Eva Smith - Quotes

Question 1

Act One: This is Eva Smith’s introduction

Answer 1

‘Two hours ago a young woman died in the infirmary’ (IG)

Question 2

Act One: Mr. Birling was not fond of Eva, talking about her suicide

Answer 2

‘Wretched girl’s suicide’ (Mr. Birling)

Question 3

Eva is often described by her looks, which shows just how beautiful she was

Answer 3

‘Lively good-looking girl’ (Mr. Birling)
‘very pretty girl’ (Sheila)
‘pretty’ (Gerald)
‘young and fresh and charming’ (Gerald)
‘pretty’ (Eric)

Question 4

Act One: Sheila has everything yet she still wishes she looked like Eva, which shows how pretty Eva is

Answer 4

‘jealous of her’ (IG says about Sheila)

Question 5

Act Two: Eva is lower class as described by Mrs. Birling

Answer 5

‘Girls of that class-‘ (Mrs.Birling)

Question 6

Act Two: Eva was someone that an upper class man felt sorry for, which means she must have been quite enduring in the first place

Answer 6

‘I was sorry for her’ (Gerald)

Question 7

Act Two: Perhaps Eva was everything Gerald wished that Sheila was?

Answer 7

‘She was young and pretty and warm hearted and intensely grateful’ (Gerald)

Question 8

Act Two: Eva was lovely and didn’t make Gerald feel guilty

Answer 8

‘She didn’t blame me at all’ (Gerald)

Question 9

Act Two: Mrs. Birling was very unsympathetic towards Eva and would not accept any blame of what happened

Answer 9

‘She only had herself to blame’ (Mrs. Birling)

Question 10

Act Two: Mrs. Birling thinks that Eva is so poor that she has no morals and would accept money off anybody

Answer 10

‘As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money’ (Mrs. Birling)

Question 11

This is an ordinary name, showing that she is an ordinary person and this could happen to anybody

Answer 11

‘smith’

Question 12

How is the fact the Eva Smith has no lines relevant?

Answer 12

It shows that she is powerless, silent and invisible

Question 13

Why has Daisy Renton been chosen as one of Eva’s names?

Answer 13

Pushing up the daisies is a metaphor for death