How does Priestley use Eva Smith to explore ideas about injustice in An Inspector Calls?
Priestley uses Eva Smith to explore ideas about injustice in An Inspector Calls through the
Birlings exploitation of Eva, in order to highlight the consequences which occur as a result of the
Birling’s lack of justice and care which could serve as a warning of the irreparable effects
capitalism inflicts in order to street the audience towards socialism.
Priestley first portrays this injustice by characterising Mr Birling as entitled through his
justification of firing Eva ‘ she had too much to say’. The emphasis of ‘too’ highlights the
capitalist ideology possessed by Mr Birling by suggesting the lower class cannot have a say in
society due to being inferior to the upper class, this idea essentially foregrounds the entitlement
the upper class feels and this leads towards the silencing of the lower class in which Mr Birling
does. This silencing could be done to diminish any voice the lower class may have which could
potentially overthrow the hierarchy and welcome the introduction of equality which is mirrored
through Eva’s tragic death as she swallows bleach in order to escape the exploitation and
injustice she is faced with. The bleach has a close link to Mr Birling’s silencing of Eva, as bleach
is known to be harsh and stripping of bacteria which could suggest Priestley used the bleach as
Eva’s way of death as the bacteria could be her embodying socialism and this bacteria is quickly
killed by bleach that removes any impurity in which capitalists consider to be socialism. Not only
did this way of death silence her figuratively, but it also silenced her physically as the bleach is
corrosive and completely rid her of her voice, which could link to the lack of voice she has in
society due to her class which highlights the injustice in An Inspector Calls, as Eva is hidden
and ignored in society with a lack of authority she is unable to obtain due to the inferiority she
possesses towards the upper class. The silence of the lower class can also be seen through the
maid of the Birlings, due to her lack of dialogue , which only further foregrounds the injustice
towards the lower class as despite being able to talk to the Birlings, these do not consist of
conversations and she is quickly dismissed which indicates the power dynamic that is
established that allows the Birlings to control how much she vocalizes.
In order to make the audience more susceptible towards socialism, Priestley emphasises the
injustice through Mrs Birling who ‘used my power to deny her’. This portrays Mrs Birling as
inherently selfish and evil, as the phrase ‘my power’ with the use of the personal pronoun ‘my’
suggests she is well aware of the influence she has and is adamant on using this power and
influence for the greater good which highlights the upper class’s greed and lack of compassion
for those suffering as it presents the self centered tendencies of the upper class who are able to
dismiss their immoral actions through their influence and money which has been used to silence
and deny those inferior to them by any means. Mrs Birling’s denial of help for Eva creates a
sense of irony as Eva approached Mrs Birling for help through the Brumley Women’s Charity
Organisation in which is organised to help women in need, this not only highlights the idea that
Mrs Birling joined to portray herself as selfless and good, but also foregrounds Priestley’s dislike
towards capitalism as the charity loses its value and meaning due to being run by someone as
corrupt and selfish as Mrs Birling.
Priestley uses Eva Smith to explore ideas about injustice in An Inspector Calls through the
Birlings exploitation of Eva, in order to highlight the consequences which occur as a result of the
Birling’s lack of justice and care which could serve as a warning of the irreparable effects
capitalism inflicts in order to street the audience towards socialism.
Priestley first portrays this injustice by characterising Mr Birling as entitled through his
justification of firing Eva ‘ she had too much to say’. The emphasis of ‘too’ highlights the
capitalist ideology possessed by Mr Birling by suggesting the lower class cannot have a say in
society due to being inferior to the upper class, this idea essentially foregrounds the entitlement
the upper class feels and this leads towards the silencing of the lower class in which Mr Birling
does. This silencing could be done to diminish any voice the lower class may have which could
potentially overthrow the hierarchy and welcome the introduction of equality which is mirrored
through Eva’s tragic death as she swallows bleach in order to escape the exploitation and
injustice she is faced with. The bleach has a close link to Mr Birling’s silencing of Eva, as bleach
is known to be harsh and stripping of bacteria which could suggest Priestley used the bleach as
Eva’s way of death as the bacteria could be her embodying socialism and this bacteria is quickly
killed by bleach that removes any impurity in which capitalists consider to be socialism. Not only
did this way of death silence her figuratively, but it also silenced her physically as the bleach is
corrosive and completely rid her of her voice, which could link to the lack of voice she has in
society due to her class which highlights the injustice in An Inspector Calls, as Eva is hidden
and ignored in society with a lack of authority she is unable to obtain due to the inferiority she
possesses towards the upper class. The silence of the lower class can also be seen through the
maid of the Birlings, due to her lack of dialogue , which only further foregrounds the injustice
towards the lower class as despite being able to talk to the Birlings, these do not consist of
conversations and she is quickly dismissed which indicates the power dynamic that is
established that allows the Birlings to control how much she vocalizes.
In order to make the audience more susceptible towards socialism, Priestley emphasises the
injustice through Mrs Birling who ‘used my power to deny her’. This portrays Mrs Birling as
inherently selfish and evil, as the phrase ‘my power’ with the use of the personal pronoun ‘my’
suggests she is well aware of the influence she has and is adamant on using this power and
influence for the greater good which highlights the upper class’s greed and lack of compassion
for those suffering as it presents the self centered tendencies of the upper class who are able to
dismiss their immoral actions through their influence and money which has been used to silence
and deny those inferior to them by any means. Mrs Birling’s denial of help for Eva creates a
sense of irony as Eva approached Mrs Birling for help through the Brumley Women’s Charity
Organisation in which is organised to help women in need, this not only highlights the idea that
Mrs Birling joined to portray herself as selfless and good, but also foregrounds Priestley’s dislike
towards capitalism as the charity loses its value and meaning due to being run by someone as
corrupt and selfish as Mrs Birling.
