How does Priestley portray one member of the Birling family before, during and after the inspector’s arrival? – Sheila I think Priestley way of showing the characters, before, during and after the inspectors visit it very strongly presented. For example the way he portrays Sheila is one of the strong examples, this is mainly because she changes a lot during the whole play. She changes not only with her attitude but also too the way she tackles life.
Ahead of the inspector’s arrival the stage directions that Priestley gives are slightly different to the ones at the end. This is because his directions in the home, at the beginning of the play create a different image about each character. For example he illustrates Mr Birling to be an exceptionally arrogant character. And the way he shows Sheila being a little childish. I think the image created at the beginning of the play, about the Birling family is that it show they are a rich/middle class (or well off) family that just like too have a good time with each other. I think they are mainly rich because of the words they use, to a certain extent posh words and also they speak to each other with respect. They may also look rich because they had a servant, but in those days this may have been not too rare, because then the laws were incredibly different.
At the beginning of the play Priestley represents Sheila too be in a relatively happy mood, this is because she just got engaged. Also before the inspector’s arrives it is revealed that Priestley has presented Sheila is a way that she used to use a sarcastic tone of voice, but at the same time a little caring, loving and from time to time childish. “Go on Gerald – just you object”. This quotation shows Sheila being a little dominant, it shows her wanting her own way and this is one of the reasons she is childish. I think Sheila mainly acts childish because she had everything made in her life – she did not have too work hard for anything, she was very spoilt.
“Oh its wonderful! Look – mummy – isn’t it a beauty? Oh darling” Also some other proof of her being childish is because she keeps on saying ‘mummy’, whereas another adult would either say mum or mother. That is how I think of it now, but in those days it might just have been different, because language has changed a lot over the years. Although Sheila acts like this, it may not be her fault entirely. This is because it’s just like in any other family, people tease each other and sometimes lose thei temper.
Her behaviour was like this before, however when the inspector is at their house Sheila behaviour changes completely. Her behaviour changes but not right away, because first she may have just thought it was a local visit about an enquiry. But slightly later she realises its not and becomes a little more interested and stern. This at firstly may have only been because the inspector’s visit was an important one, to do with the entire family.
Although later she find out she is one of the main reason the inspector is there. After she realises this her attitude, behaviour and self-recognition changes. Priestley presents her being a little more serious and up to date. This mainly happens when the inspector shows her a picture of Eva Smith. When she sees the photograph she is very shocked, she starts crying and runs out of the room. This shows Priestley wanted us to think that she can get somewhat emotional and cannot deal with any real problems. When she sees this picture she feels fairly miserable right away.
After this dramatic scene Priestley starts to expose her in way that she is presented in a very sensible manner, he shows her being involved with the inspectors visit and engrossed in what everybody has done. It is now when her behaviour changes at its utter most. This is because she starts feeling very low and ashamed of herself, because she knows who the picture is of.
Throughout the inspector’s visit the mood and atmosphere changes vastly. This is because all the Birling family begin to get a little anxious to what’s going to happen and also a little worried. This is because in their mind they all know what they’ve done and why the inspector may be there. When the inspector is talking to the characters, they get more and more tense until the inspector reveals why he has dropped in on them. I think in this part of the play Priestley has used great theatrical techniques to influence the mood. An example of this is because he dramatically changes Sheila’s mood and actions in a way that it doesn’t happen right a way, it takes time for the audience to realise what has happen.
Sheila’s communications with the inspector reveal that she from time to time can get a little paranoid and does act a little childish, and also she always wants her own and is not willing to listen. She is also occasionally stubborn. In this part of the play the tension just keeps on building up. This is largely because the audience is very apprehensive to what’s going to happen. They want to know right away why the inspector is there, and who was to blame for the murder. For the duration of the inspectors visit the secrets revealed about Sheila are that, she was one of the main characters to do with the murder query about Eva Smiths death. We find that Sheila was one of the main first causes of Eva’s death.
She may be thinking to her self why she did what she did and also why her family did what they did. She would also feel really bad because the rest if the family especially Mr and Mrs Birling do not realise what bad things they have done and they not willing to be sorry for what they have done. The stage directions at this point would for Sheila would be very different from the beginning. This is because Priestley’s stage directions at this time would be very controlling because this is when most of the actions in the play go on.
After the inspector has left, Priestley stills shows Sheila being very low and ashamed of herself. But now he also shows her being distressed. He shows her in a way that he makes her look very guilty, he makes it look like her guiltily conscience got the best of her, which is true. When he shows her like this, its gets the audience involved in the play, because it makes them feel awkward due to what’s happening to Sheila.
It makes them think if Sheila is a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’ because they may think she was involved in the murder so it makes her a ‘baddie’ but then again she learnt from her mistakes, and in away suffered herself, so this makes her ‘goodie’. I think the way Priestley has done this is very powerful because it makes the audience think, and its not even a question. I personally think Sheila is not very bad because she has learnt from her mistakes. A quotation to show this is: “I behaved badly too. I know I did. I’m ashamed of it.” This shows she recognizes her mistakes and has learnt from them and she is will to change her way of life. To be more pleasant to other people.
I think Priestley portrays Sheila like this because he wants everybody to know she is a 3 dimensional character, and not just a made up sham. He may also show her like this because it makes the play more interesting, because in this way not everybody in the play is the same type of person. Priestley leaves us with the thoughts that it makes no real difference to Sheila that the inspector may just be a hoax. Priestly shows us that she has learnt her lesson and will change her attitude and conduct to others. She has learnt to take responsibility for others and will be different in the future.
