In An Inspector Calls, Priestley demonstrates a dramatic change in the relationship between Gerald Croft and Sheila Birling. At first, the couple appear happy and content at the prospect of marriage. However, their relationship changes significantly as the play progresses and their seemingly content relationship is deeply impacted by conflict, tension and eventual reconciliation.
An Inspector Calls is set on the evening of Sheila and Gerald’s engagement and in Act I Priestley initially presents a couple who appear happy together, as evidenced through Sheila’s statement, “now I really feel engaged”. At this point of the play, their relationship appears to be one of genuine affection, despite the fact a motivation for their union is to benefit their parents’ businesses. Gerald appears content to become one of the Birling family: “I’ve been trying long enough.” Set in a patriarchal time, many middle- and upper-class women married to enhance or maintain the family’s social standing and power and Sheila’s marriage to Gerald is portrayed as benefiting the Birlings’ family position. Similarly, Sheila appears to defer to Gerald’s judgement and lacks her own opinion at the start of the play and when he presents her with an engagement ring she comments: ‘“Is it the one you wanted me to have?” which further signifies her lack of autonomy as a woman. In this act, however, there is a brief moment of tension between the couple when Sheila alludes to “last summer” and how Gerald “never came near” her. This foreshadows the revelation later in the play of Gerald’s relationship with Eva/Daisy.
The relationship between Gerald and Sheila changes as a result of their differing attitudes towards Eva/Daisy and their involvement in her death. When Gerald finally discloses his relationship with Eva/Daisy in Act II, their relationship is irreparably altered. Gerald first attempts to hide details of his affair from Sheila and his first reaction to the dead girl is to distance himself from it, though he does show some empathy towards her. In contrast, Sheila is the first character (apart from the Inspector) to empathise with Eva’s predicament and also the first to confess to having treated the girl poorly. Sheila dramatically exits the stage when first shown a photograph of Eva and appears genuinely regretful of her actions, which is in contrast to Gerald’s conduct and is one of the reasons why their relationship alters.
When Sheila discovers Gerald’s affair, her attitude towards him changes and she initially becomes sarcastic and undermines him, referring to him as “the hero”. She also later mocks him by calling him a “wonderful Fairy Prince”. While Gerald feels genuine regret for his treatment of Eva, it is short-lived and he ultimately fails to change, unlike Sheila. This causes a rift within their relationship as their attitudes towards Eva are so different. For example, Sheila’s dialogue reveals her sensitive nature and her compassion and empathy for others less fortunate than herself. She is moved by the words of the Inspector and accepts responsibility, while there is limited change in Gerald, who later tries to prove the whole thing was a “hoax”. Through his treatment of Eva/Daisy, Gerald reflects the rigid class divisions and attitudes towards women by many men in their social position at the time.
Despite Sheila’s initial shock and betrayal of Gerald’s affair, Sheila demonstrates a level of maturity and introspection which Gerald does not, which alters their relationship significantly. By the end of the play, Sheila refuses to continue her engagement with Gerald even though he claims “everything’s all right now”. Priestley uses her character to represent the younger generation, which provides an element of hope. As a result of her maturity, Sheila’s relationship with Gerald therefore becomes more honest when she acknowledges her own part in Eva’s/Daisy’s death and, because of his honesty, she begins to respect him more. Towards the end of the play, there are signs of reconciliation between the couple and they appear to have a greater understanding and empathy. Nevertheless, Sheila returns Gerald’s engagement ring as she realises that they “aren’t the same people” as they were before. The change in attitude and increasing confidence of Sheila reflects the way many women were reconsidering their positions within society at the time of the emerging Suffrage movement at the start of the 20th century.
In conclusion, Priestley presents the change in Sheila and Gerald’s relationship as one which was initially based on superficiality and conformity to one which becomes much more mature and honest, despite the breakdown of their engagement.
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