An Inspector Calls - Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left

An Inspector Calls - Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left

Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left

An Inspector Calls is a play that was written by J.B. Priestley in

1945 and is set in 1912, focusing on a respectable upper class family;

the Birlings. 'Inspector Goole' interrupts a joyful engagement

celebration party between Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft, and the

Inspector announces the horrifying news that,

"Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken

there because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant."

The characters react in extremely different ways to this information

and Sheila emerges a very strong and conscientious character. We begin

to discover the hidden depths behind each character's outer appearance

as the play continues. We start to find out each family member's

involvement with Eva Smith's horrendous suicide as the Inspector

interrogates them, trying to make them feel guilty and responsible for

her tragic death. During the play, some characters show feelings of

guilt and remorse but others simply dismiss the death completely.

The play conveys a very strong message that we have the power to

change other people's lives and we should all care and look out for

each other. Throughout this essay I am going to be examining the role

of Sheila, subsequent to the Inspector's departure.

Sheila and Eric, the younger generation, have opinions that totally

contrast their mother and father's and they particularly get a chance

to show their feelings following the Inspector's visit. Mr Birling

gets very irate and angry and is exceptionally quick to blame his son,

Eric, for the whole incident and disruption. He complains,

"Yo...

... middle of paper ...

...summarises their behaviour throughout the play.

Sheila's mature attitude was shown throughout the play, and her guilt

and willingness to learn from her mistakes were also displayed. Sheila

came through as a caring and thoughtful character and also an

intelligent and realistic girl. Eric generally followed his sister,

who was a powerful character with moral thoughts, but their views

contrasted them of the older generation. Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald

all acted irresponsibly, behaved immaturely and acted insensibly.

Sheila did put forward her feelings, but her parents wouldn't listen

to them or simply dismissed of them. Sheila knew what was the right

thing to do, but unfortunately her parents wouldn't listen to her. If

the whole family had acted similarly to Sheila, the outcome would have

most probably been contrary of the unfortunate ending in the play.