Eva Smith

Question 1

Represents…

Answer 1

women of lower and working class who fell victim to the immorality of society at the time

Question 2

Her name
‘‘Eva’’
‘‘Smith’’
‘‘d—- – a—-‘’

Answer 2

The noun ‘‘Eva’’ has links to Eve from the Garden of Eden and much like the biblical story where Eve is tempted and corrupted by the Snake, Eva is too corrupted and ruined the Birlings, ‘‘died in agony’’.

Also, the surname ‘‘Smith’’ is the most commonly used surname in Britain and therefore Priestley implies that many women are subject to mistreatment as a result of capitalist ideals.

Question 3

Her name
''Daisy''
''Renton''
links to Gerald..
''i-----'' and ''b-----''

Answer 3

The noun ‘‘Daisy’’ is a symbolic of purity and innocence and we see that innocence is also ruined at the hands of the Birlings and upper class individualism.

'’Renton’’ is play on the word ‘‘renting’’, a word used in 1912 when hiring/paying for a prostitute. The name becomes its own oxymoron and another means by which Priestley critiques Capitalism.

Renting also literally means ‘‘pay to use’’, ‘‘hire’’ - there is a subtle link to the language Gerald uses when describing the affair, ‘‘install’’ ‘‘business’’

Question 4

Dehumanisation

Gerald - ‘‘f—-‘’

Answer 4

Gerald - ‘‘fresh’’
This has connotations that she is vulnerable and he can use her to amuse himself. The literal meanings are more harrowing: newly produced, not spoiled. The phrase ‘‘fresh meat’’ seems appropriate here and presents Eva as defenceless.

Question 5

Dehumanisation

Mrs Birling ‘‘a —- of —- s—’’ and ‘‘girls o- —- class’’

Answer 5

''a girl of that sort''
''girls of that class''
The repetition of the determiner ''that'' indicates disdain for lower class women but also a total lack of understanding on Mrs Birling's behalf. Furthermore, it would appear also to be a huge generalisation about the characteristics and values of those less fortunate.

Question 6

Extended Metaphor - (Eric)

‘‘w— a —- eas— t—- n—-‘’

Answer 6

'’when a chap easily turns nasty’’
The utilisation of the adverb ‘‘easily’’ has implications that this type of awful behaviour is almost common place - therefore we wonder if the Conservative party and their ideals too are used in perhaps a trivial manner at the expense of the lower classes