Eva Quotes : Exploitation

Question 1

“Renton”

Answer 1

Arguably, the name “Renton” is dervived from the
verb “to rent”, a euphemism for prostitution in the
early 20th Century. Priestley uses this change in
name to mark Eva being forced to change her
approach to surviving in a hostile society.
She can no longer survive by working hard and
therefore she must go against her own moral
principles to survive, engaging in prostitution.

Question 2

“young and fresh and
charming and
altogether out of place
down there”.

Answer 2

The adjective “fresh” bears connotations of desire
and fertility, demonstrating that Gerald views her
with sexual intent from the start, describing her like
food, an example of misogynistic objectification.
Priestley also includes connotations of purity as she
is “out of place”, which is possibly a euphemism
for her still being a virgin.