Eva Smith

• What is the true identity of Eva Smith within the play?

  Her true identity is never revealed.
• What does the ambiguity of Eva's identity symbolize?

  It enables her to become a universal symbol of oppression.
• Who does Eva Smith represent in the context of early 20th Century society?

  She represents the oppression experienced by women and the lower classes.
• What do the characters' actions towards Eva result in?

  They collectively result in her suicide.
• Why was Eva Smith fired from her job with Mr. Birling?

  She was fired for striking in favour of fairer wages.
• How did Sheila contribute to Eva's downfall?

  She was instrumental in Eva's dismissal from Milwards.
• Who did Eva have relationships with in the play?

  She had relationships with Gerald and Eric.
• What was the reason Eva sought help from Mrs. Birling's charity committee?

  She was pregnant and needed assistance.
• How did Eva Smith commit suicide?

  She drank disinfectant.
• What does Eva symbolize in the context of society?

  She symbolizes the suffering of the lower classes.
• What societal issues does Eva represent?

  She is a victim of a patriarchal society and class inequality.
• What does Eva demonstrate the need for?

  She demonstrates the need for a welfare state.
• What biblical reference is associated with Eva's name?

  Her name references Eve from the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden.
• What is the paradox associated with Eva's name meaning?

  Her name means "to live," yet she ultimately gives up on existence.
• How does Eva symbolize humanity?

  She represents all humanity, especially women and those living in poverty.
• How does Eva's role differ from Eve's in the Biblical story?

  While Eve tempted men, Eva is corrupted by the men in the play.
• Does Eva appear on stage in the play?

  No, she never appears on stage.
• What does the surname "Smith" symbolize in the context of the play?

  It symbolizes the everyday people of Britain.
• What does the Inspector's message about "Eva Smiths and John Smiths" imply?

  It implies that there are millions of people like Eva and John, representing the common struggles of the working class.
• How does the name "Smith" reflect Eva's identity and origins?

  It shows that her class is a fixed part of her identity, something she can't escape.
• What does using just two names for the working class suggest about their identity?

  It suggests that they lose identity as individuals and are forgotten by society.
• What name does the Inspector suggest Eva changed to?

  Daisy Renton.
• Why does Priestley portray Eva under two different names?

  To demonstrate how Eva felt the need to change her life direction to survive in a hostile society.
• What did Eva resort to after failing to earn enough money through honest work?

  She resorted to prostitution.
• What does the name "Renton" imply about Eva's situation?

  It is derived from "rent," a euphemism for prostitution.
• How does Eva's resorting to prostitution affect her standing in society?

  It further lowers her standing in a largely Christian society that views it as sinful.
• How is Eva treated differently than the men who use her services?

  She is stigmatized for prostitution, while the men are not treated the same way.
• What does Eva's death signify in the play?

  It indicates the consequences of the other characters' immoral actions.
• What impact does Eva's suicide have on the audience?

  It helps the audience understand the fatal impact of careless individualism and capitalist attitudes.
• Why did Eva see suicide as her only option?

  She found herself in a desperate situation and saw it as the only way to end her suffering.
• What does the use of "strong disinfectant" in Eva's suicide signify?

  It demonstrates a deliberate and meaningful attempt to commit suicide.
• What connotations are associated with disinfectant in the context of Eva's death?

  It suggests cleansing and purification related to her suffering and exploitation.
• How does Priestley use graphic imagery in describing Eva's death?

  He uses it to awaken the privileged upper-class audience to the suffering of the working classes.
• What is Priestley's intention in inflicting guilt upon the Birling family?

  He wants them to repent, change, and accept responsibility for their actions.
• What do the graphic adjectives "misery and agony" encourage the audience to do?

  They encourage the audience to empathize with Eva's suffering.
• How does Eva's death highlight social injustice?

  It emphasizes the inequality among social classes.
• Why does Priestley not reveal Eva Smith's identity?

  To use her as a symbolic representation of the oppressed working class.
• What happens if Eva is given a face in the play?

  She would become an individual instead of a representation of all who suffer from class inequality.
• How does keeping Eva faceless affect the audience's perception?

  It encourages the audience to reflect on their own actions and impacts on others.
• What is the context of the Labour government during the time An Inspector Calls was performed?

  It was on the brink of revolutionizing British society with the start of the welfare state.