An Inspector Calls: Characters: Eva Smith Quotes

'Two hours ago a young woman died in the infirmary' (IG)

Act One: This is Eva Smith's introduction

'Wretched girl's suicide' (Mr. Birling)

Act One: Mr. Birling was not fond of Eva and regarded her as a trouble maker.

'Lively good-looking girl' (Mr. Birling) 'very pretty girl' (Sheila) 'pretty' (Gerald) 'young and fresh and charming' (Gerald) 'pretty' (Eric)

Eva is often described by her looks, which shows how she is exploited and used by the upper classes.

'jealous of her' (IG says about Sheila)

Act One: Sheila has everything yet she still wishes she looked like Eva, which shows how pretty Eva is.

'Girls of that class-' (Mrs.Birling)

Act Two: Eva is lower class as described by Mrs. Birling and also dehumanised, using only the noun 'girls'.

'I was sorry for her' (Gerald)

Act Two: Eva was someone that an upper class man felt sorry for, perhaps Gerald liked that she depended on him and couldn't rebel?

'She was young and pretty and warm hearted and intensely grateful' (Gerald)

Act Two: Perhaps Eva was everything Gerald wished that Sheila was?

'She didn't blame me at all' (Gerald)

Act Two: Eva was lovely and didn't make Gerald feel guilty for leaving her

'She only had herself to blame' (Mrs. Birling)

Act Two: Mrs. Birling was very unsympathetic towards Eva and would not accept any blame of what happened

'As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money' (Mrs. Birling)

Act Two: Mrs. Birling thinks that Eva is so poor that she has no morals and would accept money off anybody

'smith'

This is an ordinary name, showing that she is an ordinary person. Priestley has done this to show that this could happen to anybody

Eva doesn't speak herself, the Inspector speaks on her behalf.

Shows hos she is oppressed by the upper classes and is left voiceless and unable to defend herself. When she did, she was fired from her job.