Eva Smith and lives of the poor Poster Flashcards
‘If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth’ (Mr B)
L/C Mr B’s use of hyperbole is ironic, given that his workers are asking for only a small pay rise not the ‘earth; it is he who is exploiting them for personal profit. His decision to come down ‘sharply’ to fire Eva as strike leader reflects industrialists’ responses to increasing unionisation in the period preceding WW1, and workers’ strikes demanding improved pay and working conditions.
‘there are a lot of that young women living that existence …if there weren’t, the factories…wouldn’t know where to look for cheap labour’ (Inspector)
L/C/I The Inspector makes the point that the poverty of workers makes them vulnerable to exploitation by capitalist employers like Birling; at the time, wage-fixing was common to keep labour costs down and maximise profit. The reference to ‘cheap labour’ dehumanises the workers, reducing them – from a Marxist perspective – solely to the ‘means of production’ over which they have no ownership rather than with respect as fellow human beings.
‘She…looked as if she could take care of herself’ (Sheila)
‘You used the power you had…to punish the girl’ (Inspector)
L/C/R Sheila’s perception of Eva draws upon common social stereotypes of the lower classes as being hard and tough – not people who need help. The Inspector challenges this, using emotive language to illustrate how Sheila has abused her power due to jealousy of Eva’ prettiness to ensure she is sacked, creating sympathy for Eva and antipathy towards Sheila amongst audience members.
‘used her…as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person’ (Inspector)
L/C = The Inspector’s noun choices emphasize the way in which Eric has dehumanised Daisy by treating her as a sexual object; he abuses his power as a man in a patriarchal society by ignoring the issue of consent and raping her.
‘I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim…so I used my influence to have it refused’ (Mrs B)
C/R = Mrs Birling admits that she abused her power as Chair of the charitable committee to refuse Daisy’s plea for help, illustrating her prejudice against the poor as stereotypically dishonest and sexually promiscuous. Ironically, it is her son who proves to be dishonest; Daisy lies only to protect him. This increases the audience’s antipathy towards Mrs Birling as a callous, arrogant woman lacking in any empathy for those less fortunate than herself.
‘You refused her even the pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her’ (Inspector)
L/C/R The Inspector’s use of emotive language increases the audience’s sympathy for Daisy. In 1912, there was no Welfare State and the poor were subject to the moral judgements of a wealthy minority who decided if they should receive financial help and assistance. Through the Inspector, Priestley advocates for a Welfare State based on an objective assessment of need rather than subjective moral judgement.
‘She was…intensely grateful… I became the most important person in her life.’ (Gerald)
L/C/R Gerald’s diction contrasts Daisy’s gratefulness with his importance, emphasizing the imbalance of power between them. As a wealthy man in a patriarchal society, he enjoys this position of power over a penniless woman – although he does use his power to help her, the audience understands that her gratefulness flatters his ego and the help he offers is on his terms – she becomes his temporary mistress.
