An Inspector Calls- Question 1 - Sheila and Gerald's relationship

An Inspector Calls - Questions and Answers

In what ways does Priestley make the relationship between Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft such an important part of the play?P. Sheila and Gerald's relationship is an important part of the play because everything revolves around them. E. "Gerald, I'm going to tell you frankly, without any pretences, that your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me."A. The word 'tremendous' suggests that the engagement means a lot to Mr Birling and without it he wouldn't have as much control as he has at the time. In contrast the word 'pretences' means to make something that is not the case appear true. This could mean that Mr Birling is telling the truth and that he hopes that their relationship isn't an act or this could be Priestly foreshadowing their relationship and what lies between the lines.L. Priestley suggests that Shelia and Gerald's relationship has more dept to it that what is shown. Also, by beginining the play with them he is suggesting that they are what brings all the characters together, therefore their relationship means lots to other characters.

P. Sheila and Gerald seem happy. E. "Oh it's wonderful! Look Mummy, isn't it a beauty? Oh, darling!"A. The word 'wonderful' reveals that Sheila is very impressed with her ring; this suggests that Sheila overall is more impressed and marveled by materials that emotions. By accepting that ring without any argument it proposes that Gerald is the more dominant one in the relationship and that he not only doesn't have to consult Sheila about important decisions but that this could be a suggestion that he is the more secretive one in the relationship. Sheila asks a rhetorical question,'isn't it a beauty?", this submits the effect that Sheila is in a almost arrogant way asking anyone to disagree with her. Overall this makes the audience see her as a vain character that is immature and very fixed on other characters opinions; the word 'mummy' displays Sheila as a childish character and it exposes that Sheila cares about her mothers opinion. L. Priestly shows Sheila and Gerald as an ideal couple. This at first makes the audience either relate at first or look up to them. However as the play latter progresses we are presented the truth and that not everything is what it seems.

P. Gerald cheats on Sheila with Eva.E. "But you're forgetting I'm supposed to be engaged to the hero of it. Go on Gerald. You went down into the bar, which is a favorite haunt of women of the town."A. Calling Gerald a 'Hero' suggests that Sheila is mocking him and that she isn't acting like a women at that time should; which is keeping quiet about the issue. The word 'hero' means a person, typically man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements or noble qualities. This means that Sheila is speaking out loud sarcastically on how Gerald should be praised on how he went to see the 'women of the town'. She also encourages Gerald when she says 'go on', this could mean that Sheila generally wants to known what happened or it could mean that Sheila wants to hear how Gerald will excuse himself for going to a place which is full of prostitutes. Also, the word 'haunt' is typically used when to describe a ghost which frequently visits a place, this would hint that maybe Gerald visited places like this regularly or that men see these women as less important because of their lack of class. L. Priestly portrays Gerald as an liar who only works for his benefit; this makes him an unsympathetic character. Also Priestly in a way uses Gerald as an example of how men treated women overall and how this makes him a important character that the audience should pay attention to and learn from.

P. Sheila reacts differently than it was expected of a women, at the time.E. "I don't dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I've ever done before."A. The alliteration in 'rather respect' shows the audience that they should pay attention to the word. The important word is 'respect' means regard to feelings, wishes and rights of others. This suggests that before Sheila only cared about materials however after Gerald declaration she now realizes Gerald's feelings. Generally Sheila confronts Gerald about his affair however women in 1912 we taught to allow their husbands to cheat and not comment. This means that Sheila is more independent and that she isn't bothered with the social rules of her time, this could mean that now she acts only on her behalf. L. Priestly makes Sheila an important character because she is one of the only characters that change drastically from the beginning of the play to the end. By making Sheila act independent and not at all how women in 1912 were expected to Priestly is not only making her and Gerald relationship something that audience should pay attention to and learn but also Priestly is revealing his opinion, as a socialist, on how women should act and how women changed from 1912 (when the play was set) to 1946 (when it was wrote).

P. Sheila has a different view on class that Gerald. E. "I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him if they didn't get rid of the girl, I'd never go near the place again and persuade mother to close our account with them". A. The Birling family is clearly rich because by threatening to never go to a place again Sheila gets Eva fired. When Sheila says 'near' it is suggesting that not only is she being dramatic but that she won't even come nearby. This shows that Sheila takes advantage of her social class and her families money. That means that Sheila doesn't care about the lower class, this could by Priestley showing that the upper class only care about themselves. Sheila's abuse of her upper class privilege is very different to Gerald. Gerald helped Eva/Daisy after Sheila got her fires from her second job. This displays Gerald as a kindhearted upper class man who cares about the welfare of people, contrary to Sheila. It is, however, later shown that Sheila is the one who takes responsibility for her contribution to Eva's death, but Gerald doesn't. L. Priestley portrays Sheila as a snobbish upper class women who doesn't care about the lower class, this makes the audience see her as childish and naive. On the other hand Gerald is in Act 2 portrayed as a character who cares about everyone, this contrast makes them a important couple because they both have different views from which the audience can learn from.

P. Priestley has shown lots of lies and secrets in Sheila and Gerald's relationship, this affects their future. E. "You and I aren't the same people who sat down to dinner. We'd have to start ll over, getting to know each other."A. Sheila distances herself from Gerald when see says 'you and I' instead of we. This could mean that although they both began the relationship with similar intentions, now Sheila isn't the same and that Gerald isn't who he was either. This also hints that they have both changed and that they are more aware on how their actions affect other people. Also, Sheila hints that she is now more independent that she was at the beginning and she now understands how the lower class are treatedL. Priestley in Act 2 has made Sheila more aware of her affect on other people, specifically the lower class. This shows Priestley overall opinion as a socialist and how our society should be like. By having such a contrasting couple we are shown one character who has changed drastically and another character who thinks that they aren't responsible for a human's death.