The mother how did responsed to the subinspecter speech
Answers
When the inspector said that Eva “Swallowed too much disinfectant,” she responded with, “Oh - how horrible! Was it an accident?”
This shows she doesn’t understand the concept of suffering and suicide.
As the play progresses, we see her confronting her biggest hamartia (a person’s deadly sin), which is envy.
Inspector: “You might be said to have been jealous of her.”
Sheila: “Yes I suppose so.”
That piece of information transforms her, because as this point the inspector has told her about Eva getting fired from her last job. We could assume that she, as well as the other people who have changed in the story have realised that not everyone is as well off or as lucky as they are in life. This teaches her to appreciate what she has more.
In the play she goes on to say:
Sheila: If I could help her now, I would-
Inspector: Yes, but you can’t. It’s too late. She’s dead.
This is an extremely cold response towards Sheila’s guilt, and while it could be perceived as the inspector shutting her down, he is trying to tell her that you can’t do anything about it once she’s dead. This sets up the scene for when he gives his speech, where he talks about how they are responsible for other members of the public, as it restores hope in them that they can change the society.
Throughout the play Sheila also gets more assertive. At the very beginning of Act one, when her mother would tell her to be quiet, she would listen to her. When she first sees the inspector, he has to insist for her to stay, despite Mr Birling telling her not to.
Mr Birling: “Nothing to do with you Sheila. Run along.”
Inspector: “No, wait a minute, Miss Birling”
At the beginning of Act one, she addresses her mother, as “Mummy.” But at the end of Act two, she goes as far to make many attempts to help her mother not say anything ignorant.
Sheila: “Mother - stop - stop!”
We can see here that Sheila gets more assertive, empathetic and less childish throughout the play. It’s as if the parents and children have swapped roles.
In an exam, you can talk about how she has changed in the context of any theme they ask you to talk about.