I believe that when Sheila finds out about Gerald’s affair she feels angry and she suspects why Gerald left her alone all summer, the quotation to show this is “except for all last summer when you never came near me, Gerald”. When the Inspector questions Gerald and his affair with Daisy Renton is revealed Sheila’s feelings for Gerald change and she thinks twice about marrying him. This also shows Sheila is sensible.
When the Inspector comes round to the house and tells Sheila the news Sheila is concerned about the death of Eva Smith even though she doesn’t know her. The quotation to show this is “Oh how horrible! Was it an accident”. When Sheila finds out she was involved in Eva’s downfall she becomes emotionally involved in her death the quotation “Yes, that’s it. I know I’m to blame - but I can’t believe - I won’t believe - its simply my fault that in the end she - committed suicide. That would be too horrible”. I think this is where Sheila’s attitude changes. I think this because Sheila now knows she’s done something wrong and she feels really guilty.
I feel that Sheila’s involvement in the crime was an act of jealousy towards Eva Smith. The incident itself got Eva fired making her feel rejected and upset. This could have played a part in Eva’s downfall and death. The quotation to show this is “I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn’t get rid of that girl, I’d never come here again and I would persuade mother to close an account with them”.
In my opinion Sheila feels guilty and concerned even when the inspector has left the Birling house and they find out he’s a fake. The quotation “But you’re forgetting one thing, I still can’t forget. Everything we said had happened really had happened”. Sheila in my opinion is a girl who doesn’t feel anything for the classes below her, like her mother. When this news hits I believe it had an effect on her the quotation that shows this is “So I’m really responsible”. This shows that the little girl who was once very arrogant is now a woman who is ashamed and guilty. When Sheila finds out that the inspector isn’t a real Inspector she just feels the same guilt and responsibility as when he was in the house. This is how and where Sheila’s attitudes and emotions change.
This is where I will leave looking at Sheila. I think I have described her attitude and emotions well.
I will now look at Sheila’s mother Sybil Birling, her emotions and attitudes and I will consider how Mrs Birling reacts to her part played in Eva Smiths death.
In my opinion Mrs Birling cares a lot about her image. Sybil cares about her social position as the wife of a Magistrate, past Lord Mayor and Alderman and has no feeling for the classes below her.
In my opinion Mrs Birling doesn’t like the Inspectors attitude towards her. After the Inspector said he wasn’t offended she was taken aback and replied, ”I’m glad to hear it. Though I must add that it seems to me that we have more reason for taking offence”. Mrs Birling gives me the impression that she won’t have anyone being rude to her. This again relates to the upper class being better than the lower class.
When Mrs Birling finds out about the death of Eva Smith she thinks that she doesn’t have any thing to do with it. The quotation “I will answer any questions you want inspector, but I don’t think I can help you very much” shows that even before the Inspector starts talking she presumes she has nothing to do with the crime.
Also, when Mrs Birling finds out that Eva Smith was pregnant when she died Mrs Birling didn’t care; the quotation to show this is “I think the Fathers to blame”. Before Mrs Birling knows that her son Eric is the father she is very harsh with her comments when but she finds out that Eric is the Father I think a little bit of guilt creeps over her for not helping Eva when she needed it this can be shown by the quotation “no-Eric-please-I didn’t know-I didn’t understand -“. I think this makes Mrs Birling look at bit of a hypocrite as it changes her point of view because it’s her son.
In my opinion Mrs Birling can never admit she is to blame the quotation to show this is, “I’m sorry but I think she only had herself to blame”. I think that Mrs Birling is too proud to apologise for something she thinks she hasn’t done. She doesn’t want to admit guilt to the inspector because again she is too proud.
Mrs Birling is very dismissive towards the lower classes. The quotation to show this is “I don’t suppose for a moment we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class-”.
I think that Mrs Birling is very firm and she bosses Mr Birling and her children around and tries to be rude to the Inspector. The quotation to show Mrs Birling’s attempted rudeness to the inspector is evident when she says “That – I – consider – is a trifle impertinent Inspector”.
When the inspector leaves the Birling house Mrs Birling’s attitude and emotions don’t change one bit. She still feels that the death of Eva Smith is her own fault. The only thing Mrs Birling is concerned about is how and why her son Eric got involved in “Daisy Renton”, she couldn’t care less about any thing else. Mrs Birling in my view puts it all behind her and carries on with her normal life.
To conclude my essay on “The Inspector Calls” I will firstly look to the first character I did “Sheila”. I have concluded that Sheila’s emotions and attitudes change throughout the play. At the start I described her as an uptight upper class girl who cared for no body. Throughout the play her emotions changed when she found out she was involved in the crime. Towards the end of the play Sheila was feeling really guilty.
I will now look at my second character “Sybil Birling”. I noticed that at the beginning and the middle of the play Mrs Birling’s attitude and emotions didn’t change at all. Towards the end of the play Sybil found out that Eric was the Father of the baby. This made Sybil look like a hypocrite and she felt a little guilt for not helping Eva when she needed it but only because of Eric’s involvement.
