J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls - Eva Smiths Diary Essay

I've just got back from my summer vacation. It was lovely. I'm really looking forward to going again next year. Life's looking up at the moment. It's great! Just one problem though, the money I'm receiving at the factory. I've spoken to quite a few other girls on vacation and they earn much more than twenty-two and six. I'll speak to Mr. Birling tomorrow to ask him about raising it to 25 shillings a week. I don't see why not myself. I'm a good worker and have been in the factory over a year. We'll just have to see what he says. 12th September 1910 That's it! I'm not taking any more. A few other girls and me, who are sick of the terrible money, are going on strike. He'll have to raise our weekly wage then won't he; well if he doesn't I'm not carrying on working for him. He's a mean man, and only cares for himself, wants all the money. It's not very often I get annoyed I don't like to call people and say nasty things about them, but I really have had enough today. This man has really angered me. I'm an excellent, hard, pleasant worker. How dare he have the cheek to say no! I told his this afternoon for the 6th time in the past 2 days, that because I was being promoted to leading operator I would at least expect a pay rise. His reply was the same, that it was his duty to keep labour costs down. His exact answer if I remember was; "I've told you again and again Eva, every time you've asked me. It's my duty to keep labour costs down. I don't know why the hell you waste your time bothering me when you could be working - earning good money for my factor. The answers a straight no, so get out of my office girl. Get back to your bleeding work." What a lovely charming man Mr. Birling is, oh great is he. ... ...ll because of no food, no roof above their head. I don't want that. I don't want my child not having the advantages that other children have; that other children take advantage of. Waking up everyday with a roof above their head, breakfast on the table for them, loving parents that are there for them when they need help or are feeling down. Everyone takes advantage of everything they own, even their lives. They don't realize it until they've lost those things they love and care about though. Then it will suddenly hit them like a ton of bricks. People should learn to love what they have, but me, I can't go on any longer trying to be happy for what I have. I don't have anything, so I can't try to be happy. I've tried too many times, and now - I'm giving up trying. I'm weak and so far I've lost everything apart from my life. Which soon I will also be loosing.