How does J B Priestley make the audience like Sheila and Dislike Mrs Birling
J. B. Priestley introduces the play by using very detailed and specific stage directions. These directions inform us on the characters and their personalities, the scenery props and Priestley’s opinion on these characters; this sets the scene for the rest of the play. ... Words like “prosperous”, “substantial” and “heavily comfortable” Justify this. ... Priestley is very specific about this setting and uses lighting as a quick inter-link to change the mood. ... Mrs Birling is also very conscious of her social status and does feel inferior to Gerald, however she knows the marriage will improve this. Sheila and Mrs Birling, although from the same family do present themselves in different ways. When the play opens Mrs Birling is seen giving orders to Edna. This gives us an insight to her character and we start to dislike her. Added to this Mrs Birling has a very condescending attitude and is obsessed with how she is perceived. On the other hand Sheila is honest and innocent, and also willing to challenge her family values, for instance when her father pretends to know about port she says “But then you don’t know all about port do you?” Another positive characteristic about Sheila is she is willing to change her attitudes and shows her opinions unlike her mother who is stern. Sheila has many other skills too; she questions Gerald about his whereabouts and says “Yes that’s what you say.