Who is to blame for the death of Eva Smith?
Although police records will always record the death of Eva Smith as suicide the story of what lead her to this act is much more complex with various characters from 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestly playing there part in her attitude to life and her want to end it.
Firstly, there is Mr. Birling, an affluent man in his middle fifties. Eva Smith worked for him before he sacked her for asking for a pay rise the inspector was not prepared to pay. For this reason the inspector fells that that he may be responsible, if only in part, for the death of Eva Smith. Birling is understandably annoyed by such allegations from the inspector as he explains he dismissed her nearly two years ago, but as the inspector explains, 'what happened to her may have determined what happened afterwards (and this) may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events.' Birling admits this may be possible but at no stage does he accept even a small amount of responsibility, at the end of the play when they realise they have all be tricked the whole experience has taught him nothing and he is simply happy that the family name will not go into disrepute.
Although police records will always record the death of Eva Smith as suicide the story of what lead her to this act is much more complex with various characters from 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestly playing there part in her attitude to life and her want to end it.
Firstly, there is Mr. Birling, an affluent man in his middle fifties. Eva Smith worked for him before he sacked her for asking for a pay rise the inspector was not prepared to pay. For this reason the inspector fells that that he may be responsible, if only in part, for the death of Eva Smith. Birling is understandably annoyed by such allegations from the inspector as he explains he dismissed her nearly two years ago, but as the inspector explains, 'what happened to her may have determined what happened afterwards (and this) may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events.' Birling admits this may be possible but at no stage does he accept even a small amount of responsibility, at the end of the play when they realise they have all be tricked the whole experience has taught him nothing and he is simply happy that the family name will not go into disrepute.