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Mr Birling showed his foolish value highlighting Priestley’s distaste for the upper class mentality through his longwinded speech. In the speech, he told Eric that he had “a lot to learn yet”. This suggests that he was arrogant enough to think that he knew everything even though the audience in 1945 knew that his prediction was wrong. His belittling tone to Eric reflects how most middle class like Birling in 1912 believed that they knew everything. The main verb “learn” is ironic as this is supposedly the wise words of a great parent educating their child when actually it is completely wrong. Moreover, Birling claimed that “there isn’t a chance of war”, whereas the audience in 1945 had already known that World War I happened just after the speech. He also claimed that the Titanic would be unsinkable. It seems like he felt so sure about it and he said it firmly. However, the Titanic sunk on its first trip. These are two typical examples of dramatic irony in the play. The World War I and the sunk of Titanic were already known by audience in 1945, and Priestley wanted to use this technique to show how silly and idiotic the opinion that Mr Birling was holding. Mr Birling represented the middle class, there are lots of middle class had the same idiotic thoughts as him, so Priestley indirectly suggest that how silly the thoughts of middle class are. Priestley used dramatic irony in the stage directions too, where it says “until the inspector arrives and then it should be brighter and harder.” Priestley used this to give us awareness of what the inspector seeks to do and make Mr Birling a foolish character. The Birlings were not aware of what was going to happen, but the audience are aware that this stage direction of the bright embodies the Inspector in many ways. It indicates that the inspector was going to expose them and reveal their crime. This criticised that many middle class like Mr Birling are not aware of what they have done. Furthermore, it is also a foreshadowing of things happening next to the audience.  

by Lucas Chen 9MH

In Act Two, Sheila uses powerful metaphorical imagery when she warns her mother Mrs Birling that she “mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl”. This imperative line displays that Sheila is now morally aware of her own unjust actions, but her mother refuses to feel any guilty for the death of Eva Smith. She tries to teach her mother to believe the notion that everyone is equal, a message which is driven through Priestley. Compared to Mrs Birling who calls Eva “girls of that class”, Sheila is sympathetic towards Eva and other girls in her position. The modal verb “mustn’t” implies Sheila’s frustration and shows her as passionate, showing that she is furious at her mother for speaking of Eva in such degrading way as if she is unworthy. The modal verb creating a tense mood, because she thinks the way that her mother behaves does not deserve any patience or politeness at all. Besides, Sheila believes that being direct and assertive is the only way to make her mother realize the moral message, as her mother is condescending, still treating her like a  ‘silly’ child. Priestley wants to criticize and make audiences aware of ineffective parenting in 1912…

The metaphor ‘wall’ shows that Mrs Birling believes that she is morally and socially superior to the working class, implying the huge barrier and distance between the upper and lower classes: the rich had all the power, while the poor had little to none. Moreover, Mrs Birling represents the bourgeoisie who were supercilious. Here, Priestley criticises the class division, as he thinks everyone should have equal right and power, whether being rich or poor. 

Conclusively, Sheila’s language reflects her increasing maturity, as at the start of the play she says “mummy” and uses a lot of personal pronouns to highlight her selfish and childlike attitude. As the play progresses she refers to Mrs Birling as “mother” which reflects this change and perhaps she doesn’t feel as intimate with her mother. Also, she wants to make her parents aware that she is not a child anymore, but she has her own opinions. Through the using of the character Sheila, Priestley portrays how the younger generation which is more open-minded can change views and realise their mistakes, bringing hope for the future. At times Sheila acts as almost an assistant to the Inspector too, in which she supports his criticism of the other characters, becoming his mouthpiece when he has left the stage, so this character becomes quite didactic.

by Naya Dong 9MH

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