J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls - Eva Smith's Diary

I've just got back from my summer vacation. It was lovely. I'm really

looking forward to going again next year. Life's looking up at the

moment. It's great! Just one problem though, the money I'm receiving

at the factory. I've spoken to quite a few other girls on vacation and

they earn much more than twenty-two and six. I'll speak to Mr. Birling

tomorrow to ask him about raising it to 25 shillings a week. I don't

see why not myself. I'm a good worker and have been in the factory

over a year. We'll just have to see what he says.

12th September 1910

That's it! I'm not taking any more. A few other girls and me, who are

sick of the terrible money, are going on strike. He'll have to raise

our weekly wage then won't he; well if he doesn't I'm not carrying on

working for him. He's a mean man, and only cares for himself, wants

all the money. It's not very often I get annoyed I don't like to call

people and say nasty things about them, but I really have had enough

today. This man has really angered me. I'm an excellent, hard,

pleasant worker. How dare he have the cheek to say no! I told his this

afternoon for the 6th time in the past 2 days, that because I was

being promoted to leading operator I would at least expect a pay rise.

His reply was the same, that it was his duty to keep labour costs

down. His exact answer if I remember was; "I've told you again and

again Eva, every time you've asked me. It's my duty to keep labour

costs down. I don't know why the hell you waste your time bothering me

when you could be working - earning good money for my factor. The

answers a straight no, so get out of my office girl. Get back to your

bleeding work." What a lovely charming man Mr. Birling is, oh great is

he.

...

... middle of paper ...

...ll because of no food, no roof above their head. I don't

want that. I don't want my child not having the advantages that other

children have; that other children take advantage of. Waking up

everyday with a roof above their head, breakfast on the table for

them, loving parents that are there for them when they need help or

are feeling down. Everyone takes advantage of everything they own,

even their lives. They don't realize it until they've lost those

things they love and care about though. Then it will suddenly hit them

like a ton of bricks. People should learn to love what they have, but

me, I can't go on any longer trying to be happy for what I have. I

don't have anything, so I can't try to be happy. I've tried too many

times, and now - I'm giving up trying. I'm weak and so far I've lost

everything apart from my life. Which soon I will also be loosing.