How is Sheila
Presented in An
Inspector Calls?
Characters Overview
• Remember that the
characters in the book
are symbolic.
• Each of them represents
a particular type or class.
• The one exception might
be the Inspector.
Characters Overview
• One way of judging the characters is to look at the
way they change, or don’t change by the end of the
play.
• Ask yourself – are they different at the end?
Sheila: The Basics
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Pretty Girl
Early Twenties
“pleased with life”.
“rather excited”
Engaged to Gerald Croft
Youngest child of Sybil
and Arthur Birling
Sheila: At The Beginning
• Initially, we see her as infantilised by her parents:
“Yes, go on, mummy. You must drink our health”.
• Her engagement is important for a number of
reasons: “Gerald, I’m going to tell you frankly,
without any pretences, that your engagement to
Sheila means a tremendous lot to me. She'll make
you happy, and I’m sure you'll make her happy”
Sheila: At The Beginning
Childish relationship with Eric: “(rather noisily)
All the best! She's got a nasty temper
sometimes – but she's not bad really. Good old
Sheila!”
• Materialistic and Stereotypical: Sheila: (taking
out the ring) Oh – it's wonderful! Look –
mummy – isn't it a beauty? Oh – darling - (she
kisses Gerald hastily.)
Sheila: When The Inspector Arrives
She lives a protected existents: “Birling: Nothing
to do with you, Sheila. Run along.”
Shocked, dramatic and over-emotional: “Sorry!
It's just that I can't help thinking about this girl –
destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so
happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn't told me.
What was she like? Quite young?!”
Sheila: Beginning To Mature
• Used as a contrast to Eva Smith – 24, pretty
• Challenges her parents ideologies: “But these
girls aren't cheap labour – they're people”.
Finds t difficult to cope with her role in Eva’s
death initially: “She looks at it closely, recognizes
it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and
then runs out.”
Sheila: Her Role In the Play
• Sheila is the character who works out the tragedy of
Eva Smith most quickly.
• Milwards: When I was looking at myself in the mirror
I caught sight of her smiling at the assistant, and I
was furious with her. I'd been in a bad temper
anyhow.
• When she admits that she was at fault for having Eva
fired from Milwards. She asks the Inspector if “I’m
really responsible?” p.23
• She also works out that Gerald has been up to no
good. “I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed
of too.” p.23
Sheila: Becomes a Socialist
• Sheila is sometimes called ‘the conscience’ of
the play, as she is one most troubled by Eva’s
story.
• She appeals for the others “We all started off
like that – so confident, so pleased with
ourselves, until he began asking us questions”
• At the end of the play she doesn’t seem ready
to take Gerald back. “No. Not yet. It’s too
soon. I must think.”
Shelia and Structure
Her Character:
Innocence Knowing
Childishness Maturity
Ignorance  understanding
Her language:
Short phrases, sarcasm and emotion
Longer phrases, appeals and emotion
Key Themes That Link With Sheila
Identity
Age
Divide
Sheila
Relationships
Role of
Women
Parent /
Child
Wealth
and
Status
Write about the similarities and differences
between Sheila and Sybil Birling in the play An
Inspector Calls.
1. Introduction – summary and key words from
the question.
2. How they are introduced – both self assured
3. How they respond to others – both chastise
4. How they respond to the inspector
5. Conclusion- why does JBP contrast them?
Which character is most effective?
Selfishness in
‘An Inspector Calls.’
Priestley criticises the selfishness of
people like the Birlings. What
methods does he use to present this
selfishness?
Selfishness
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Morality
Greed
Selfishness of Birlings
Selfishness of Gerald
Selfishness of society as a whole.
Who is the most selfish character and
why?
Mr Birling
• Selfishness and greed.
• Mr Birling is motivated by his own
Capitalist beliefs and ideologies.
• Mr Birling refuses to acknowledge
any social responsibility.
• More concerned about his
reputation.
Mr Birling…
‘mixed up together like bees in a hive’
‘Community and all that nonsense’
‘a man has to mind his own business and look
out for himself and his own.’
Mr Birling…
'We were paying the usual rates and if they
didn't like those rates, they could go and work
somewhere else. It's a free country, I told
them.‘
'Well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down,
and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate
we’d have added about twelve per cent to our
labour costs.'
Sheila
• Selfishness and envy
• Repetition of Eva/Daisy’s beauty
• Sheila appears jealous and acts on her
own insecurities
• Sheila is willing to take responsibility,
less selfish than the older generation.
Sheila…
“(rather distressed) Sorry! It’s just I can’t help
thinking about this girl – destroying herself so
horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight.”
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re
people”
Sheila…
‘She was very pretty and looked like she could
take care of herself.’
“I was absolutely furious. I was very rude to
both of them, and then I went to the manager
and told him that this girl had been very
impertinent- and – and”
Gerald
• Selfishness is questionable
• Does Gerald act out of pity or his need
to be a hero?
• Does Gerald represent the selfish nature
of patriarchy – or is it chivalry?
Gerald…
‘You were the wonderful fairy prince. You must
have enjoyed it, Gerald.’
‘I didn’t install her there so I could make love to
her.’
‘I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.’
Gerald…
‘My God! ...I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in
properly – that she’s dead!’
Mrs Birling
• Rejects Eva Smith on the basis of her fake
name
• Demands punishment for the young man but
appears hypocritical when it’s Eric
• Refuses to help a young woman in need
• Seems unfazed and unchanged by the
Inspector.
Mrs Birling…
‘We’ve done a great deal of useful work in
helping deserving causes.’
‘I didn’t like her manner. She impertinently
made use of our name.’
‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of.’
Mrs Birling…
‘She came to you for help at a time when no
woman could have needed it more.’
‘I blame the young man. He ought to be dealt
with very severely.’
Eric
• Selfishness or immaturity?
• Is Eric just impulsive?
• Eric feels remorse.
Eric…
‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns
nasty.’
You killed her – and the child she’d have had
too – my child.’
‘You’re beginning to pretend as if nothing’s
really happened at all. And I can’t see it like
that. The girl’s still dead, isn’t she?’
Why does Priestley
include the theme of
selfishness?