Sheila In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
What is the importance of Sheila in the play, 'An Inspector Calls'?
'An Inspector Calls' written by J.B. Priestly in 1945, revolves around the investigation of a working-class girl who committed suicide due to the society. In this play Priestly uses each character to represent an important message to deliver to the audience, mostly about the theme of responsibility. Priestly uses the young Sheila Birling, a carefree lady, to drive the play forward. Her importance shows the audience the need for a social change from gender equality and generation differences, almost becoming a 'Second Inspector' in the play.
The Importance of Sheila is used to illustrates the Social Divide in 1912, between the upper-class members and the lower-class members. Considering that Mr. Birling, who owns "Birling and …show more content…
Women in 1912 were often presented as being 'weak' and unable to speak their thoughts however; as the Inspector arrives, Sheila slowly evolves during the play, as if time is changing, allowing men and women to have equal rights. At the start of play Stage Directions show that Mrs. Birling and Sheila were told to leave the room to 'the men' to discuss about business, also showing that Women were presented as housewives not, business-women."Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together...", this shows how Mr. Birlings finds the engagement between Sheila and Gerald to be a business opportunity. However, towards the end of play, Mr. Birling asks Sheila to leave the room as he feels ashamed to tell her about how gruesome he treated Eva Green during the time she was working for him; as she stands up for herself, it shows the minimum rights that women had in those times; she feels the need to prove herself to her parents, "I'm not a child, don't forget". This shows how she eager to know what happens in this family, that she once thought was perfect, even though Mr. Birling
'An Inspector Calls' written by J.B. Priestly in 1945, revolves around the investigation of a working-class girl who committed suicide due to the society. In this play Priestly uses each character to represent an important message to deliver to the audience, mostly about the theme of responsibility. Priestly uses the young Sheila Birling, a carefree lady, to drive the play forward. Her importance shows the audience the need for a social change from gender equality and generation differences, almost becoming a 'Second Inspector' in the play.
The Importance of Sheila is used to illustrates the Social Divide in 1912, between the upper-class members and the lower-class members. Considering that Mr. Birling, who owns "Birling and …show more content…
Women in 1912 were often presented as being 'weak' and unable to speak their thoughts however; as the Inspector arrives, Sheila slowly evolves during the play, as if time is changing, allowing men and women to have equal rights. At the start of play Stage Directions show that Mrs. Birling and Sheila were told to leave the room to 'the men' to discuss about business, also showing that Women were presented as housewives not, business-women."Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together...", this shows how Mr. Birlings finds the engagement between Sheila and Gerald to be a business opportunity. However, towards the end of play, Mr. Birling asks Sheila to leave the room as he feels ashamed to tell her about how gruesome he treated Eva Green during the time she was working for him; as she stands up for herself, it shows the minimum rights that women had in those times; she feels the need to prove herself to her parents, "I'm not a child, don't forget". This shows how she eager to know what happens in this family, that she once thought was perfect, even though Mr. Birling