Eva Flashcards
How is Eva presented throughout the play?
That was presented as a desperate, objectified young woman. She is repeatedly taken advantage of by Eric and Gerald. She is also mistreated by Mr. B and Sheila. Eva Smith is representative of the lower classes throughout the play and demonstrates why the upper classes should have a sense of social responsibility and care for the lower classes.
How is Eva presented as desperate?
‘burnt her insides out’ -Act 1
How is Eva presented as objectified?
‘Lively good-looking girl’ (Mr. Birling)
‘very pretty girl’ (Sheila)
‘young and fresh and charming’ (Gerald)
What is Eva’s names symbolic of?
Eva’s surname Smith demonstrates how simple and ordinary she is. It highlights how common in society her situation is and how overlooked it is.
Alternatively her second name Daisy could possibly highlight her fragility and delicate nature. However, pushing up the daisies is a euphemism for death and could be used to foreshadow her class being the reason for her death.
Additionally Renton Contains the word rent and therefore symbolizes how she was forced to ‘rent’ her body for money in order to survive.
how did the younger generations take advantage of Eva?
Both Eric and Gerald take advantage of Eva for sexual gratification. They use Eva to get what they want by portraying her as a damsel in distress, that they can save.
On the other hand, Sheila takes advantage of Eva by getting her fired from Millward’s. Sheila is jealous of Eva’s beauty and informs Millward’s that she will have her mother withdraw their account if Eva is not fired.
How do the older generations mistreat Eva?
Mr B Mistreats Eva by firing her for starting a protest for better pay. This is later criticized by Sheila.
Mrs B mistreats Eva by turning her away from her charity. From this we can see how Mrs B’s charity work is only for personal gain rather than to actually help people. Mrs B had the chance to potentially save Eva’s life by helping her and doesn’t do so.
How does Eva’s death impact the characters?
Sheila and Eric are deeply changed after discovering Eva’s death and their involvement. Both gain maturity and a new sense of social responsibility and socialism.
Mr B, Mrs B and Gerald all remain unchanged after discovering Eva’s death and their involvement. This is very typical of the capitalist upper classes and represents capitalist attitudes in society.
