An Inspecor Calls - Eric Flashcards
STAGE DIRECTION “Half-shy, half-assertive”
Foreshadowing Eric’s drinking problem, behaving uncomfortably. “Shy” and “assertive” are very opposite characteristics; suggesting he Is quite a complicated and troubled character who carries two identities. at the beginning, this may confuse and audience as to what type of character Eric is.
There is also this idea that Eric is seen as a very unauthoritive, naive and shy character to his parents, but we soon find out that what happened between him and eva smith shows that he can also be authoritative (in a negative way) when he drinks, foreshadowing the discoveries that will be made later on in the play.
‘I don’t even remember-that’s the hellish thing”
“hellish” religious connotations, By the choice of language we know that Eric has realised he has done something awful, something so bad he now believes him (and maybe his family) are destined for hell; showing the audience he is disgraced by his own actions.
His vagueness in his description, “I don’t even remember” could be due to the fact his recollection of the effect was affected by him drinking, or could be the fact that he cannot actually bring himself to describe to his parents what he has done because he is so ashamed, hosing remorse and regret for his actions.
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages”
Quote from when his father is being interrogated: he is sticking up for the lower class VERY early on in the pay, showing his potential to change and become a socialist from the beginning. he challenges his own father, creating tension and shows that their relationship isn’t the best.
Foreshadows the fact that Eric becomes a socialist at the end of the play, from this quote the audience may feel more respect for Eric as at this point he is the only member of the family to even attempt to stick up for the lower class.
Very similar to Priestley’s views, so is seen as an “echo” of his voice and morals.
“You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”
Very personal, showing that the relationship between Eric and his parents is not very good.
Could be that Eric is angry due to his fathers sheer obsession with money and his business that the has no time for Eric or to invest in Eric’s feelings and emotions, which we know is true seeing as Mr and Mrs Birling had no idea about Eric drinking problem.
Shows Eric as quite an emotional character. The audience may be sympathetic for Eric as we can see his is a good character who is taking responsibility for his actions, and is revealing that his relationship with his father is not very strong so an audience may feel sorry for him. Some audience members may believe that this makes Eric look like a weak character, who is too dependent on his parents.
Reinforcing this, Mr Birling follows this quote with “you’ve been spoiled” showing that their relationship is in a very bad state, so much so that Mr Birling is jealous of his sons situation and how he hasn’t had to earn the money he has access to or climb the social ladder, his parents did it for him, and he inherited it.
“She was a good sport”
Very patronising of the lower class, by describing her as a “sport” it makes the quote more shocking as the definition or connotations of sport is a hobby or something you do to pass the time.
When relating that to what he did to Eva, this is very insulting, and shows how Eric felt it was okay to use her at the time; and make it seem as if she was a “hobby”, almost objectifying her.
“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
By saying “state” Eric is implying that he feels the way he acted was completely wrong, and we wouldn’t really use the word “state” positively. this also implies by the word “state” he means that he had been drinking.
He is also saying that he realises he turns nasty when he has been drinking, and Eva had to witness and endure that; so he is looking back on his actions with regret and remorse. he is recognising his unacceptable attitude towards Eva smith that he had when he was drunk.
