What Role Does Shelia Play in an Inspector Calls?

What role does Shelia play in An Inspector Calls?

The play is set in 1914, 4 years before the Great War. The play begins in the middle of a dinner party celebrating Arthur Birling’s daughter’s engagement, but is soon intruded by a police inspector after the suicide of a young working-class woman.   Under interrogation, every member of the family turns out to have some form of involvement with her death – some more shameful than others.
Shelia’s position in the family is fairly low, but she is considered more responsible and mature than her brother, Erik. Although, she is still kept in line by her mother, Mrs Birling, and is expected to do what is expected of her.

Every character gives a first impression, and Sheila is most defiantly one of them. “Sheila is a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited” My first impressions when I heard Sheila’s quote was that she’s an immature, naïve girl, and she’s happy and enjoying life.

When Sheila heard about the girl’s death, she begins to be more caring, and her character starts to change. “Oh-how horrible. Was it an accident?” this quote is showing that she starts to be caring, and she starts asking more questions to know more about the girl maybe she could help. The dash means that she paused, and this shows how shocked she is.

Sheila’s reaction to questioning was quite strong, “but these girls aren’t cheap labour-they’re people” Sheila was standing up for these girls, she’s doing what she believes is right, and she doesn’t agree with what her dad said, he didn’t care about Eva Smith when she wanted to get paid more money so he fired her, he was talking like they weren’t people, she’s saying this like she knows how these people feel.