Notwithstanding the fact that the audience does not
encounter Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton her character is
presented and developed by virtue of what the
Inspector elicits from the family. She is the absent
figure around which the play revolves. We learn
through the inspector that she has committed suicide
by drinking strong disinfectant. This character is
completely silenced by Priestley to reflect her social
standing. She is silenced in the play so as to
emphasise how society has silenced her during her
short life. Her suicide is the ultimate silencing; a self-
inflicted silencing so as to escape the pain that life
has inflicted upon her.
Eva Smith, it can be argued, is the most important
character in An Inspector Calls: from the moment her
name is first mentioned, her shadow hangs over
every page (scene).
She is a factory worker at the Birlings’ business and
we glean the aspects of her character from the
revelations that emerge regarding the way that she
is ill-treated by the various members of the Birling
family. The ill-treatment stems from the fact the Eva
Smith is a working- class female and is regarded by
the Birlings as being subordinate to them. They have
a sense of superiority and entitlement and this is the
root of their unkind treatment of those that they
deem to be inferior to them. (Exam tip: when
referring to the Birlings’ treatment of E.S. refer also
to their treatment of Edna)
, Priestley presents her as having a “nice little
promising life” but “a nasty mess somebody’s made
of it.” Mrs. Birling, upon learning of her suicide, refers
to her with the generic term “Girls of that class….”
She is quickly rebuked by Sheila upon making this
highly dismissive comment, which is an early
indication to us that Sheila has a greater capacity for
empathy than her mother does.
Eva Smith represents the victim of Edwardian double
standards; she is a victim of hypocrisy. Eric and
Gerald are happy to take advantage of her behind
closed doors but would never consider marrying her.
Her physical appearance rather than her personality
is what matters to them. This is evident as Eva Smith
is described as “very pretty”; “a lively, good-looking
girl”. Gerald dehumanises Eva, referring to her as
“the girl” thereby erasing her individual identity. Eric
says “I wasn’t in love wither or anything – but I liked
her – she was pretty and a good sport”
Her name is symbolically significant. Eva refers to
the first woman created and Smith is a common
name which could mean any woman. Biblical Eve
caused the fall of mankind; Eva Smith causes the
downfall of the Birlings. There is also the implication
that our lack of social responsibility will lead to our
downfall; “if men will not learn that lesson, then they
will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish “. The
encounter Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton her character is
presented and developed by virtue of what the
Inspector elicits from the family. She is the absent
figure around which the play revolves. We learn
through the inspector that she has committed suicide
by drinking strong disinfectant. This character is
completely silenced by Priestley to reflect her social
standing. She is silenced in the play so as to
emphasise how society has silenced her during her
short life. Her suicide is the ultimate silencing; a self-
inflicted silencing so as to escape the pain that life
has inflicted upon her.
Eva Smith, it can be argued, is the most important
character in An Inspector Calls: from the moment her
name is first mentioned, her shadow hangs over
every page (scene).
She is a factory worker at the Birlings’ business and
we glean the aspects of her character from the
revelations that emerge regarding the way that she
is ill-treated by the various members of the Birling
family. The ill-treatment stems from the fact the Eva
Smith is a working- class female and is regarded by
the Birlings as being subordinate to them. They have
a sense of superiority and entitlement and this is the
root of their unkind treatment of those that they
deem to be inferior to them. (Exam tip: when
referring to the Birlings’ treatment of E.S. refer also
to their treatment of Edna)
, Priestley presents her as having a “nice little
promising life” but “a nasty mess somebody’s made
of it.” Mrs. Birling, upon learning of her suicide, refers
to her with the generic term “Girls of that class….”
She is quickly rebuked by Sheila upon making this
highly dismissive comment, which is an early
indication to us that Sheila has a greater capacity for
empathy than her mother does.
Eva Smith represents the victim of Edwardian double
standards; she is a victim of hypocrisy. Eric and
Gerald are happy to take advantage of her behind
closed doors but would never consider marrying her.
Her physical appearance rather than her personality
is what matters to them. This is evident as Eva Smith
is described as “very pretty”; “a lively, good-looking
girl”. Gerald dehumanises Eva, referring to her as
“the girl” thereby erasing her individual identity. Eric
says “I wasn’t in love wither or anything – but I liked
her – she was pretty and a good sport”
Her name is symbolically significant. Eva refers to
the first woman created and Smith is a common
name which could mean any woman. Biblical Eve
caused the fall of mankind; Eva Smith causes the
downfall of the Birlings. There is also the implication
that our lack of social responsibility will lead to our
downfall; “if men will not learn that lesson, then they
will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish “. The
