Eva Smith Case

In this essay I will examine each character in detail to establish if any of them are responsible for Eva Smith's death. I shall also consider Eva's part in her own downfall.

Inspector Goole had a way of making people think and do what he wanted. Although he didn't seem to get any extra information out of the other characters he soon made them realise that Eva Smith had died a horribly painful death and they had all contributed in making her want to end her life. He got them to tell each other their sins and secrets. All little things they did that didn't matter added up to one young girls suicide and the death of her unborn child.

"It's the way I like to... don't you, Mr Birling""

The inspector knew just how to talk to people, he had a way of manipulating them.

Arthur Birling was a business man, he was also a father and a husband. When problems began to arise at work he did what he thought was best for his company, his family and himself of course. A few of his workers were on strike so he fired some people and left the rest on their measly earnings of 22 shillings and 6 pence. Mr Birling knew that his workers could not afford to strike for long. Eva Smith was one of the leaders during the strike. She was determined to get a rise so she could afford to survive. Mr Birling noticed Eva boosting the spirit of his workers and convincing them to strike so he fired her, as any other business owner living in a big house would have done. (in those days)

"We let them all come back... She had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go!"

Basically a woman had stood up to him and he didn't like it; so he fired her, not thinking about the consequences and the effect it would have on her life. Mr Birling made Eva homeless and penniless with no job and no family to go to for help.

Sheila Birling was extremely naïve for a 20year old, although in that time it was perfectly normal for a girl of her age in her class to be naïve and do as "mother" and "father" say. After all most of the population was religious and the bible does say "Thy shall respect thy mother and thy father" Sheila's part in Eva's death was getting her fired from an upper class department store in town, once again Eva was left without money causing her to become homeless again.

"I went to the manager at Milwards... close our account with them."

Sheila went shopping to cheer herself up by purchasing a new dress. Eva was helping her try on and pick out clothes during the process Eva held a dress up to herself as if she was wearing it as an example. Sheila saw that the dress suited Eva and instantly got jealous because of how good it looked on Eva and how bad it looked on her. Being the immature young lady that she was she complained to the manager until she got her own way and Eva was fired, like her father Sheila did not think what effect this would have on poor Eva who was once again homeless and penniless with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

Gerald Croft was Sheila Birlngs future husband, well he was until Sheila found what he had been up to that summer instead of being with her. Gerald met Eva in the palace bar, a fat old man was "after her" and he stepped in to help, they spoke for a while in which time Gerald had