sheila

In the play an inspector calls by J.B Priestley. The character Sheila is used to represent the authorâs ideas of change from the class system, where everyone is grouped by wealth and walls are built between them. To the socialist way where everyone is equal and there are no extremes and responsibility shared for one another's welfare. He embraces this idea in his play by showing the change in her from one idea to the other. initially Sheila is introduced as a girl that values material objects such who lives a comfortable lifestyle "pleased in life" and has not yet matured to a point where material value is worth less to her than the people around her that actually are there to befriend her and not to use her like her father is. We see this through her reaction to Gerald when he presents her with the engagement ring "is it the one I wanted." and through the way that she obsesses over the ring taking Priestley uses the structure of the play in producing Sheila's change to convince the audience that taking on social responsibility will change their lives for the best. The audience notices the distinct structure on who the Inspector chooses to interrogate at a time. We notice that Sheila is the second person to be interrogated, shortly after her father and just before Gerald. The fact that Sheila in interviewed between two people who don't accept responsibility highlights who is able to accept responsibility and who dosen't. Furthermore, throughout the play Sheila is only woman in the play to accept responsibility which could perhaps suggest Priestley wanted to present young woman as strong minded. This is significant as many people thought women had a naturally lower status than men at the time and weren't considered to be open minded. Also, Priestley could have directed Sheila's change specifically towards the women in the audience to show them if Shiela is able to become open & strong minded by accepting responsibility, then they will too if they do the same as