Who is most responsible for the death of Eva Smith in the book 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B.Priestly.

Who is most responsible for the death of Eva Smith in the book ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B.Priestly.

Inspector Calls was written in 1945, but it was set in 1912 in Brumley, a Northern, an Industrial City. It is about a Middle Class family named the Birling’s. There are 4 Birling members, and Gerald Croft (engaged to Sheila Birling, the daughter). There is also the maid, Edna, who plays a small part in the play.
It starts of with the Birling family celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. Gerald is the son of George Croft a major player in the industrial part of Brumely. With Birling also owning a big factory In Brumley, he is very happy for this marriage, as it would unite Birling and co with Croft limited.

The evening begins smoothly with the whole family having fun with port being drunk, and cigars being smoked. Mr Birling makes historical references to certain things in the future during the play. The first is when Birling mentions the Kaiser. “Just because the Kaiser makes a few speeches, you’ll hear war is inevitable. And to that I say Fiddle sticks”. We all know that 2 years later it lead to a war. Another example of this historical Evidence is when Birling says “a friend of mine went out on the titanic-sails next week-New York in 5 days. Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” J.B.Priestley, when writing the book, knew that the Titanic sank, but when it was set, the Birling family was not to know. His final reference is when he says “in 30 years time, in 1940, you will be holding a party for your son’s engagement, and you’ll be living in a world, which will have forgotten about these silly little war scares.” Everyone knows that in 1940, the Second World War was at a peak, and things would not be happy times.

During their small celebration, a knock at the door is heard with Edna revealing inspector Goole has arrived to announce the death of a young girl named Eva Smith.

The inspector asks Mr Birling if he remembers her, and he shows him a photo, concealing it from the eyes of everyone else in the room. Birling seams confused, but then Goole reveals he fired her for asking for too much money in his factory. It all comes back to Birling, however he shows little interest and believes he has little involvement.

The inspector then ...

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During their small celebration, a knock at the door is heard with Edna revealing inspector Goole has arrived to announce the death of a young girl named Eva Smith.

The inspector then tells the Birlings that she then got a job at Milwards, a high class and major clothing shop in Brumley. She was doing well, and earning a good wage. The Birlings are well known in Milwards, and have a big, important account. The inspector tells the family that she was fired because of a complaint made against her. No one knows where he is going with this, until he shows Sheila a photo of Eva Smith. She runs out of the room crying. She returns 5 minutes later with tears in her eyes. Sheila thinks she is responsible for Eva Smith’s death, but the inspector reassure her and tell her it’s not all her fault and others are partly to blame. She explained what happened to everyone in the room.

“I went to the manager at Milwards, and said if she wasn’t sacked, I’d never go near the place again, and get mother to close our account.” She then goes on to admit it was because she saw Eva Smith smiling at the assistant when Sheila was trying on a dress. Sheila thought that Eva was laughing at her, and was jealous of the fact that Eva would look better in the dress. So she complained, and that was the end of it. Sheila wasn’t happy with herself, and wished she could have turned back the clock.

The inspector then reveals another key fact, that she had changed her name to Daisy Renton. This sparked a reaction out of Gerald. This begins the interrogation of Gerald, as it is revealed he knew Daisy Renton. He met her in the Palace Music Hall in Brumley. Gerald felt sorry for Daisy and gave her a place to stay in the Morgan Terrace for a few months. For once Daisy Renton was happy, and things were looking good. They soon became more then friends, However, it didn’t last and its then revealed to us that he ended their relationship few months later, as they both knew it could not go on. He then heard nothing of her again.

A few weeks on, as a member of the Bromley Women Charity Organization, Mrs Birling is the last member of the family to have contact with Eva Smith. Eva is pregnant and does not know who the father is. Eva Smith asks for help, but she is rejected. Mrs Birling ironically tells Eva Smith, to look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility. Mrs Birling would then not take any responsibility for her death. She blames it on the father and says “He was some drunken young idler, which is more reason why he shouldn’t escape. If the death is due to anybody, it’s due to him.” Mrs Birling does not realise she is describing the actions of her own son.

Eric then comes in, to explain his involvement with Eva Smith. He met her in the Palace bar. Eric bought her a few drinks. They both got drunk, and Eric insisted on going into her lodgings. They slept together which Eric couldn’t even remember that well.

A few weeks later, they met again, this time they were more sober, they slept together again. Eric then found out she was pregnant, and she had know job to support herself. So Eric stole money from his father’s office. Mr Birling shows his anger here, and considers his money problems more of a concern then Eva’s death. Eric then never saw her, she never called again. The family then begins to argue, as the inspector leaves.

It is then realised, he wasn’t an inspector, nor did a girl kill herself that night. Mr and Mrs Birling think they are in the clear, and forgets about it. But the rest of the family cannot forget the fact that they have treated a human being in this horrible fashion.

A split has being created in the Birling household, and the love they once had, is in doubt.

The phone rings again, and it is announced that a girl has died, and a inspector is on his way. Mr and Mrs Birling are more concerned about there reputation then the death of this young girl.

In conclusion, I think that it is unfair to solely blame just one character for Eva Smiths death, However Mrs Birling is probably the most at fault. She could see the state this girl was in. She new her problems, and refused to help her. If Mrs Birling did help her things may have been different and Eva may not have killed herself.

But I think all members of the family played a part in her death and its everyone’s fault, and responsibility must be taken by the whole family.