EDNA IN 'AN INSPECTOR CALLS'' SYMBOLISM OF EVA SMITH
Priestley explores the theme of class mainly through Eva In An Inspector Calls, Eva is the most noteable symbol of working class individuals. She goes
Smith, a working class (or perhaps even lower class when through various phases of the class system: she is a factory worker, a sales assistant, a
she loses her job) woman, but also through Edna, the mistress and a future single mother (effectively
Birling's maid. Priestley purposely makes Edna a T H E M E A N A L Y S I S moving from working class to lower class). Quite
CLASS
forgettable character who forms a miniscule part of the fittingly, her story is told from the lens of the upper
action. Her lines include 'sir' and 'ma'am'. She is a class, as Eva Smith never appears in front of the
character devoid of any meaningful development, which audience, which leaves her reliant on the Inspector to
is a deliberate attempt by Priestley to exhibit how the correct the narrative around working class
working class have no prevailing identity or true purpose beyond surving the upper class. It individuals. The likes of Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and
is ironic that the Inspector says later in the play that 'millions of Eva Smith's' that suffer at Sheila Birling would lead the audience to believe that
the hands of the upper class, as Edna is one of these millions that we are immediately working class women like Eva were rowdy disruptions
introduced to. Despite meeting Edna early in the play, the audience likely innocently ignores and liars who you must 'come down sharply' (Mr
Edna completely, as she has no real voice and is subservient to the upper class. Birling) upon. However, it later becomes clear to the
audience that like many working class individuals, Eva
NOTEABLE MOMENTS Smith just wanted fair pay and good working
A moment pertaining to class that is noteable is when Gerald reveals that Joe Meggarty, 'an conditions. Not only does the adverb 'sharply'
'Alderman' (otherwise referred to as a council member) is 'notorious womaniser' and a 'sot' (a highlight the lack of sympathy of the upper class, it
drunk). It is ironic how an upper class friend being a womaniser and a drunk is so unfathomable to also highlights their privilege as they are able to sack
the Birling's, despite the fact that Gerald himself is a womaniser, and Eric himself is a drunk. Mrs individuals and never give it a second thought,
Birling's rejection of Eva when she approaches her charity is another regrettable yet noteable returning to their comfortable lives. This reveals how
moment, as Mrs Birling remarks 'as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money', dehumanising the upper class in 1912 were truly left in disdain and
working class woman by dismissing her as a 'girl of that sort', not even assigning her any personal were gravely insulted when lower class people tried
pronouns or a name. She views working class women as greedy for money, which is ironic given she to narrow the class divide by demanding fair
is the chairwomen of a charity, specifically designed to help women like Eva. treatment.
Priestley explores the theme of class mainly through Eva In An Inspector Calls, Eva is the most noteable symbol of working class individuals. She goes
Smith, a working class (or perhaps even lower class when through various phases of the class system: she is a factory worker, a sales assistant, a
she loses her job) woman, but also through Edna, the mistress and a future single mother (effectively
Birling's maid. Priestley purposely makes Edna a T H E M E A N A L Y S I S moving from working class to lower class). Quite
CLASS
forgettable character who forms a miniscule part of the fittingly, her story is told from the lens of the upper
action. Her lines include 'sir' and 'ma'am'. She is a class, as Eva Smith never appears in front of the
character devoid of any meaningful development, which audience, which leaves her reliant on the Inspector to
is a deliberate attempt by Priestley to exhibit how the correct the narrative around working class
working class have no prevailing identity or true purpose beyond surving the upper class. It individuals. The likes of Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and
is ironic that the Inspector says later in the play that 'millions of Eva Smith's' that suffer at Sheila Birling would lead the audience to believe that
the hands of the upper class, as Edna is one of these millions that we are immediately working class women like Eva were rowdy disruptions
introduced to. Despite meeting Edna early in the play, the audience likely innocently ignores and liars who you must 'come down sharply' (Mr
Edna completely, as she has no real voice and is subservient to the upper class. Birling) upon. However, it later becomes clear to the
audience that like many working class individuals, Eva
NOTEABLE MOMENTS Smith just wanted fair pay and good working
A moment pertaining to class that is noteable is when Gerald reveals that Joe Meggarty, 'an conditions. Not only does the adverb 'sharply'
'Alderman' (otherwise referred to as a council member) is 'notorious womaniser' and a 'sot' (a highlight the lack of sympathy of the upper class, it
drunk). It is ironic how an upper class friend being a womaniser and a drunk is so unfathomable to also highlights their privilege as they are able to sack
the Birling's, despite the fact that Gerald himself is a womaniser, and Eric himself is a drunk. Mrs individuals and never give it a second thought,
Birling's rejection of Eva when she approaches her charity is another regrettable yet noteable returning to their comfortable lives. This reveals how
moment, as Mrs Birling remarks 'as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money', dehumanising the upper class in 1912 were truly left in disdain and
working class woman by dismissing her as a 'girl of that sort', not even assigning her any personal were gravely insulted when lower class people tried
pronouns or a name. She views working class women as greedy for money, which is ironic given she to narrow the class divide by demanding fair
is the chairwomen of a charity, specifically designed to help women like Eva. treatment.
