Eva Smith + Edna Flashcards
We get no lines of dialogue from her but through the Inspector that we get a sense of who she is and what happened to her -> we empathise with her
How do the other characters treat her?
presentation of Eva’s decline into poverty and its effects
How do the other characters treat her?
She has very few lines
Introduces Inspector
presentation of what Edna says and does and how other characters treat her
She is a visual aid for how the lower class are treated badly- dutifully following orders, doesn’t say much.
Represents how lower classes don’t get a say (we also never hear Eva speak)
Visual aid for the audience
1st scene: Edna is cleaning, doing all the work, but the focus is on Mr Birling- the one with power and money. Represents how society focuses on upper class, ignores lower class. Puts audience in position of society?
“Died in misery and agony- hating life”
Eva smith, class
Act two- middle
after Sheila’s confession, the inspector reminds her that Eva “died in misery and agony- hating life”. The graphic adjectives “misery and agony” encourage the audience to empathise with Eva, visualising the pain and suffering she endured at the hands of the Birlings. Priestley intensifies sheilas guilt as her enjoyment of life is at the expense of others.
“Renton”
Eva smith, exploitation
Overall
The name Renton is derived from the verb “to rent”, a euphemism for prostitution in the early 20th century. Priestley uses this change her approach to surviving in a hostile society. She can no longer survive by working hard and therefore she must go against her own moral principles to survive, engaging in prostitutio
Young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there.”
Eva smith, exploitation
Act 2- middle
The adjective “fresh” bears connotations of desire and fertility, demonstrating that Gerald views her with sexual intent from the start, describing her like food, an example of misogynistic objectification. Priestley also includes connotations of purity as she is “out of place”, which is possibly euphemism for her being a virgin
[unhappily] give thousands- yes, thousands—-“
Eva smith, capitalism vs socialism
Act three- end
Eva is a working class woman and suffers because of it, beginning with being fired after asking for a living wage, which is a reasonable request. For the benefit of those who profit for capitalism, the strikers are not protected and therefore are exploited. However, mr Birlings stinginess is soon resolved when there is a chance of criminal prosecution
eva was ‘friendless, penniless, desperate’ and needed ‘advice, sympathy, friendliness’
evas needs and shocking imagery to evoke empathy, power of three used to bring out strong sympathy for her. act 2
“Renton”
Arguably, the name “Renton” is derived from the verb “to rent”, a euphemism for prostitution in the early 20th Century. Priestley uses this change in name to mark Eva being forced to change her approach to surviving in a hostile society. She can no longer survive by working hard and therefore she must go against her own moral principles to survive, engaging in prostitution. act 2
