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Sheila Birling - Coggle Diagram
Sheila Birling
'Mock Aggressiveness'
Stage Directions. Structurally significant, because a stage direction has control over her actions. This links to the theme of women having the right to less power, and J.B Priestley's annoyance at that, correlating to Edwardian society. As the play progresses, we see Sheila can take more responsibility over her own actions. It would make the audience angry that even a woman's actions are controlled, calling for social reform.
Act One. Structurally important, as it demonstrates at the start of the play Sheila is a juxtaposed character, immature, and hasn't found her own character yet. The audience can follow her journey of maturation, and the responsibility that she takes. This links to the theme of age, and gender.
Age. The Inspector has been 'more impressionable on the young ones' this suggests a successful social reform, as the younger generation are the ones who lay the foundations. for the future.
Gender, she openly states her views, in Act Three, which would have been unusual for a woman in the Edwardian Era.
Language devices
Adjectives
Mock
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She is too lazy to take action, linking her to the deadly sin of sloth.
Aggressiveness
Not a common Edwardian woman stereotype. So would shock the audience, and make them question there own expectations in society, intended by Priestly
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She could be angry that she can't be who she wants to be. This anger could be directed at her family, or society. Priestly confirms it is OK to disagree with others to make a better life.
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Juxstaposition
Immaturity. She is playful, and isn't being serious. This is ironic, as people can be most dangerous when they are silly. Warns the audience to be aware of the power Sheila has.
The juxstaposition demonstrates her secret cry for power, maybe in society, or a personal level, over Gerald. It leads women to question there own desire of power, domestically, and socially.
Explanation
We learn that at the beginning of the play, Sheila is immature- demonstrating she has grown up in a protected environment, and it senseless to the issues of surrounding poverty. As the play progresses, she becomes exposed, and takes social responsibility
Her immaturity could have lead to her having lower hierarchal power in society. Whether because of her age, of gender. Priestly comments on this uncus system to highlight the validity of his socialist beliefs exposing the unjust capitalist system; expressing his views of a socialist reform.
Sheila is playful and excitable, suggesting that she is immature for her age. However, it could suggests, she wishes to be serious but can't or doesn't know how to express that. Maybe because of gender Edwardian Stereotypes. The audience feel pity for her, and question society. J.B Priestly installs the juxtaposition to spark social reform at injustice.
She is trying to lighten up the capitalist mood in her home by acting with socialist traits. This foreshadows and suggests she is unhappy with the society that she has grown up in, but is confused- hence the juxtaposition- with how to change that.
I remember what he made me feel. Fire, and blood and anguish.
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