In the drama, “An Inspector Calls” written by J.B Priestley, Sheila’s character is essential in enabling the playwright to convey his message about social responsibility. Sheila’s character acts as the conscience of the Birling family. Sheila acknowledges her faults and appreciates the wrongdoing her family has perpetrated against Eva Smith. Sheila’s character experiences the largest change within the play as she goes from being an immature, childish girl to a morally conscious young woman by the end of the play. Sheila’s moral conscience is important because she feels guilt, regret and remorse towards Eva Smith. Furthermore, Priestley’s portrayal of Sheila as a second Inspector enables him to deliver and reinforce his message when she reminds
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At various points, Sheila echoes the Inspector’s techniques. In Act Two, she encourages her mother to confess; “Go on, Mother. You might as well admit it.” and at the end of Act One, she makes it clear to Gerald that he cannot hide his wrong doing, “you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet.” Sheila’s representation of the word “knows” implies that the Inspector is all-knowing. While the use of italics reveals the strength of her emotion. With Sheila being presented as a “Second Inspector”, Priestley tries to awaken the moral conscience within the Birling family and in the audience. This is directly linked to the theme of social responsibility theme. As a result of Sheila being the “Second Inspector” of the Birling family and Gerald, she helps to uncover further details about how much they were involved with Eva Smith’s suicide. Her role also demonstrates to the audience how great an impact the Inspector had on Sheila, making her question her own family members about their relationship with Eva Smith. In this way, Sheila helps to uncover the truth within her family and gives the audience greater understanding.
In conclusion, Priestley presents Sheila as a moral conscience who is eventually able to feel empathy for Eva Smith and she changes her ways. Another significant aspect of Sheila’s role, is to symbolise and represent the different classes in 1912. Sheila is important because of how she develops in the play as a “Second Inspector”. These representations of Sheila combined with her dominant speeches that contribute to her significance as a character and she helps Priestley convey his message about social responsibility in a successful
At various points, Sheila echoes the Inspector’s techniques. In Act Two, she encourages her mother to confess; “Go on, Mother. You might as well admit it.” and at the end of Act One, she makes it clear to Gerald that he cannot hide his wrong doing, “you fool- he knows. Of course he knows. And I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet.” Sheila’s representation of the word “knows” implies that the Inspector is all-knowing. While the use of italics reveals the strength of her emotion. With Sheila being presented as a “Second Inspector”, Priestley tries to awaken the moral conscience within the Birling family and in the audience. This is directly linked to the theme of social responsibility theme. As a result of Sheila being the “Second Inspector” of the Birling family and Gerald, she helps to uncover further details about how much they were involved with Eva Smith’s suicide. Her role also demonstrates to the audience how great an impact the Inspector had on Sheila, making her question her own family members about their relationship with Eva Smith. In this way, Sheila helps to uncover the truth within her family and gives the audience greater understanding.
In conclusion, Priestley presents Sheila as a moral conscience who is eventually able to feel empathy for Eva Smith and she changes her ways. Another significant aspect of Sheila’s role, is to symbolise and represent the different classes in 1912. Sheila is important because of how she develops in the play as a “Second Inspector”. These representations of Sheila combined with her dominant speeches that contribute to her significance as a character and she helps Priestley convey his message about social responsibility in a successful