sheila
use to enhance Priestley's intention
treatment of women
class
younger generation
portrays jealousy as her fatal character flaw
highlights the middle class shadowing she's had, she has no orientation of the severity of her own problems
by end of the play, shows a resentment of the social responsibility her parents want her to hold
shows her marriage as blindly man-led
becomes increasingly more outspoken and assertive, her shift in perspective grounds Priestley's hope for what will all do
due to the sheltering she's had, her actions unknowingly becomes fatal in society
'is this the one you always wanted me to have?!'
link to suffragette movement
her childish and conformative reaction
becomes more aware of her place in society, the inspector opens her eyes to what's actually happening, she becomes receptive to the inspector and her jealous instincts get replaced by a sense of maturity
'but they're not cheap labour, they're people!'
their marriage is subject to being built on strategic social mobility rather than love
being a victim to a man-led society
women in 1912 had very little rights (gained vote in 1918) and no political power
women had poor education and were expected to rely on their male counterparts, they had to marry and perform domestic roles in the household
priestley portrays an accurate reflection of women, as Sheila is forced into marriage in order to move up in the social hierarchy
Priestley portrays Sheila has a likeable character as the audience realise that her jealous and immature flaws, are only a subject to her parents' behaviour
he does this to show his belief/hope in both women and the younger generation
the mirroring between Sheila and Eva highlights how dangerous and flawed the class system is
their explicit similarities are shown in the stage directions, sheila is described as a 'pretty girl in her early twenties' and eva is described as 'twenty-four' and 'very pretty'
insinuates that the traits sheila has that drives eva to suicide are only ones due to her environment and shielded upbringing
responsibility
the fact that sheila is the only character who immediately accepts her role in eva's death, creates a likability from the audience