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An Inspector Calls

Who do you think is the most responsible for Eva/Daisy's death?

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grace143
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Original post by *Alisha*
Who do you think is the most responsible for Eva/Daisy's death?


I think Eric, because I reckon making her pregnant - without being married, and being of a lower class - in those days would have added an enormous feeling of distress and hopelessness for Eva. Eric was the last to affect Eva before Mrs Birling, but Mrs Birling's charity money - even if she had given it - would have been short-term and I don't think this would have prevented Eva's eventual death

What do you think??
Mrs Birling, she neglected her 'Noblesse Oblige' ('duty obligates') as an upper class wealthy woman to help the lower classes. Her use of the Brumley Women's charity as a false pretence to appear charitable and refusing directly point blank to help Eva to her face is truly cowardly and a disgusting act. All of the other characters also faulted Eva in some way, but Mrs Birling had a chance to turn Eva's life around, but refused because of her "silly airs" for "girls of that class" (using the Birling name).


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Original post by *Alisha*
Who do you think is the most responsible for Eva/Daisy's death?


Mr and Mrs Birling, both of them do not even feel guilty for what they have done, and first of all Mr Birling was the one who decided to fire her in the first place which lead to all of this mess in her life in the first place, had he had not done that then maybe Eva/Daisy would have been alive.

Mrs Birling as if she wanted she could have stopped Eva/Daisy and actually support her instead she didnt and turned her away and she was the last person to see Eva, and so who knows maybe she was also to blame.
Original post by grace143
I think Eric, because I reckon making her pregnant - without being married, and being of a lower class - in those days would have added an enormous feeling of distress and hopelessness for Eva. Eric was the last to affect Eva before Mrs Birling, but Mrs Birling's charity money - even if she had given it - would have been short-term and I don't think this would have prevented Eva's eventual death

What do you think??


I agree, however, I think that Mrs Birling is most responsible as she works in a charity organisation and didn't want to succour her in times where she was struggling. Also, her class prejudices make her less willing to help her. She says that she only helps the ''deserving'' which could be used to distinguish between the poor who physically can't help themselves and the undeserving who shouldn't be helped.
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by *Alisha*
Who do you think is the most responsible for Eva/Daisy's death?


all have an equal role
LOLOL LAST MINUTE ENGLISH REVISION

But I think Mrs.Birling, I mean a mother to a mother, a woman to a woman, a woman in need came to you and you declined her. That would take a lot of selfishness to do that tbh. She was Eva's last resort man
Original post by x-bhakti-patel
Mr and Mrs Birling, both of them do not even feel guilty for what they have done, and first of all Mr Birling was the one who decided to fire her in the first place which lead to all of this mess in her life in the first place, had he had not done that then maybe Eva/Daisy would have been alive.

Mrs Birling as if she wanted she could have stopped Eva/Daisy and actually support her instead she didnt and turned her away and she was the last person to see Eva, and so who knows maybe she was also to blame.


Yes, Mr Birling fired her without thinking about what this could lead to. Mrs Birling conceded that she was prejudiced against her. Her negative thoughts about class may have led her to not assist Eva in her difficulties. She uses the power she has to turn her away.
Original post by Mrs.Grey
LOLOL LAST MINUTE ENGLISH REVISION

But I think Mrs.Birling, I mean a mother to a mother, a woman to a woman, a woman in need came to you and you declined her. That would take a lot of selfishness to do that tbh. She was Eva's last resort man


I agree, btw I'm in year 10 revising for my mocks lol.
I don't even think Eva was a real person. In my opinion the play was written to highlight the behaviours of different people in the upper class. The audience at the time would have been able to relate to the celebration in Act One and then understand their mutual mistakes in the rest of the play. They're all responsible for the 'million of Eva Smiths' deaths:smile:
Original post by Arvin Bhambra
all have an equal role


You could make a very interesting and high level essay point if you discussed whether they have an equal role or not. You could say that Priestley's message of socialism and collective responsibility could suggest that the characters should share the responsibility equally if they had equal roles. Or you could play the younger vs. older generation idea and say that as both Sheila and Eric feel remorse for their actions, they play a slightly lower role than that of the indignant older generation!


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Original post by *Alisha*
I agree, btw I'm in year 10 revising for my mocks lol.


Same lmao.
Original post by *Alisha*
Yes, Mr Birling fired her without thinking about what this could lead to. Mrs Birling conceded that she was prejudiced against her. Her negative thoughts about class may have led her to not assist Eva in her difficulties. She uses the power she has to turn her away.


yes thats absolutely right and spot on :smile:
Original post by ElaArslan
I don't even think Eva was a real person. In my opinion the play was written to highlight the behaviours of different people in the upper class. The audience at the time would have been able to relate to the celebration in Act One and then understand their mutual mistakes in the rest of the play. They're all responsible for the 'million of Eva Smiths' deaths:smile:


You could discuss this by possibly suggesting that AIC has a slight Machiavellian feel to its plot. The inspector could have had a girl killed "for the greater good" to prove a moral point about the need for collective responsibility and a societal shift toward socialism.

In a slightly unrelated point, Priestley was fascinated by 'Dunne's Theory of Time' which suggested that the past was still present and that time was not as linear as accounts suggest. AIC explicitly deals with the nature of time as part of its plot. The dramatic irony and coincidental timings followed by the dreaded phone call at the end of Act 3...

Coming from a year 11 that sat this exam last week!!
(edited 7 years ago)
Original post by ElaArslan
I don't even think Eva was a real person. In my opinion the play was written to highlight the behaviours of different people in the upper class. The audience at the time would have been able to relate to the celebration in Act One and then understand their mutual mistakes in the rest of the play. They're all responsible for the 'million of Eva Smiths' deaths:smile:


Priestley wrote an Inspector Calls to challenge his audience to think about how many more disasters lay ahead for them if they didn't learn from past mistakes
Original post by Mrs.Grey
Same lmao.


Are you the girl that made a thread about whether the hijab looks pretty or not?
Original post by x-bhakti-patel
yes thats absolutely right and spot on :smile:


Thanks, have you done your English Literature exam?
Original post by Mrs.Grey
LOLOL LAST MINUTE ENGLISH REVISION

But I think Mrs.Birling, I mean a mother to a mother, a woman to a woman, a woman in need came to you and you declined her. That would take a lot of selfishness to do that tbh. She was Eva's last resort man


Yeah lol, but she didn't know Eva was her daughter in law.
Original post by *Alisha*
Priestley wrote an Inspector Calls to challenge his audience to think about how many more disasters lay ahead for them if they didn't learn from past mistakes


Yes exactly, so it doesn't really matter if Eva was real or not cause it's what used to happen in every day life during the 20th century
Original post by ElaArslan
Yes exactly, so it doesn't really matter if Eva was real or not cause it's what used to happen in every day life during the 20th century


Yes, I think Eva and The Inspector were not real. I think The Inspector was there to convey Priestley's views of social responsibility and socialism.

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