Sheila understands the Inspector more than anyone else in JB Priestly’s play, making her feelings towards him very different.
Sheila is the first person to realise that the Inspector has arrived at their house to question them. When talking to the Inspector she says, “You talk as if we were responsible” indicating that she had already identified with the Inspector’s thoughts and point of view.
Once Sheila discovers Gerald’s affair with Daisy Renton she warns him not to deceive the Inspector “ why – you fool – he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet”. This shows Sheila’s sense of the Inspector’s power and it also implies that she may even fear him in some way. He may influence her more because the young ones are “more impressionable”. Sheila tells her mother in Act Two “Yes but don’t you see? He hasn’t started on you yet” it shows that she is already predicting the Inspector’s next move proving that there is some kind of connection between them. She also tells her “You wait mother” again implying she understands the Inspector well. Sheila uses an idiom when talking to her father “he’s giving us rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves” meaning that he is forcing them into confessing. Sheila, Eric and to an extent Gerald are able to see the Inspector’s message. The older characters cling to their beliefs and refuse to listen to what the Inspector has to say. Once the Inspector has left Sheila supported by Eric, feels it makes no difference whether he was a real Inspector or not “well he inspected us all right,” suggests this. Also in Act three Sheila states that “he was frightening” meaning the Inspector, showing her true feelings about him once he has left. She tries to make her parents see what the Inspector has taught them. She despairingly says, “You don’t seem to have learnt anything.” She believes that the Inspector did a good thing; she thinks he made them change for the better: “I tell you, whoever the Inspector was, it was anything but joke. You knew it then. You began to learn something. And now you’ve stopped. You’re ready to go on in the same old way,” indicating she is pleased that the Inspector is questioning them in such a way.
Sheila Birling’s view on Eva Smith’s death differs from the others at the dinner party. Sheila believes it was a great shame for some one so young to die in such a horrific way: “Oh – how horrible! Was it an accident?” she is very distressed by the girl’s suicide and thinks her father’s behaviour was unacceptable. Once she learns that she herself was responsible in some way for Eva’s death Sheila is filled with regret. She says “if I could help her now I would” she says she’ll “never do it again” because she feels such guilt to have caused so much misery. This part of the play is a turning point for Sheila; she turns from a naïve and ignorant character and takes on the Inspectors message. The other characters in An Inspector Calls have different views to Sheila.
Mrs Birling, after admitting to being prejudice against Eva smith says, “I’m very sorry. But I think she only had herself blame” Sheila is horrified by this; she cannot believe her mother could be “so cruel and vile” especially when she learns of Eva’s pregnancy. “No! Oh – horrible – horrible!” showing that she is truly traumatised by the news of this suicide. Mr Birling reacts differently to Sheila. When the Inspector informs him of the horrific suicide he merely says, “Yes, yes. Horrible business. But I don’t understand why you should come here.” This shows he is a heartless man who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He is dismissive of what has happened. Eric feels the same as Sheila Birling his sister during J B Priestly’s play. He simply says “My God” showing his shock and horror when he hears the graphic details of Eva Smith’s death.
Towards the end of the play Sheila becomes distraught that the rest of her family can forget the suicide and everything they have learnt: “ I want to get out of this. It frightens me the way you talk.” She feels at loss because of the way the older members of the family are behaving. Sheila was obviously moved by the suicide.
As responsibility is the main theme of J B Priestly’s play Sheila’s view is important to the play. Sheila believes that she is wholly responsible for Eva Smiths death: “I’m really responsible”, she may believe this because no one else seems to be taking responsibility for his or her actions. Sheila comes to think that everyone is accountable for their own actions and should consider of the consequences before they do something. Sheila Birling blames herself for what has happened she says “I started it” meaning that she thinks she started the chain of events leading to Eva Smith’s death. Sheila is unable to accept her parent’s attitude and is amazed and concerned that they haven’t learnt anything from the whole affair. Also during the play Sheila learns that she has responsibility to others less fortunate in the community this contrasts with her parents views on life. Sheila and Eric accept responsibility and believe that nothing has happened to relieve their guilt.
However, Mr Birling believes that if everyone were responsible for each other “it would be very awkward” showing how he hasn’t listened to what the Inspector has said throughout the play.
In summary, during the course of JB Priestly’s play Sheila changes from a naïve and ignorant young lady into an understanding strong and sympathetic character in the play. She is repentant and emphatic. The characters in An Inspector Calls are split into two groups, those who are not willing to change and those who are. Sheila falls into the latter, she, along with her brother understands that she can no longer go on as she has been doing. She understands that there are consequences of your actions, which is what the play is all about. This latter group contains only the young people in the play. J B Priestly may be trying to tell us that young people are the next generation and need to change. Sheila changes the most in this play, which is a good thing. Overall Sheila is a very important character and she provides a voice for the playwright’s views.
