How is Sheila Birling Presented in Act 1 of an inspector calls

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How does Priestley present Sheila Birling in act 1?

At the beginning of act 1 in 'An Inspector Calls', Sheila Birling  is presented as 'a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited'. This also describes how she acts for most of act 1, until she is shown the picture of Eva Smith, and then 'she gives a half-stifled sob' which marks her first change in the novel.  Her mood in act 1 switches from acting 'gaily' around Gerald to 'almost breaks down, but just controls herself', showing she is also the character most capable of change.

Priestley first portrays Sheila as naïve, as she seems very 'playful' and he refers to her being possessed as she talks to Gerald. Although she is 'half serious, half playful' Priestley makes her seem more clever as she has suspicions about Gerald when she mentions 'last summer, when you never came near me'. This only becomes apparent to the reader when Gerald reveals that he had an affair with Eva Smith as well.

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Sheila makes an effort in act 1 to get her parents to approve of Gerald. When she receives the ring from Gerald, she is immediately 'excited', and Priestley shows this in her speech with the use of dashes as she asks 'Mummy – isn't it a beauty?'. She shows appreciation of the 'perfect' ring to Gerald which shows she really is 'pleased with life' but almost possessed by Gerald.

Although the Mr and Mrs Birling have been portrayed as arrogant, Sheila is contrasted to show compassion towards the conditions of the workers immediately when she hears about her ...

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This shows the beginning of a good analysis but there is not enough in depth exploration of the character's role. Even when analysing a particular scene it is important to make links with other points in the play to show how you are considering the context of an act or character within the context whole play. 3 Stars