Character Analysis: Eva Smith Flashcards
How can we analyze the name Eva smith ?
The choice of name carries symbolic significance
‘Eva’ intertextual biblical reference to the Christian story of life and the first women from whom we all descended
‘Smith’ Everyman surname
She is symbolic of all women as we question how many women the Birlings have mistreated
- Priestly deliberately uses ( onomastic symbolism) the name to make us not focus on one sole women but the working class as a whole. Her name stands as an important lesson on those who suffer under the upper class
How is the name Daisy signifcant ? ( tie this with the other point on names)
Symbolic as
‘Diasy’ is a deliberate allusion to the flower which is cheap and pretty which is symbolic of her own description as she is described as ‘pretty’
It seems as though she is objectified by her very name as we understand that she was largely judged on her appearance
How is the surname Renton significant ? ( tie this with the other 2 points on name)
Renton
- the verb rent means to pay for something for a period of time just as Eva allowed other to rent her body when she became a prostitute
How can we analyze Eva smiths lack of dialogue ?
She doesn’t have any diploid despite the play revolving around her which symbolizes the lack of agency the workings class and over the lives which is in stark contrast to the Birlings who have a substantial amount of
Dialogue is symbolic of the power that the upper class held and we are presented with the unjust narrative which is symbolic of the unjust social hierarchy of 1900’s Britain
How can we analyze the Birlings descriptions of Eva ?
Mr Birlings describes her as a ‘ lively good looking girl’
Sheila states ‘ a very pretty girl too’
Theses description all focus on her physical appearance and beauty however it highlights the way in which women where objectified in the Patriarchal society of 1900’s British
How does Priestly present Eva Smith as a character that has suffered from the imbalance of power ?
Mr Birling as her employer led her to be fired therefore loosing her first job
Sheila got her fired from Milwards
Gerald was able to control her due to his upper class power
What is Eva Smith an allegory for ?
The lack of power held by women and the working class in Edwardian England
How does Priestly use the character of Eva Smith to convey his message on social responsibility with the inspector
In the inspectors exiting speech he says there are ‘millions and millions and millions of Eva and John Smith’
Priestley’s uses repetition and the rule of three with the word million to highlight this significant amount. It is at this point the inspector states that women are vulnerable but so are working class men
However women are more likely to be exploited due to the nature of Edwardian society
