Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton

• > Build a social wall between upper and lower class -> belittles her

  > Based on prejudice on women of the lower-class

  > Judgemental tone

  "As if a girls of that class would ever refuse money." Act 2

• > Priestley uses juxtaposition to emphasise the seriousness and guilt trips the Birlings

  > Use of descriptive language to put an image into your head of an innocent girl dying 


  " A girl died tonight. A pretty, lively, sort of girl.." Act: 2
• > Reflects the lower class' struggles and the "millions" of people like Eva Smith/Daisy Renton (universalizes it)

  > Common surname "Smith" also universalizes the message

  >Refers to Priestley's message for change

  "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" Act 3


• > Reflects the exploitation of the lower class and objectification of women in Edwardian era

  > Angry under tones

  "Just used her for the end of a stupid drunken evening, as if she was an animal "  Act 2

• "died in misery and agony - hating life"


  > Misery/ agony = Encourage the audience to empathize with Eva.

  > A visualization of the pain she endured.

  
  

  > CLASS
• Daisey Renton - Eva's fake name.

  > Renton -> derived from ''to rent.''

  > A euphemism for prostitution

  
  

  > Change of name -> Represents her being forced to change her approach to survive in a hostile society.

  
  

  > EXPLOITATION.
• RELATIONSHIP W/ SHIELA.

  > EVA AND SHIELA ARE PARALELLS -> DEMONSTRATE THE PROGRESSION OF A WOMAN'S LIFE DEPENDING ON THE FAMILY/CLASS SHE'S INTO.

  
  

  > Are presented similarly ( Being pretty, relation Gerald.) But are treated differently only due to CLASS.

  Eg) Sheila is engaged to Gerald / Sheila is exploited by him.
• RELATIONSHIP W/ GERALD.

  > Eva is exploited and kept in possessive fashion by Gerald as his mistress.

  
  

  > Gerald's saving of Eva from the palace bar is a superficial rescue -> it is to fabricate Gerald's intent and a substitution of abusers.

  
  

  > Gerald is attracted to her innocence/her virginity.

  
  

  > Gerald sees her as an object.

  
  

  > They were both happy in the relationship -> Gerald enjoyed being her 'fairy prince' and being her ''saviour.
• SIGNIFICANCE OF SHIELA.

  > A SYMBOL OF THE UNIVERSAL SUFFERING OF THE WORKING CLASS/ OPPRESSION.

  > DEMONSTRATES THE NEED FOR THE A WELLFARE STATE.