Eva Smith

Question 1

Eva Smith quote 1

Answer 1

Act one
Eva is presented as a brave and outspoken worker in Birling’s factory, yet “She’d had a lot to say –

far too much – so she had to go” shows how her voice is silenced for challenging authority. Priestley uses her dismissal to expose the brutal reality of capitalist systems, where the working class are punished for speaking out, reinforcing Eva’s role as a victim of social and economic injustice.

Question 2

Eva Smith quote 2

Answer 2

Act one
The Inspector’s phrase “a chain of events”

uses metaphor to show how each character’s actions contributed to Eva’s death, highlighting the theme of collective responsibility. Priestley uses this to show how everyday decisions can have serious consequences, especially for the vulnerable in society.

Question 3

Eva Smith quote 3

Answer 3

Act two
Gerald’s description, “She was very pretty – soft brown hair and big dark eyes,”
reduces Eva to her appearance, showing how she was objectified and valued only for her beauty. This highlights how working-class women were often exploited by upper-class men, with Priestley using Eva’s portrayal to criticise a society that ignored women’s humanity and treated them as disposable.

Question 4

Eva Smith quote 4

Answer 4

Act 2
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings… that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.” – Mrs birling

This quote presents Eva as someone with dignity and emotional depth, yet “elaborate fine feelings” are seen as “absurd” because of her social class. Mrs Birling’s dismissal reveals how the upper class denied humanity to the poor, and Priestley uses Eva’s treatment to expose the cruelty of class prejudice and argue that empathy should not be limited by status.
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Question 5

Eva Smith quote 5

Answer 5

Act 3 inspector speech the line, “There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us,”

presents Eva as a symbol of the widespread suffering of the working class. Priestley uses repetition to stress the scale of social injustice and delivers a powerful socialist message, urging the audience to take responsibility and promote change.