a confrontational relationship with his sister at the start. She tells him not to be an ‘ass’ and he seems unable to congratulate her on her engagement. By the end however, they are a untied force against their parents
GERALD
Gerald is the fairy-tale prince at the start but soon their relationship is blown out of the water by the revelations of his affair. The confidence of Sheila to hand back the ring is a big moment in the play and Gerald seems to join the side of her parents from that point onwards.
INSPECTOR GOOLE
Inspector Goole targets Sheila’s sensitive nature from the start and knows the gruesome descriptions of Eva’s death distresses her more than the others. Of the characters though he sees potential for change and is less hostile towards Sheila and Eric than the others. When he leaves, Sheila is converted to his world view and becomes the voice for a more equal society.