In this deck, we will analyse the most important character in 'An Inspector Calls' who never actually appears on stage: Eva Smith. We will explore why J.B. Priestley chose to keep her silent and unseen, and what she comes to represent. By the end, you will understand how her story is used to explore the play's key themes of social responsibility, class, and gender.

One of Priestley's most powerful dramatic choices is that the audience never sees or hears from Eva Smith. She exists only in the memories and confessions of the other characters. This is crucial for your analysis. By keeping her off-stage, Priestley turns her from a specific individual into a powerful symbol. She becomes a blank canvas onto which the Birlings and Gerald project their guilt, and she comes to represent all the voiceless and exploited members of the working class.

Eva Smith functions as a symbol for the entire working class. Each stage of her tragic story, from being fired by Mr Birling for asking for a fair wage, to being exploited by Gerald and Eric, demonstrates how the actions of the wealthy and powerful have devastating consequences for the poor. The Inspector's famous line about a 'chain of events' shows that each character's selfish action contributed to her death, highlighting Priestley's central message about social responsibility.