Eva

• Eva [Class] - "One Eva Smith is gone, but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"

  • Name Smith originates from the working class - blacksmith.
  • Shows her class is important to her origins and identity - and she cant escape it
  • Common name also symbolises the universality of the suffering of the working classes - neglected by the wealthy
  • polysyndeton, repetition of millions and contrast with "one" helps to emphasise the number of working class suffering
• Eva [Class] - "died in misery and agony - hating life"

  • Inspector reminds Sheila of how Eva died.
  • Graphic adjectives "misery and agony" encourage the audience to empathise with Eva. To visualise the pain and suffering she endured.
  • Priestley intensifies Sheila's guilt - as her being "pleased with life" contrasts with this
• Eva [Exploitation] - "Renton"

  • Arguably the name derives from the verb "to rent", a euphemism for prostitution.
  • Uses this to mark how she is forced to survive in a hostile society
  • She must go against her own moral principles to survive.
• Eva [Exploitation] - "young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there"

  • Adjective "fresh" bears connotation of desire and fertility, like a fruit. An example of misogynistic objectification.
  • polysyndeton helps to augment the characteristics
  • out of place is possibly a euphemism for her still being a virgin.
• Eva [Capitalism Vs Socialism] - "[unhappily] give thousands - yes thousands"

  • Mr Birling's stinginess is soon resolved when there is a chance of criminal prosecution. It is ironic that he is asking to give money for his benefit rather than not giving money for his benefit - what he did with Eva smith
  • Repetition of thousands emphasises how he thinks the chance of money for the inspector would make all the difference, but the S.D unhappily shows he does not want to give his money away - capitalist attitude, but his social class is prioritised.
• Eva [Capitalism Vs Socialism] - "[with dignity] we've done a great deal of useful work for deserving cases"

  • S.D suggests that Mrs Birling's role is not held out of care or compassion for the poor but as a way to gain influence and status
  • Claims that the financial aid is reserve only for deserving cases - and is a decision made at the discretion of the upper classes, reflecting how the lives of the working classes are controlled by the wealthy
• Eva [Hypocrisy] - "as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!

  • Mrs Birling assumes that due to her lower-class origin, she is inherently greedy.
  • Despite this, Eva is a moral force who, in contrast to Eric, doesn't steal money and, in contrast to Sheila/The Birlings, does not marry for financial gain
• Eva [Hypocrisy] - "gross impertinence"

  • use of the noun "impertinence" is loaded with connotations of class prejudice, superior to Eva.
  • Therefore, those living in poverty have no way to escape it as they cannot challenge their exploitation
  • Even admits this with saying it "was one of the things that prejudiced me against her"