An Inspector Calls- The Importance of Eva Smith

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  • Created by: salterl
  • Created on: 25-02-17 15:47
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  • The Importance of Eva Smith
    • name
      • Eva
        • Similar to Eve from Adam and Eve could represent the first of many and similar to other women in 1912.
          • could represent womankind
          • In the bible Eve rewind mankind however Preistly could have done the opposite as men are corrupting women
      • Smith
        • Common name could represent all women
      • Daisy
        • Lots of daisies; she could represent one of many.
        • pretty flower
          • Sheila: 'but she was pretty and looked like she could take care of herself'
        • ordinary name but theirs nothing ordinary about Daisy(Eva)
      • Renton
        • Rent could suggest she is renting her body as a prostitute in the 'palace bar'
    • Priestly could've chosen Eva as a female victim to show the treatment of female factory workers in the Edwardian era and maybe from anytime as her name suggests
      • women were especially cheap labour
        • Birling; 'It's my duty to keep labour costs down'
      • Female victim
        • Women could've been a threat to men because of the suffragette movement could be threatening to reduce men's power
        • Priestly presents socialism and equality by having the importance of a woman in a play.
        • Seen by more traditional women(Mrs Birling) as disrupting the status quo.
          • exploited by men for their own sexual gains
        • punished for standing up for her rights
          • exploited by men for their own sexual gains
        • women are judged by their looks
          • Sheila; 'she was pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself'
          • inspector; 'and you think young women ought to be protected from unpleasant and disturbing things'
          • Gerald; 'she was very pretty with dark brown hair and brown eyes'
            • Gerald; 'she looked young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there'
              • women are judged by their looks
                • Sheila; 'she was pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself'
                • inspector; 'and you think young women ought to be protected from unpleasant and disturbing things'
                • Gerald; 'she was very pretty with dark brown hair and brown eyes'
                  • Gerald; 'she looked young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there'
                    • draws our attention to her appearances. is that what she is judged by?
                  • Eva's good looks get her into trouble
                • draws our attention to her appearances. is that what she is judged by?
              • Eva's good looks get her into trouble
          • Female victim
            • Women could've been a threat to men because of the suffragette movement could be threatening to reduce men's power
            • Priestly presents socialism and equality by having the importance of a woman in a play.
            • Seen by more traditional women(Mrs Birling) as disrupting the status quo.
              • punished for standing up for her rights
              • Disinfectant
                • she is literally disinfecting herself of all the harm she has experienced
                • she wants to die a violent and painful death to show she is a martyr
                • her body has been treated with disrespect
              • Exploitation towards Eva
                • Gerald
                  • uses her as his mistrees
                    • even though he is in a serious relationship with Sheila
                    • visits the 'favourite haunt of women of the town'
                      • is it a regular thing to do by many men in 1912?
                        • alderman meggarty
                        • Mr Birling wants to keep it all quite as if he's hiding something
                          • maybe he's been to the 'palace bar'
                        • Eric visits
                        • dehumanising for women
                • Eric
                  • violent towards her aswell
                    • Eric; 'I was in that state when a chap turns nasty- and i threatened to make a row.'
                  • visits the 'palace bar'
            • potentailly a weed
              • Unwanted, taken for granted
              • Daisy
                • Lots of daisies; she could represent one of many.
                • pretty flower
                  • Sheila: 'but she was pretty and looked like she could take care of herself'
                • ordinary name but theirs nothing ordinary about Daisy(Eva)
            • He also criticises the treatment of women in 1912
              • Inspector; 'you can't do her any more harm'

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