Sheila's Immaturity Through Age
Sheila's desperate cry "I'm sorry daddy I actually was listening" reveals so much about her character in just one sentence. The word "daddy" immediately shows her immaturity - she's speaking like a child rather than the adult woman she's supposed to be.
This infantilisation demonstrates how sheltered Sheila has been compared to other characters like Eric and Gerald. She's been protected from the harsh realities of the world, which explains why she struggles to understand the serious consequences of her actions.
Her use of childish language shows she's not equipped to handle adult responsibilities - yet. This makes her character development throughout the play even more significant.
Key insight: Sheila's language reveals she's been treated like a child, which affects how she responds to moral challenges.
