20 questions
How do we know that Sheila is perceptive?
She picks up that her brother is 'squiffy' or drunk at the beginning.
She realises before the other characters that Eric is responsible for Eva's pregnancy
She figures out that Gerald was seeing Daisy Renton because of his reaction when he hears her name.
What does the Inspector say about Sheila's generation?
He says they're 'more impressionable'.
He says they are more capitalist than their parents
He says they're lazy and always on their phones.
Priestley uses Sheila as a vehicle to represent....
Materialism
The changing role of women,
How the younger generation can become more socialist.
Capitalism
Community and all that nonsense.
Mr Birling: Community (Socialism) VS Capitalism
Mr. Birling: Disrespectful of others
Mr. Birling: Superior attitude - 'nonsense'
Mr. Birling: all of the above
I did nothing I'm ashamed of.
Mrs Birling: lack of responsibility.
Mrs. Birling: Stubborness
Mr Birling: lack of responsibility
Gerald: superior attitude towards Eva.
As if a girl of that sort would refuse money.
Mrs. Birling: preconception, prejudice.
Mrs. Birling: superior attitude to lower classes
Mrs. Birling: refusal to take responsibility
All of the above
Beginning...to pretend that nothing much has happened.
Eric: young vs. old - anger at parent's lack of responsibility
Inspector: blame after lack of responsibility
Sheila: anger at parent's lack of responsibility
It frightens me the way you talk.
Sheila: opinions and openness of the young vs the old
Eric: to his mother about the treatment of Eva
Gerald: to Sheila giving back the ring
Inspector: to the Birlings about their attitude to those less fortunate
All intertwined with our lives.
Inspector: social responsibility
Inspector: blame is shared around everyone
Eric: socialism
Eric: taking responsibility
Millions and millions of Eva Smiths.
Inspector: social responsibility
Eva: a symbol for all the lower class treated badly by those in power
Inspector: anger at the Birlings
Eva: only one of many, and not important
Mrs Birling is described as a rather cold woman and her husband's social superior. Why would a woman marry a man socially inferior?
Because she thought he was incredibly attractive and she was a rebel
At the time women would marry lower class men to help their social status
Upper class had to marry men in the middle classes to secure their status as the upper classes were losing money and the middle classes making money
She didn't realise he was of a different class to her until it was too late
Mrs Birling is old fashioned when it comes to relationships. She tells Sheila off for challenging Gerald stating that:
if he wishes to have an affair with a woman she should just accept it
Gerald is of a higher class and she has no right to challenge him.
Because they aren't married yet she shouldn't have an opinion on where Gerald is at any specific time
women have to get used the to fact that their husbands 'have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business'
How does she feel about Eva:
She is utterly unsympathetic and calls it 'absurd business' and dismisses 'girls of that class' as if they were all the same
She is utterly sympathetic and calls it 'tragic business' and praises 'girls of that class' as if they were all the same
She is neither interested or disinterested about 'girls of that class'
She is disgusted by her decision to commit suicide as it led to the death of her grandchild
After the Inspector leaves she is quick to blame the others and laughs it all off when she discovers the truth, stating:
‘They’re ridiculous. In the morning they’ll forget it all.’
‘They’re over-tired. In the morning they’ll be just as amused as we are.’
‘They’re confused. In the morning they’ll be just as they were.’
'They're mad. In the morning they will be engaged again.'
Mr Birling and Mrs Birling don't learn the lesson. They represent:
the older generation who are too fixed in their ways
the older generation who are capable of change
the younger generation who are too fixed in their ways
the younger generation who can change their ways