Eric Flashcards
Ts1: Eric is constructed to reflect attitudes towards women in a patriarchal Edwardian society.
‘I was in that state where a chap easily turns nasty’
‘She treated me- as if I were a kid. Though I was nearly as old as she was’
Ts2: Eric had different attitudes towards workers rights, reflecting a generational divide between him and his parents.
‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’
‘You don’t understand anything. You never did’
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices’
Ts3: Eric changes as a character and learns to accept social responsibility towards others.
‘He was our police inspector all right’
‘The girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her’
‘You killed her- and… your own grandchild’
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices’
L= question D= later I, makes him question his fathers economic and political ideology. Contrast= comparative and superlative adj. Makes workers requests seem reasonable and capitalist businesses (like Mr B’s) seem exploitative of workers
‘I was in that state where a chap easily turns nasty’
C= Eric effectively rapes Daisy, showing the power men had over women, as well as the power the rich had over the poor and vulnerable. R= shocks MC audience and makes them even question their own behaviour.
‘She treated me- as if I were a kid’
L= noun ‘kid’. Eric is less mature than Daisy. C= Daisy had to grow up faster- less privileged WC life and no parents; had to fend for herself.
‘You killed her- and… your own grandchild’
L= emotive, accusatory language. Emphasises impact of Mr B’s actions- by making it personal to the Birlings Priestley illustrates how an action but Mrs B that she dismisses as unimportant can have huge, tragic consequences on others. We are responsible for each other.
‘The girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her’
Eric understands whether or not the Inspector was a hoax is irrelevant. He does not see to pass the blame for the girl’s death but accepts we share responsibility. R= audience feels he has atoned for his terrible treatment of Daisy by accepting it and trying to change and become a better, socially responsible person.
‘He was our police inspector all right’
L\i= he ‘interrogated’ them and made them confess. He was their MORAL inspector rather than a police inspector. They have all committed moral crimes against another innocent individual and Eric realises this.
‘You don’t understand anything.you never did’
Mrs B does not understand her son but she also refuses to understand the Inspector’s message that she is responsible for others which Eric does understand. R= creates sympathy for Eric. His own mother had never tried to understand him. He feels isolated and alone.C= nanny system
‘You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’
Illustrates divide between father and son personally as well as ideologically. R= feel sympathy for Eric. He has no one to turn to emotionally despite his privileged life. May explain his alcoholism.
Topic sentences
Ts1: reflects attitudes towards women
Ts2: different attitudes reflecting generational divide between him and his parents.
Ts3: changes and learns to accept social responsibility towards others.
