Act Two picks up from the established tension at the end of the first act, with the Inspector re-entering to begin his investigation. Gerald asks that Sheila be excused from the rest of the questioning, implying that her mental state is not strong enough to hear any more. Sheila sums this up succinctly by telling the Inspector “he means that I’m getting hysterical now.” Whilst she acknowledges this may indeed be the case, it also draws attention to stereotypes of feminine fragility and sensibility recognised within Edwardian society. She states, however, that she is going to stay, much to Gerald’s chagrin, as he suggests she wants to “see somebody else put through it.” They quarrel as Sheila says that he must now see her as a “selfish, vindictive creature” but the Inspector interrupts to clarify why he believes Sheila wishes to remain: “She feels responsible. And if she leaves us now, and doesn’t hear any more, then she’ll feel she’s entirely to blame.” He remarks that “if there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt,” returning again to the notion of community.
