eva Flashcards
(24 cards)
Who was Eva Smith?
Eva Smith was one of Arthur Birling’s employees, who was sacked for protesting against lower wages.
This dismissal triggers a series of events leading to the Birling family’s involvement in her death.
What name does Eva Smith change to?
Daisy Renton
According to the Inspector, Eva changes her name and becomes a prostitute, meeting Gerald and Eric.
Is the real identity of Eva/Daisy revealed?
No, it is never revealed.
She could be the same person or different people treated as the same by the Birling family.
What characteristics describe Eva/Daisy?
- Attractive: ‘young and fresh and charming’
- Honourable: ‘she didn’t want to take any more money from him’
- Working-class: ‘Girls of that class’, ‘a girl of that sort’
- Prostitute: ‘There was some woman who wanted her to go there’
These characteristics highlight her vulnerability and the perceptions of others.
What happens to Eva/Daisy’s sources of income?
The Birlings take away all her sources of income.
This includes her job at Birling and Company and her position as a shop assistant.
Why was Eva/Daisy sacked from Birling and Company?
She was sacked for speaking up.
Birling states, ‘she had to go.’
Who got Eva/Daisy sacked from Milwards?
Sheila got her sacked out of jealousy.
This illustrates the competitive and harsh nature of social class dynamics.
What was Gerald’s relationship with Eva/Daisy?
Gerald was her prostitute and mistress.
He rescued her from her life but dropped her when it suited him.
How did Eric contribute to Eva/Daisy’s situation?
Eric forced her to have sex and got her pregnant while he was drunk.
This further exacerbates her struggles.
What does Inspector Goole represent in relation to Eva/Daisy?
Inspector Goole speaks for Eva/Daisy and uses her as a symbol of the powerless working class.
He aims to teach the Birlings about social responsibility.
What theme does Eva/Daisy’s character represent?
Social Class
Her character embodies the struggles of the invisible and powerless members of society.
True or False: Eva/Daisy sought revenge against the Birlings.
False
The Inspector acts for her, highlighting her powerlessness.
Fill in the blank: Eva/Daisy is made a ______ character in the play.
silent, offstage
This emphasizes her lack of power and visibility in society.
How do some productions of ‘An Inspector Calls’ depict Eva/Daisy?
Some productions put Eva/Daisy on stage, sometimes as a ghost.
This choice can symbolize her lingering presence and the impact of her story.
Were Eva Smith and Daisy Renton the same person?
Gerald claims there were lots of different girls. He states, ‘We’ve no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl.’
This highlights the ambiguity surrounding Eva’s identity.
What does Gerald say about Daisy Renton’s work experience?
Daisy Renton told him about having to leave a ‘job in one of the works here’ after a strike and ‘something about the shop too’
Suggests that Eva Smith must be Daisy Renton.
What does the phone call at the end of the play suggest?
It confuses everything. It raises questions about whether Eva/Daisy has just taken her own life or if the Inspector was a ghost.
It also opens the possibility of the call being about a different girl.
What warning does the Inspector give regarding people’s lives?
Everyone’s lives are ‘intertwined’, indicating that the Birlings do not know how many lives they have affected.
This theme of interconnectedness is central to the play.
How does Priestley characterize Eva Smith?
Eva Smith is a sort of everyman, representing an ordinary working-class girl.
Her identity is a jigsaw portrait that remains ambiguous.
What is significant about Eva’s first name?
‘Eva’ is reminiscent of Eve, the first woman, symbolizing all women.
This connection implies a universal representation of femininity.
What does the last name ‘Smith’ signify?
It’s a very common last name derived from the word for a tradesman.
This commonality reflects the representation of ordinary working-class women.
What does the Inspector say about the chances of happiness for people like Eva Smith?
He states there are ‘millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left’ and their chances of happiness are ‘intertwined with our lives.’
This emphasizes social responsibility.
What is the central message of the play regarding Eva/Daisy?
The focus of the play is the life and death of an unidentified and unseen woman, highlighting that Eva/Daisy is a mix of all the people the characters have ever treated badly.
This reinforces the theme of collective responsibility.
What should you consider when writing about Eva/Daisy for an exam?
Think about how Priestley uses Eva/Daisy to show we’re all responsible for one another.
This perspective is crucial for understanding the play’s moral implications.
