How does Priestley portray one member of the Birling family before, during and after the inspector's arrival? - Sheila.

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How does Priestley portray one member of the Birling family before, during and after the inspector’s arrival? – Sheila

I think Priestley way of showing the characters, before, during and after the inspectors visit it very strongly presented.

For example the way he portrays Sheila is one of the strong examples, this is mainly because she changes a lot during the whole play. She changes not only with her attitude but also too the way she tackles life.

Ahead of the inspector’s arrival the stage directions that Priestley gives are slightly different to the ones at the end. This is because his directions in the home, at the beginning of the play create a different image about each character. For example he illustrates Mr Birling to be an exceptionally arrogant character.  And the way he shows Sheila being a little childish. I think the image created at the beginning of the play, about the Birling family is that it show they are a rich/middle class (or well off) family that just like too have a good time with each other. I think they are mainly rich because of the words they use, to a certain extent posh words and also they speak to each other with respect. They may  also look rich  because they had a servant, but in those days this may have been not too rare, because then  the laws were incredibly different.

At the beginning of the play Priestley represents Sheila too be in a relatively happy mood, this is because she just got engaged.

Also before the inspector’s arrives it is revealed that Priestley has presented Sheila is a way that she used to use a sarcastic tone of voice, but at the same time a little caring, loving and from time to time childish.

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“Go on Gerald – just you object”.  This quotation shows Sheila being a little dominant, it shows her wanting her own way and this is one of the reasons she is childish. I think Sheila mainly acts childish because she had everything made in her life - she did not have too work hard for anything, she was very spoilt.

“Oh its wonderful! Look – mummy – isn’t it a beauty? Oh darling”

Also some other proof of her being childish is because she keeps on saying ‘mummy’, whereas another adult would either say mum or mother. That ...

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