Eva Smith Flashcards
What is she used as a symbol of, and why?
The powerlessness working classes to teach the Birling about social responsibility
What type of character has Priestley made Eva in the play?
A silent, offstage character
Who does Eva represent as she doesn’t show up on stage?
The silent, invisible, and powerless members of society
What is Eva first described as by Mr Birling?
A ‘good worker’ whom he wants to ‘promote’
Why is Eva sacked?
Because she challenges the status quo by protesting against lower wages
What does Priestley use Eva to highlight?
The powerlessness of working class women during the early 1900s due to the exclusion of women from trade union membership, making them particularly vulnerable to exploitation
What is Eva also used to highlight?
The hypocrisy of capitalism
What quotes used be Eric expresses the hypocrisy of capitalism?
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices”
What is she a symbol of?
The corruption and exploitation of capitalism
What does Sheila do to Eva?
She uses her social power to have Eva sacked from Millwards for selfish reasons
What’s Sheila’s first impression of Eva?
She’s ‘pretty’ and therefore can take ‘care of herself’
What does being ‘pretty’ mean to Sheila?
Being able to marry well
What does being ‘pretty’ mean to Eva?
It brings unwanted attention and makes her more vulnerable to exploitation
What is similar between Eva and Sheila?
Both women are victims of a patriarchal society and are yet to experience the benefits of the Suffragette Movement’s campaigning
What does Eva do following her dismissal from Millwards?
Changes her name to ‘Daisy Renton’
What does ‘Daisy’ have connotations with?
Innocence and fragility
What is her original name ‘Eva’ reminiscent of?
Eva-a women synonymous with loss of innocence
What does the surname ‘Renton’ imply?
She’s now become a women to ‘rent’, highlighting the few choices open to working class woman during the era
What does Gerald treat Eva as?
A sexual object
What quote shows Gerald exploiting her vulnerability?
“She was young and pretty and warm-hearted- and intensely graceful. I became at once the most important person in her life”
What does Gerald present himself as to Eva?
Her knight in shinning armour given that the capitalist exploitation practiced by his family was responsible for her situation in the first place
What quote describes Eric’s treatment of Eva?
“Well, I was in a state when a chap easily turns nasty- and I had threatened to make a row”
What does Eric expose in the quotes of his treatment of Eva?
The exploitation of working class women at the hands of their male social superiors
What does the use of the noun ‘row’ hint at?
A verbal argument, when it is clear Eric means he threatened physical violence
What quote shows the inspectors criticism of Eric’s behaviour?
‘Just used her for the end of a stupid evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person’
