Eva Smith/Daisy Renton

• no dialogue
• never seen on stage
• Priestly uses lack of presence to symbolise the lack of power held by women and working class in Edwardian England
• Eva - Eve (Bible) - commits original sin

  Smith - most common surname

  she symbolises all women
• Daisy - common flower - 'days eye', changes during the day, connotates with new life - new name gives her a new life, daisies are cheap and pretty - she went to the palace bar

  Renton - one who clings (clings to Gerald), verb - rent = never going to own something or have financial stability, noun - rent = large tear - feels like she's an outcast to society
• 'there are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still with us' - Inspector
• women are objectified - Priestly uses others description to show us this

  • Mr Birling - 'a lively good-looking girl'
  • Sheila - 'a very pretty girl too, with big dark eyes'
  • Gerald - 'very pretty, soft brown hair and big dark eyes'
  • Goole - 'she had been pretty - very pretty'
• double standards in society -

  Eva - pregnant and outside of marriage, no finance - had to lie to charity for help - admitting she had sex outside of marriage was frowned upon in Edwardian society

  Men - when Eric realises he impregnated Eva and stole money - the stolen money was talked about the most, not his actions to get Eva pregnant
• Men excuses

  Eric - 'Am old enough to be married, aren't I?'

  Mr Birling 'broke out and had a bit of fun sometimes'

  Gerald - I suppose it was inevitable, she was young and pretty'
• Inspector says Eric treated Eva 'as if she were an animal, a thing, not a person'
• Eva = hard worker

  strong morals (doesn't accept stolen money)

  but feels she has to commit sucide, men do not suffer for their actions