Chain of Events
Year and month
What happens
September 1910
Eva sacked by Birling & Co.
December 1910
Eva employed by Milwards.
Late January 1911
Eva sacked by Milwards.
March 1911
Eva becomes Gerald's mistress.
Early September 1911
Gerald breaks off the affair
Eva leaves Brumley for two months.
November 1911
Eric meets Eva.
Dec 1911/Jan 1912
Eva finds she is pregnant.
Late March 1912
Mrs. Birling turns down Eva's
application for help.
Early April 1912
Eva's suicide/the Inspector calls
Eva Smith – a pretty, lively country girl, hard-working.
•Action:
Birling dismissed her from his factory.
•Motive:
As Eva was outspoken, he thought she was a
ring-leader in a strike for a pay rise. He is
more concerned with profit than people.
•Consequence:
Eva is out of work for two months and
facing hunger.
Eva finds work during the flu epidemic at Milwards Store.
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Action:

Motivation:

Consequence:
Eva finds work during the flu epidemic at Milwards
Store.

Action: Insisted a shop assistant was dismissed.

Motive: Temper and jealousy. The assistant

Consequence: Eva lost her job and couldn’t
had looked prettier in the dress,
and had smiled.
find another one.
Eva (now calling herself Rita Fenton)has no
means of support and is hungry. She goes to
the Palace Bar, a favourite haunt for prostitutes
and their clients.

Action:

Motive:

Consequence:
Eva (now calling herself Rita Fenton) has no means of
support and is hungry. She goes to the Palace Bar,
a favourite haunt for prostitutes and their clients.



Action: Fed her and found her a flat. Became
her lover.
Motive: Pity. Enjoyed being her ‘Fairy
Prince’.
Consequence: Temporary happiness.
Eva had to leave the flat (September). She goes
back to the Palace, although she is not the type
to solicit.

Action:

Motive:

Consequence:
Eva had to leave the flat (September). She goes back to the
Palace, although she is not the type to solicit.



Action: Took advantage of a girl weakened by
hunger. Kept her on stolen money until
she found out.
Motive: Drunkenness and a childish desire to emulate
the men around him.
Consequence: Pregnant, penniless and unable to get a
job.
Eva has lost the last vestiges of respect. She is penniless
and starving and seeks help from a local charity.

Action:

Motive:

Consequence:
Eva has lost the last vestiges of respect. She is
penniless and starving and seeks help from a local
charity.



Action: Refused charity to a pregnant girl.
Motive: Thought the girl was ‘impertinent’ for the
using the name ‘ Mrs Birling. Encouraged
others to refuse to give her help.
Consequence: Left without any hope or
respectability and facing starvation – suicide.