I think Sheila has a somewhat missinformed outlook on the world, having lived in such a priviliged familiy all her life.
When Sheila first meets the inspector, she isn't sure what is going on, but appears worried when she asks "What Business? Whats Happening?" When Sheila does find out what business the inspector has at the house, she shows genuine concern exclaiming "Oh-how horrible!" Sheila then proceeds to find out all she can about the girl.
Sheila's attitude towards her father changes to a disgusted one when she finds out that Mr Birling had sacked Eva Smith. She says its "a rotten shame" and says how girls like this are "people" and not just "cheap labour." PUF0VZ from PUF0VZ coursewrok PUF0VZ work PUF0VZ info PUF0VZ
When the inspector begins questioning her, Sheila appears to feel guilty and says that while she felt bad at the time for complaining, she now felt "a lot worse." Sheila begins to feel more worried that she is responsible, and when she moves onto her large speech,"she almost breaks down, but just controls herself." She admits that she was jealous of the fact that the girl looked better in the dress than she did. 2yKK7q Visit coursework dc in dc fo dc for dc more dissertation dc Do dc not dc redistribute 2yKK7q
After the revelation, Sheila seems to be remorseful for what she has done, and she says she'll "never,never do it again to anybody."
In acts two and three, we see that Sheila is trying to protect her mother from making the same mistake as she and her father had done. She tries to stop her from setting her up for a fall. At the start of Mrs Birling's questioning, Sheila asks her mother to stop before its "too late." Then at the close of act two, when Mrs Birling has just left it clear the Eric got Eva pregnant, Sheila says "Mother-I begged you and begged you to stop."
Towards the end of the play, when we find out the inspector is not a real inspector, while Mr and Mrs Birling believe they have got off scot free, Sheila thinks differently.She knows that everything they "said had happened really had happened." This reaction is significant as it shows Sheila has really matured throughout the play.
I think Priestley has created Sheila to give the audience a person whom they can follow throughout the play. The audience learn that she can be spitefull in the middle of the play, then towards the end, Sheila is seen to be the more respectful in the family, as she still feels guilty even though the girl isn't dead..
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With reference to at least one of the characters, show how members of the Birling household change throughout the play."
Introduction
An Inspector Calls is a play that investigates the social injustice of society in England. Its author JB Priestly writes a story based on the society reigned by King Edward. In this historic period the British Empire was at its peak of world colonial power. Edwardian society, as the period was known as, was split into different class groups. You had upper class, middle class and lower class. JB Priestly rights about an Edwardian upper class family, called the Birlings and how their transgressions lead to the suicide of a poor lower class factory worker known as Eva Smith.
The story begins in the Birling household where the family are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. The celebrations are interrupted as the inspector appears, bringing the news of the suicide of Eva Smith. His inquiries reveal each member of the Birling household involvement in the case and the once respectable Birling family are revealed to be rather pathetic and immoral.
In reference to the essay question I shall now write about one member of the Birling family and how their character changes through out the play.
Sheila Birling is the daughter of Author and Sybil Birling. It is at her engagement party with Gerald Croft, where the inspector reveals the family's involvement in the Eva Smith suicide case. In the story Priestly portrays her as a young beautiful lady with a rather selfish and arrogant nature. Using her compelling personality she is able to obtain anything in which she desires through her father. At the beginning of the inspector's inquiries she seems
somewhat curious about the reason for the inspector's interference. Of course at this time she is unaware of her contribution to the incident and sits in the room with a feeling of impartial responsibility to the suicide of Eva Smith. After the inspector explains what's happened and how Eva Smith dies she shows an empathetic side of her personality, which might have surprised the audience watching the play. She shows her remorse by describing her feelings towards the injustice of the case.
The inspector interviews Author Birling first before moving on to Sheila. Author Birling insists for the inspector to leave his daughter out his inquiries, but the inspector points out to Mr Birling that he must speak to everybody in the house. The inspector unveils Sheila's' involvement by revealing her as the second link in a long chain of events leading to the death of Eva Smith. Edwardian upper class society was well renowned for their ability to exercise total power and control over lower class persons. Priestly shows a perfect example of this during the inspector's questioning of Sheila. He reveals that after being sacked from Mr Birlings' factory, Eva Smith found a knew line of work at a clothes shop where Sheila Birling was considered a valued customer. Eva Smith was soon left unemployed after being sacked again. The reason was for being better looking than Sheila in a dress which had Miss Birling's best interest at heart. Using her social position she was able to influence the managers at the clothes shop into dismissing Eva Smith. Sheila is devastated after hearing the effect of her selfish act. The inspector shows another side to Sheila Birlings' character, her gentle side. Perhaps Sheila can be separated from the rest of the family as she is the only one, apart from Eric who is able to accept responsibility for her action, unlike her father who a coward at heart made excuses for his actions.:
Through the course of the play Sheila slowly changes from a spoilt little rich snob into a mature young lady. She begins to share the inspectors' views on Edwardian society and brings about a few of her own views.
The purpose of Priestly writing 'An Inspector Calls' was to get his views about Edwardian society across England. Using the inspector he criticizes
The social order of Edwardian society. So any comment made by the inspector is a comment made by JB Priestly.
Conclusion
I have been able to successfully answer the essay question using Sheila Birling as my character to show how members of the Birling family changed. JB Priestly reveals the injustice that occurred in Edwardian society. He shows the audience that the upper class people of Edwardian society were consequently not the respectable upright citizens that their class positions would have implied.
