You are directing the play An Inspector Calls and have to explain to the actress who
The play “An Inspector Calls” was written in 1945 by J. ... At the beginning of the play the Birlings are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila to Gerald, the son of a rich Lord and Lady. During the celebration an inspector comes in and asks questions about the suicide of a girl that happened in the town. ... After the questioning is over we learn that the inspector was a hoax and the girl never died. ... The play ends with the Birlings receiving a phone call, saying that a girl committed suicide and an inspector is coming to question them. The story is highly ironic because the Inspector’s visit ends with Mr and Mrs Birling’s selfish views being turned upside down. ... In the play this message is conveyed through Sheila’s development and maturity as an example for us all. ... The daughter of Mr and Mrs Birling, she the only character in “An Inspector Calls” to provide an optimistic view to what is otherwise a somewhat pessimistic drama. ... At the beginning of the play Sheila is just a girl very much in love, who is thrilled with the diamond engagement ring and concerned only about her marriage to a rich young man, “oh it’s wonderful” and “I think it’s perfect, now I really feel engaged”. This shows us Sheila’s character and how, before the Inspector has arrived she is just a carefree young girl. ... During the play Sheila develops an instinctive sympathy with less fortunate people “But these girls aren’t cheap labour they’re people” arguing with her father. ... Right from the beginning of Act II we see a change in Sheila and her attitude towards the inspector “I understand him” and also how Sheila realises why the inspector came, his reasons and what he is trying to tell the Birlings “we must share the guilt”. ... Sheila knows that every question the inspector asks is aimed at making them face up to the truth. ... She, like the inspector realises that it does not matter if the story of Eva is untrue “it does not matter if Eva Smith is not real”.