In your view, who was most responsible for the death of Eva Smith?
Coursework Essay
An Inspector Calls
In your view, who was most responsible for the death of Eva Smith?
An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestly, a play, which was first, performed in 1945. The play was set in 1912 before World War I. The play centres' around the wealthy Birling family. A visit from a mysterious Inspector Goole becomes a horrifying experience for the Birlings', as they learn that they have all played a part in the suicide of a young girl called Eva Smith. She died by swallowing some strong disinfected in an infirmary. Priestley's main aim was to encourage people to take responsibility for their actions, not to shift the blame on to others.
Although each member of the Birling family and Gerald Croft have had contact with Eva Smith, none of them were aware of the others´ involvement in the tragedy until the day of the inspector's visit. He makes each of them aware of the part they had played that lead to her tragic end. The characters each reacted differently to the news and the degree of responsibility contributing to the death varied between them. They all through their selfishness had shown to contribute to Eva Smiths' decision to kill herself.
We must remember it wasn't a crime. No one should be held responsible. It's a moral issue. It was not only people that contributed to Eva Smith's death but her position in the world and the way in which her life worked out.
Mr Birling, a wealthy capitalist man, and a 'rather portentious man,' was the first person to be investigated. Mr.Birling didn't care about any of his workers, and didn't know them at all, as he says proudly, 'I have a couple of hundred workers under me, who keep changing.' This clearly showed that there was no personal or business relationship with Eva Smith.
Mr. Birling told the Inspector that all the workers had just returned from holiday and had become very restless. They demanded for a pay rise or would go on strike. She was making trouble as Mr Birling said, 'She had a lot to say, far too much so she had to go.' Personally, I don't believe that Mr Birling did anything wrong towards Eva Smith. He only had sacked her from his factory because she had started to cause trouble by demanding higher wages. Anyone in his position would have done the same.
Though Mr Birling may sound innocent there is much to judge of his character. He seems to be a very hard man, and shows no regret for dismissing Eva Smith, despite knowing, that if he had sacked her she may still have been alive. The effect of dismissing Eva Smith from her job, lead to her changing her name to Daisy Renton. This was because Eva Smith was afraid and ashamed of society.
Mr Birling wanted always to be in control, he always seems to want to do things his own way. When Mr Birling felt that the Inspector was asking too many questions he said, 'Perhaps I ought to warn you that he is an old friend of mine,' he was referring to the Chief Constable.
I think Mr Birling`s character had been portrayed to show no guilt over Eva Smiths' death, who after all was a person also. We see none of Mr Birlings' good character instead we see him as dishonest and cold.
Sheila 'a pretty girl in her twenties,' was the second person that the Inspector questioned. Shelia was jealous of Eva Smith. Sheila wrongfully used her position as an important customer to turn Eva Smith out of a job. She even admits, 'it was my own fault,' and that she 'was in a furious temper.' She was jealous of ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
I think Mr Birling`s character had been portrayed to show no guilt over Eva Smiths' death, who after all was a person also. We see none of Mr Birlings' good character instead we see him as dishonest and cold.
Sheila 'a pretty girl in her twenties,' was the second person that the Inspector questioned. Shelia was jealous of Eva Smith. Sheila wrongfully used her position as an important customer to turn Eva Smith out of a job. She even admits, 'it was my own fault,' and that she 'was in a furious temper.' She was jealous of Eva Smith describing her as a 'very pretty girl too with big dark eyes.' Shelia naively, due to being of a younger generation, explains to the Inspector how she was responsible for Eva Smith losing her job at Milwards. She told the manager at Milwards that if they didn't get rid of that girl she'd never go near the place again and she also would persuade her mother to close her account with them. This shows that Sheila, like her father Mr. Birling, was able to abuse her position as a wealthy member of the community, who could influence others due to her relations.
Sheila is portrayed as being sorrowful and remorse, as she feels great guilt for the actions that she committed. She agrees with the Inspector of her pride when he says, 'You used the power you had, to punish the girl.'
Sheila was the first to find out that the Inspector had a strange type of power. His character was portrayed as 'impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness'. She noted this when Mrs Birling was arguing with him. Sheila warns Mrs. Birling of the inspector, "You mustn't try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do, then the inspector will just break it down. And it'll be all the worse when he does".
The inspector was not surprised when Sheila felt extremely guilty for having Eva dismissed. As she says 'I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a whole lot worse.' Eva Smith's second dismissal left her in a worse state than her first dismissal and she became despondent. Sheila has been the cause of this further collapse in Eva Smith's life, but I feel less inclined to blame her because of her remorse.
Gerald Croft, a 'well-bred, young man-about-town.' Gerald was the only person who was not a direct relation to the Birling family, but was engaged to Sheila. He also had significant involvement with the death of Eva Smith. Gerald recognises the name Daisy Renton, as soon as he hears the Inspector say it. He was trying to make Sheila leave the room for reasons that become more apparent later. He tells the story of how he met Eva Smith or, as he knew her as Daisy Renton. He describes her as 'very pretty, with soft brown hair and big dark eyes.'
Gerald met Eva Smith in a County Hotel, where he took her away. He let her stay in his friend's room, because she had no money. Later, she became Gerald's mistress. There relationship didn't last long. He was clearly upset to what had happened to her and what he might have done to affect her. Eva Smith was in love with Gerald and being thrown out by him left her not only homeless but heartbroken. I feel that he leaves her in a worse state than either Mr. Birling or Sheila had. Gerald's character is further described when he remarks on young women that they should be 'protected against unpleasant and disturbing things' is rather hypocritical in the light of what he's done to Eva Smith. Perhaps he does not feel lower class women need this protection.
Gerald was the only one that tried to help Eva Smith, unlike all the others who were simply punishing her. Even if Gerald had not been responsible for the death of Eva Smith, his actions certainly had consequences as he was engaged to Sheila, who now knows that Gerald was actively having another relationship while they were together. This puts their relationship into doubt, something that Mr Birling would no doubt be displeased about.
Mrs. Birling shows characteristics in some ways, to be very similar to her husbands' and denies any responsibility herself. Instead, choosing to blame others, which later becomes a very bad decision. Mrs Birling treats the Inspector in a demeaning and threatening way, 'I realise you may have to conduct some kind of enquiry but I must say you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar and offensive manner.' As a member of the Bromley Women's Charity Organization, Mrs Birling was the last member of the family to have had contact with Eva Smith. Having rejected her also because Eva Smith had used the family name to claim to the organisation. Mrs Birling ironically tells Eva Smith, 'to look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility.'
Mrs Birling refuses to admit any guilt over Eva Smith's death, even though the girl had been trying to protect Eric Birling, the father of the child because he had been giving her stolen money.
Mrs Birling only later realises the truth, where Eva Smith was trying to protect Eric. Mrs Birling becomes shocked and upset, as she is the last to have been in contact with Eva Smith and had the opportunity to offer help. Her case was not good and what a selfish character she was. It seems that like her husband, Mrs Birling has only her own view in thought and is clearly uninterested by the needs of others, no regret is felt and it seems that she is totally unmoved by the whole incident, only caring when she discovers that her own son is involved.
Eric Birling under the questioning from the inspector reveals the extent of his drinking and his relationship with Eva Smith.
Eric had stolen some money from his father's business in order to support Eva Smith because she was pregnant. By making her pregnant he put her in an unbearable position and is very much to blame for her downfall. The only two things in his favour were that he was sorry for what he had done and he tried to help her financially, even though it was money stolen from his father but these came too late for Eva Smith.
Although Eric is young and immature he felt guilty and shame about what he had done. When he discovers that his mother had turned her away, his guilt and remorse turn to anger. 'Then you killed her, She came to you to protect me, my child, your grandchild, you killed them both.'
By the time the Inspector was about to leave, it was quite clear that each member of the Birling family had contributed to Eva Smith's death, one by one the Inspector confronts them 'Mrs Birling, you turned her away when she most needed help. You refused her even the pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her'. Eric, 'You just used her for the end of a stupid, drunken evening, as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person.' With each confrontation, the aim was to cause guilt. The Inspector then leaves and the family are left feeling great guilt.
As we can see each had a role in her Eva Smith's death, but which one has the most to do with it. Unlike their parents, Sheila and Eric felt guilty about what they have done. They wished that they could turn the clock back and stop it from happening. Both Mr. Croft and Mr Eric Birling try to help her and take responsibility for what they had done, but the others didn't try to help her even though they had the chance.
The mystery of the Inspector's identity itself is one that the play never answers. The way the inspector conducts the investigation is unusual. The way the inspector questions, 'I'd like some information.' He never asks questions, only makes statements. This makes the audience feels as if he already knows the answers. The inspector is never surprised by anything, even the characters reactions and responses. The inspector shows photographs to each of the characters only one at a time. He interposes himself between the photographs and the other characters. This could show that each character could not be talking about the same Eva Smith. They could all be different photographs of different people that each character might have harmed.
J B Priestly in the final act showed that Inspector 'Goole' which means ghost does not exist. The reactions of the family then change to that of relief for Mr and Mrs Birling, whilst Gerald, Eric and Sheila still felt guilty and regret what they have done. Eric says, 'and I agree with Sheila. It frightens me too. It's still the same rotten story whether it's been told to a police inspector or not.'
It took a real inspectors' visit to affect Mr and Mrs Birling, 'they stare guiltily and dumbfounded'. When they get a phone call and a real inspector is on his way than only are Mr and Mrs. Birling worried about their reputation more than Eva Smiths' death. Eric, Sheila and Gerald are still in shock. This showed the younger generation learnt the lesson easily but it took the older generation more time.
Personally, I believe that the creation of the Inspector by Priestly was to portray a personal message to all the readers That we are all equal and do not rise above one another. In case of trouble help each other individually and as a society not ignore.
It would be unfair to blame a single person, as each character contributed to the death of Eva Smith. No real crime has been committed and it is consequently a moral issue. The responsibility should be shared by the family and their future actions affected to aid others and not just themselves.
I think Priestley's message of the play was to explain to us that if we are like the Birling´s then we need to change, and be more considerate and caring towards others, "We are members of one body, we are responsible for each other".
This quote taken from the inspector's last speech, I think sums up exactly what Priestley was trying to get across.
Priestly undermines Mr. Birling 'rather portentous man,' who believes his only responsibility is to his family, right at the start of the play. He is shown as short sighted and wrong. His prediction that, 'There isn't a chance of war' World war within two years, with a second to follow within the same lifetime.' And 'The Titanic: 'unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' SS Titanic sinks on her maiden voyage'.
This dramatic irony at his expense encourages us to question how many of his other beliefs are correct. Priestly, as a socialist is not sympathetic to what the capitalist 'Mr. Birling' believes.
Priestly may have experienced difficulties during wartime, this may have led him to believe that in order to live in a peaceful world man must consider his responsibility to fellow men.
I think that this play, which was written in 1947 and set in 1912, would have made an impact on its audience, making dramatic irony and made them self-conscious.
