Eva Smith

Eva Smith

1. Becomes a symbol in the play, in that she represents her class, and Priestly demonstrates through her the injustice of the class system

   • Idea that it was so easy to hurt her, without even realising it at the time
   • Birling refusing her request for a rise introduces the corruption of capitalism-keeping wealth concentrated in one place
   • 'I'd been in a bad temper anyhow'
     • Highlights the fact that lower classes are always at the mercy of upper classes
   • 'There are millions and millions'
     • The Inspector uses her case and generalises it in his speech to show how this is continually happening around the country
   • 'looked as if she could take care of herself'
     • Stresses the concept of lower classes getting squashed by the upper class-judged ion appearences

2. Is looked down upon and prejudiced against because of her class by all the characters, and isn't treated humanely

   • Gerald and Eric use her in a way they would never use a girl of their own class
   • Mrs Birling and Sheila both act on petty whims to satisfy their own ego
   • 'They're not cheap labour'
     • Mr Birling cannot see his workers as people, and values his company's profits above their wellbeing.

3. The play revolves around her but we never see her

   • Her name indicates there are more like her suffering out there
   • Focus of the play is more the way in which the characters acted toward her rather than she herself
   • Idea that we are responsible for each other whether we know it or not, as eweryhting we do has an effect on others
   • 'Everything we said had really happened'
     • Idea that the person doesn't need to be there for someone to feel guilt and regret.

4. We know her situation was desperate which causes us to feel sympathetic towards her

   • highlights harsh nature of older generation as they are not empathetic
   • ‘with…few friends, lonely, half-starved, she was feeling desperate’/ ‘alone, friendless, almost penniless’.
     • We knew she has morals, as she refused to accept stolen money or marry Eric despite the benefits it would give her. This makes it even more unfair as the Birlings do not possess such qualities
   • She was willing to stand up for justice and be the voice of the working class, however she was easily replaced
   • 'several hours of agony'
     • Inspector uses vivid imagery to describe her, which is shocking to the characters and the audience. It makes them think carefully about the dangers of living selfishly
   • 'Wasn't pretty when I saw her'
     • Already know the pain of loss from the war, bringing back those emotions