3.3.2
Sheila Quotes
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Sheila - Key Quote (Act 1)
‘Mummy – isn’t it a beauty?’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 1:
Stereotypical higher-class woman
- As the play opens, Sheila plays the stereotypical young, pre-war, higher-class woman whose role is to marry well and produce children.
- She is excited to be marrying a good-looking, wealthy man and shows off her expensive engagement ring.
Child-like
- She uses the noun ‘Mummy’ when talking to her mother – this language suggests that she is quite child-like at the start of the play.
- That she feels like she needs to show off her ring also suggests she is childish.
- Priestley uses this to highlight how much she changes later on.
Sheila - Key Quote (Act 2)
‘Mother, I think that was cruel and vile.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 2:
Breaking social rules and maturing
- By Act 2, ‘mummy’ has become ‘mother’ in Sheila’s eyes.
- She has shifted from her initial child-like behaviour to telling off her mother and openly disagreeing with her.
- This was completely unacceptable in pre-war etiquette. This suggests that she is so upset and angry that she is happy to break social rules at this point.
Changing relationship with parents
- Her using the more formal word ‘mother’ suggests that she is annoyed with Mrs Birling, and that she refuses to be viewed as a child at this point.
- She may no longer feel a sense of closeness with her mother.
- Her illusions (false images) of her parents have been shattered by the Inspector’s interrogation; her parents are not who she thought they were.
Sheila - Key Quote (Act 3)
‘It frightens me the way you talk.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 3:
More socially aware
- Sheila becomes more socially aware and more upset by the family’s actions as the play goes on.
- By the end of Act 3, she openly admits to Mr Birling that his and Mrs Birling’s attitudes are scaring her because they refuse to admit that they have done anything wrong.
Worries about parents' attitudes
- She worries that her parents have not learnt anything, and so could do the same thing again and cause the death of another person.
Helpless
- She feels helpless because she cannot convince her parents to reconsider their attitudes.
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Practice questions on Sheila Quotes
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