Who is to blame for Eva Smith's death?

An Inspector Call

By Surya Syarief

J.B Priestley is the person who wrote the play; An Inspector Calls. He wrote the play in 1945 after the Second World War. An Inspector Calls then produced in London the next year. It is set in 1912 two years before the First World War. It seems that Priestly had an intention to show an important message towards his post World War audience: A morality play through which Priestley is emphasising the need for the social and communal responsibility. There are also many national crises for many issue e.g. women's rights, industrial strikes etc.

The main story is about a character, which does not appear in the play. Her name is Eva Smith. In the play, Eva was in a chain of events that led her to her suicide. All the characters with the exception of the inspector played a role, which drove Eva towards her suicide.

In the play, the audience have been able to see the dramatic irony of Arthur Birling's optimistic speeches in which he talked about the Future. One of the references is when he talked about "The Titanic".

"Titanic-she sails next week… and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable (Arthur ACT1)"

He talked about its supremacy (Titanic), in the end Titanic sank due to an iceberg. In the other hand, Arthur Birling is a prosperous manufacturer. He is extremely wealthy at around his 50s. He cannot be judged and he thinks he is not responsible for anyone in the community. He can be a hard working businessman but only recognised and benefited towards the upper class people like himself ad his family.

Eva Smith used to work at Arthur's factory. He approved her when the Inspector asked something about her. She soon bravely asked Arthur for a wage increase, especially from a woman (at that time women does not have the same rights as men).

"She Had a lot to say- far too much…" this speech indicates Birling's sexist view.

Eva Smith was one of the ringleaders who were demanding an increase of wage. Birling refused because he wanted his labour cost down. Birling also found her very rude. In the end Arthur sacked Eva and that made ...

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"She Had a lot to say- far too much…" this speech indicates Birling's sexist view.

Sheila is the daughter of Arthur Birling. She seems to be low-esteem, insecure. She has never thought of the suffering in the working class society. She thought never thought that people suffering. The inspector soon put the sense of truth about lower class society and it shocked her.

"There are lot of young women living in that sort of existence…"

Sheila Replied" But these girls aren't cheap labour…"

After two years, Eva Smith in a clothes shop called Milwards. She found the job good, by the impression the Inspector quoted Eva Smith found a change from the hard working of the factory. Within two months she was sacked. Sheila Birling was in the Clothes Shop, she demanded the manager of the shop to get rid of Eva Smith. This had happen because Sheila saw Eva with a dress that did not suit her (Sheila). Eva held the dress up as if she was wearing it. It made Sheila Jealous of Eva because it suited her and also because she was much prettier. It was an inappropriate behaviour of Sheila, using her social class to attack a working class girl on a stupid and a pathetic issue of jealousy.

Gerald Croft is the son of Birling's business rival. He seems be bright, polite and charming by the first impression. He also hardworking confident man. In Act-two, the Inspector caught Gerald; he was cheating on Sheila. At the time he was with a woman name, Daisy Renton whom was Eva Smith has claimed name. Gerald met her in a bar. Gerald came to her and soon made her his mistress. Gerald gave a roof over Eva' head and he shows caring towards her. Eventually Gerald left Daisy (Eva) due to business. He then broke the relationship before he left. This shocked Eva and it led her into an extreme distress.

The extreme distress led her in aid. She went to Brumley Women's Charity Organisation. At the time, Sybil Birling was the woman who was in the chair interviewing Eva Smith. At the interview, she claimed her name was Mrs Birling and she's pregnant. Sybil was shocked and she was angry. Sybil tries to reject any responsibility for Eva's death by approving that the father of the unborn child is the one to lame. The Inspector reacts sharply and he points out:

"That doesn't make it any less yours. She came to you for help at a time no woman could have needed it more. You not only refused it, but saw to it that other refused it too."

This shows behaviour of a cold blooded, vicious upper class woman. She uses her high position and she thinks she is mighty. Sybil hated Eva because of her using Sybil's name. She got rid of Eva. Sybil does have any concern towards Eva's situation. When Sybil was asked question from the Inspector, she seems to fight back and she did not feel any guilt about it. This shows also strong vicious character.

"I did nothing to I'm ashamed of… you have no power to make me change my mind" Mrs B

Eva has been rejected for help. She felt isolated and down. This was the last chain event that directs her to her suicide.

After the Inspector talked with Sybil. The Inspector finds that Eva (who claimed to be "Mrs Birling") told Sybil that her partner is giving out stolen money for her. She refused and the partner left her. By Act, Three everything was in chaos. The whole family was turning into a different leaf. It shocked everyone even more when Eric Birling told the family that he was dating Eva Smith. He tried to give stolen money for her. Eric also was angry with her mother for what happen to her in the charity organisation. The reason Eva claimed that she is one Mrs Birling is that she was pregnant. The father is Eric. Eric was in pieces.

(Nearly at breaking point)"Then-you killed her. She came to you to protect me"

This quote indicates Eric's anger.

The Inspector left the house in an awful mess. The Inspector seems to know the truth from the beginning and he wanted the people to tell the truth. The Inspector is an enigmatic figure without a first name. He nether changers nor develops throughout the play. He frequently states, 'I have not much'. He can be seen as a kind of spirit sent on behalf of the dead girl to torment consciences of the characters in the play.

He is single-minded in pursuing his line e of investigation and is certain of his facts. While present, no one challenges his version of events.

I find it fascinating by the way; the characters gradually change by confessing the truth and the changes from happy families and into a family from Jerry Springer. It is like a quote I rather remember from Macbeth:

"Be Th'innocent flower, and the serpent underneath"