The Death of Eva Smith in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
"An Inspector Calls" is a play written by J.B Priestley, in 1945. The
play is set in the house of Mr. Arthur Birling, on an early spring
evening of 1912.
Inspector Goole arrives at the house during a celebration. Asking the
people different questions, and in different ways, he tried to
convinced all the members of the family that they played a part in the
death of Eva Smith. The Inspector leaves the house by telling them all
that, "...each of you helped to kill her." [p.55]
Mr. Birling believed that he was not responsible for her death. He
said, "I can't accept any responsibility. If we were responsible for
everything that happened to everybody we'd had anything to do with, it
would be very awkward..." [p.14]
Inspector Goole believed that they were all responsible for the death
of Eva Smith, yet Mr. Birling refused to accept this.
Mr. Birling had been the first to know Eva Smith. He had sacked Eva
from her first job, when she had asked for more money.
Mr. Birling says, "I can't accept any responsibility." [p.14] He does
not believe he is to be blamed for the death of Eva Smith. As he does
not blame himself this makes a difference to how much we blame him. We
blame him more, as he does not feel any guilt.
Sheila had got Eva sacked from her second job because she was jealous
of Eva. Yet from the time Sheila knew she had known Eva Smith, Sheila
had blamed herself and took some responsibility for Eva's death. In
the end she said, "I behaved badly. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it."
[p.57] Because Sheila was ashamed of what she had done; the reader
blames the death of Eva Smith less on Sheila.
Gerald had known Eva for a summer. Gerald had met Eva in a bar and had
kept Eva as a mistress. The relationship had ended when Eva had to
leave the flat she was staying in.
...ne he shows no remorse. He is responsible for their deaths and he refuses to own up to it. Tom and Daisy’s carelessness cause the deaths of three people and they both do not hold themselves accountable.
she needed more money. So she said to him give me 25/6 because of that
Do you agree that Eva Smith is presented as a victim in the play ‘An
The story begins with a dark tone as she address how her audience feels about her actions.
J.B. Priestley's Motives Behind An Inspector Calls J.B. Priestley was born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1894. His mother
"And be quiet for a moment and listen to me. I don't need to know any
...o because he cannot alter his fate even though he admits he is wrong. One can learn that there should always be room to fix their errors no matter how astringent they are.
Victorian rich life out to be less than what it seems. I think it was
‘She had a lot to say, far too much so she had to go.’ Personally, I
technology and how a man should live. He says 'A man has to make his
Gerald finds out at the end of the play when he takes a quiet stroll
Priestley’s Main Aim in An Inspector Calls JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ to enhance the message that ‘we don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’. This is something Priestly felt strongly about and he succeeded in representing his views through the character of the Inspector in the play itself. He wanted to communicate the message that our actions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, always affect others.
family, but it must not be 'cosy’ or homely. The lighting is to be a
had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go'. I don't see that
Mina comes back home only fifteen minutes later, crying. The grandmother is blamed once again for Mina’s actions. Mina reacts to her grandmothers questions of the tears by saying “ You m...