An Inspector Calls Essay - To what extent can the tragedy of Eva Smith be blamed on the society in which she lived.

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Mollie Coombes                                                         6th April 2003

An Inspector Calls Essay

* To what extent can the tragedy of Eva Smith be blamed on the society in                   which she lived *

In 1912, social class was divided into separate classes, working class was one of them. The working women were expected to do long hard days in the factories working by strict rules and still expected to look after the family and do housework.

In 1912 social class was everything, middle class had power over the working class and the men had power over the women. Eva Smith was a working women who had a really bad life, her parents had died, she had no money and when she felt she was doing well at her work place she was fired for asking for a raise, she later got a new job in Milwards, where she had a bit of a better life, until Shelia Birling got her fired from there. Then years later the Birlings get a phone call saying she had killed herself, was this because of her life? Seriously, was this enough to drive someone to suicide and kill themself in a really nasty and horrid way? This is what we’ve been asked to find out, was the society in which she lived to blame on her death?
 

The society in which Eva Smith lived can be partly to blame, people are responsible of what they do and how they effect others, in this case, when Mr Birling sacks Eva, this was part of the chain of events that lead up to her death, this would make him partly responsible. He also says "things could really improve if only people became more socially responsible for the welfare of others.
  By chain of events we mean several events that lead to something tragic in a person life. In this case, the Birlings and Gerald croft were involved in the life of Eva smith and effected her, by them all being a part of it, this then became a chain of events.

In the play An Inspector Calls an inspector Goole interrupts the Birlings family meal whilst they're celebrating on behalf of Sheila Birling and Gerald croft engagement. He announces the death of Eva Smith and explains how she drank disinfectant and died a painful death. At this stage, no one knew of an "Eva smith" as such to his or her knowledge at least, and acted defenceless even before the inspectors questioning even started.
  There are many different factors involved in the death of Eva smith. Each one pushed Eva a little closer to suicide, but no one person is solely responsible for her death. Whether one person deserves to take more of the blame than another, it is hard to say. It is not only people who contributed to Eva Smith's death but her position in society and the way her life worked out.

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  Firstly it must be remembered that the Birling family are guilty of no actual crime, although all have contributed to the downfall of Eva Smith due to their attitudes and beliefs.

I will start with Mr Birling, he plays in the chain of events leading to Eva Smith's death. Mr Birling was the first person we were led to believe started the chain of events. Any man in his position would have only done the same thing. She was making trouble as Mr. Birling said, "she had a lot to say - far too much, so she had to go". ...

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