Eva smith Flashcards
symbol of the working class
- represents working classes - the “millions and millions and millions of eva smiths and john smiths”
Eva as a symbol of the female workforce
- She also represents the female workforce as its now women who have the vote in 1945, but didnt in 1912.
- play was performed just before the general election, just before churchill was voted out
- during the world wars, women formed a much larger proportion of the workforce as many men were dead or abroad. so many were not able to hear the socialist message that people in the labour party were promoting
- therefore, women were the ones who were more likely to reject the lack of power they used to have and vote for a labour government and a socialist society
eva as a symbol of female empowerment
Eva shows the need for women empowerment
- in 1945, woman had by far the most to gain economically. the root of evas tragedy is that she does not have economic independence
- she is lucky to get the Milwards job, as a vacancy only occurs due to the death of the previous worker through influenza, suggests that women having economic independence is largely based on luck
- in 1945, over a million women gad also been lucky in the second world war as they took on jobs left by men conscripted in the armed forces. they know that if the government is dominated by capitalists, like in the first world war, they would all lose their jobs
- appealing to his female audience, saying that if they want to keep their economic independence, they need to vote for a government that promotes a fairer society like Labour
Eva as a biblical allusion
- Eva is named after eve, the mother of mankind in Genesis. meaning that Priestley wants her to represent women of every class, not just the working class
- as we can see from even the treatment of sybil and sheila that even upper class women are not free from the oppressive nature of men
Eva and sexual exploitation
- Priestley changes Evas name to Daisy Renton
- implies how shes sees her relationship with Gerald as for “rent” or could suggest how Gerald deflowered her after taking her virginity
- irony is that Gerald puts her in a flat where he doesnt have to pay any rent at all
- point in which Eva turns to self disgust, she wants to see herself like a daisy and fresh, but realises she has to make this terrible economic compromise, where she effectively ends up in a sexual relationship in exchange for a roof over her head
- once you pick up a daisy, it dies, gerald was the first to pick her up, shows that its the sexual exploitation of eva that is far more damaging to her than simply losing her job at the birlings and milwards
Economic bargain
- Eva accepts the economic bargain which Gerald offers, security and accommodation in exchange for sex
- this is the same bargain which Sheila is being asked to make in accepting Gerald even though he has been unfaithful to her.
Society encourages women to accept this and call it love. the only way out of this is employment - an employed woman does not have to accept a husband who is unfaithful. Priestley wants the women in his audience to seek this status
Consequences of sexual exploitation
- in her choice of disinfectant, Priestley is also pointing out his disgust at the sexual exploitation which has led Eva to this terrible decision
- Eva would rather die than accept anything from Eric. Not just his stolen money, or his offer of marriage. she even rejects his child. she wants to be cleansed, or purified of every trace of Eric, hence the disinfectant
- Astonishing decision which truly reflects Priestleys anger not just at finnscial inequalities, but also at the terrible sexism in his patriarchal society
“very pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes”
- The use of the adjective “very” intensifies the description, emphasizing the extent of Eva Smith’s beauty. This suggests that her physical attractiveness is noteworthy and captivating, contributing to the impact she has on other
- The choice of words such as “pretty,” “soft,” and “big” carries positive connotations, enhancing the overall positive impression of Eva Smith’s physical features. This creates a sense of sympathy and appeal, as the language used paints her as an attractive and likable individual.
- The detailed description of Eva Smith’s physical beauty contrasts with the challenging circumstances she faces throughout the play. This contrast highlights the disparity between her external appearance and the hardships she endures, evoking a sense of injustice and emphasizing the impact of societal judgments
“a young woman died in the infirmary”
Euphemism: The use of the phrase “a young woman died” employs euphemism to soften the impact of the harsh reality. By not explicitly stating Eva Smith’s name or the cause of her death, it creates a sense of distance and detachment from the specific details. This technique allows the audience to focus on the broader implications of her death rather than the specific circumstances.
Noun and adjective choice: The words “young” and “woman” emphasize Eva Smith’s youth and gender, emphasizing her vulnerability and highlighting the tragedy of her death. The combination of these words evokes a sense of sympathy and potential wasted potential, as her life was cut short prematurely.
Definite article: The use of “the” before “infirmary” implies that there is only one infirmary relevant to the story, further emphasizing the specific location of Eva Smith’s death. It adds a sense of realism and concreteness to the statement, making it more tangible for the audience.
Dramatic irony: The statement holds significant dramatic irony because the audience knows more about Eva Smith’s connection to the characters and the circumstances leading to her death than the characters themselves. This creates tension and anticipation as the audience awaits the characters’ realization of their role in her demise.
