Eva Smith: True or False How does Priestley present her and what does she represent in the play?

Eva Smith never appears in the play, she has no voice. True! Although she is central to the plot, she never appears on stage This conveys the idea that lower class women were not seen as important in Edwardian England The play is concerned with uncovering her story and we learn much about her from what the other characters say The question which drives the play forward is “who is responsible for her death?”

Eva Smith is presented as a victim. True! She is a victim of circumstance as an orphan with no family to support her emotionally or financially (in a time with no welfare state/benefits) She is easy prey for those more fortunate than herself: Alderman Meggarty; Gerald and Eric; Sheila: Mr and Mrs Birling The lower she sinks in her fortunes, the more noble and honourable she becomes – almost like a martyr.

Eva Smith’s name is symbolic True! Eva resonates with the biblical Eve – the first woman so that she is associated with all women Smith is a very common name connecting her to the common man or woman: the Inspector says there are “millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths left with us” Priestley uses her to represent women and the poor working class

Eva Smith has more moral integrity than Eric Birling and the rest of his family. True! She refuses to marry Eric as she knows he does not love her She refuses to take stolen money She appears out of place in the Palace Bar Despite her lower class, she has the upper hand as she shows all the characters what they really are

Eva Smith represents the theme of social responsibility and is a catalyst for social conscience. True! All the Birlings and Gerald Croft contributed to her death Despite her lower class, she has the upper hand as she shows all the characters what they really are She promotes the idea of collective social responsibility as it was the chain of actions of all the characters which lead to her death Priestley uses her to show the audience that they should take responsibility for their actions as they can impact others

It is plain to see why she chose the name Daisy Renton. True! Daisy relates back to her childhood in the countryside Daisies are often used to symbolises innocence so reinforces the massage that she is Renton could be associated with her decision to go the Palace Bar where prostitutes worked “renting” their bodies to gain income

Eva Smith’s request for more pay mirrored events that were happening in Edwardian England. True! In the years just before the play is set, there was a growing unrest amongst the poor who demanded social reform 1906 – jobless people marched from the Midlands to Downing Street 1908 – a cotton workers’ strike 1908 – a suffragettes’ demonstration as women wanted the vote 1909- - a minor’s strike 1909 – 700 Lancashire cotton mills locked out workers who were asking for money 1912 – nationwide riots occurred as low pay and rising prices meant that the poor were barely able to survive Priestley uses Eva Smith’s character as a warning to the audience of 1946 – further social reform is needed to help the poorer, lower classes and to make women more equal. She represents women and the working class.

She had no family to turn to Eva Smith’s change of name to Daisy Renton and turn to prostitution was an avenue many young women in 1912 felt compelled to go down.   She had no family to turn to there was no benefits system for the unemployed as working class woman her only chance of income was to find a job or to marry There were plenty of middle and upper class men who would pay highlighting the double standards which existed for men and women