The Role Of Eva Smith In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 but set in 1912. The play shows the stark difference between 1912 and 1945. J. B. Priestley reveals the errors of society and the faults of capitalism as well as the bias of the upper class and social status. As a firm believer in the concepts of socialism, he uses this play to expose society’s poor attitudes to the working class of the period. The way they treat Eva Smith reflects on how many of the working class may have been treated by their social superiors. Eva was a victim in society as she was very low in the financial hierarchy as well as in reality where she was at the bottom of the classes. Women at that time were seen as being delicate, obedient to their husbands. The inspector is used to correct the

capitalists and makes a strong statement in favour of socialism in his final rhetorical piece. On the contrary they might not have been victims as Curley’s wife used flirting for personal use to deceive men. Similarly, Eva did use herself to get a home for the night.

In of Mice and Men Curley's wife lives in a similar society to Eva Smith, where women have no rights and are discriminated against one another.

Her resistive attitude was made apparent when she was first introduced in the novella as Curley’s wife. In order to emphasise Curley’s wife’s inadequacy, Steinbeck doesn’t give her a name. As a victim of this lack of authority, she finds someone to bully and is presented as a powerful and intimidating person. Alongside many other Americans of the time, Curley's wife also had an American dream. Fear prevented her trying, as she knew if she failed, she would be left with nothing. Candy, a swamper, introduced her. Initially, she was mentioned in rumours which subtly hints at the idea that she had developed a bad reputation over time, which gives the reader opinions and biased views on Curley's wife even before she enters. Curley’s wife had the right to articulate her opinion, in fact she had more rights than Eva Smith, and despite the fact her husband was the boss, she still found that she was unable to speak. Presumably, the reason for this being the absence of an involved father figure. In fact the only man she could get close to ‘promised’ her to put her in the

‘pictures’.

Eva Smith was sacked because she was one of the ‘ringleaders’ in a group of workers wanting a pay rise, Mr Birling ‘refused of course’, the phrase ‘of course’ conveying the fact that he wasn’t even prepared to discuss this with his employees. Eva was one of many women who stood up as a ‘leader’ hence, Mr Birling was shocked and decided to treat this matter with utmost delicacy and fired her. The inspector also makes the reader realise that they are “members of one body”, suggesting the idea that they should try their best to help people like Eva Smith. Generally, women back in those times were forced to obey men, as they had dominion over the women. Eva standing up to Mr Birling showed that women like her will not stand to get pushed. To summarise, Eva Smith ended up with no money to live on - a terrible position for a young woman to be in, especially at that time. Mr Birling seems much more concerned with his works and the financial side, rather than the welfare of his employees. Dramatic irony is subtly used to promote the inspector yet mock Mr Birling as he thinks that “there isn’t a chance of war” and that the Titanic is “absolutely unsinkable”. With the play being published after the two world wars and the sinking of the Titanic, Priestly makes the audience think that Mr Birling is a fool.