Eva Smith

Question 1

Name significance Eva/Daisy

Answer 1

• Eva ironically means ‘life’ and ties to the biblical Eve, on whom blame for sin was laid.
• smith is a common surname to denote how she represents the working class.
• daisy could symbolism her charm, beauty or frail vulnerability
• Renton could point to a ‘rent’ in the fabric of society, or how she was forced to ‘rent’ her body in order to survive - signifying a ‘deflowering’ of her innocence

Question 2

Significance of her absence

Answer 2

• draws the audiences attention to her powerlessness, specifically through her not having a voice of her own - symbolic of the plight faced by working men and women in the Edwardian period. Inspector uses the diary and photographs to enhance the faint traces of her identity to increase her sense of ephemeral vulnerability.

Question 4

In what ways is Eva inspirational

Answer 4

Even though she is exploited and treated poorly she is brave, resilient and resourceful. She strikes for improved pay, finds a new job, tries to fend for herself, hopes to find someone to support her before going to a charity, she even refuses stolen money which highlights her moral innocence.

Question 5

Quotes on Eva

Answer 5

• “she was a lively, good-looking girl - country beed, I fancy.” B
• “She’d a lot so say - far too much - so she had to go” B
• “both her parents were dead, so that she’d have no home to go back to” I
• “she was very pretty, and looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her” S
• “she was very pretty - soft brown hair, big dark eyes” G
• “she gave me a glance that was nothing more than a cry for help” G
• “You turned her away when she most needed help” I to Mrs B
• “there are millions and milions of Eva smiths and John smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears”