Eric Flashcards
What is Eric like at the start of the play?
Alcoholic, overlooked, neglected, a disappointment, naive, ignorant, puerile, juvenile, callow, privileged
What is Eric like in the middle of the play?
Impulsive, avoidant, non-confrontational, corrupt, immoral, lustful, licentious
What is Eric like at the end of they play?
Regretful, remorseful
Purpose and function
Demonstrates patriarchal society
Sexual exploitation
Upper class corruption and hypocrisy
Priestly uses Eric as a symbol of redemption no matter the atrocities committed in the past, he has the capacity to change and improve
“early twenties not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”
Demonstrates his naivety
‘shy’ juxtaposes with ‘assertive’
The contrast displays the inner turmoil Eric is experiencing as he is not ‘at ease’
“why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?”
“you said yourself she was a good worker”
Acknowledges upper-class internal corruption and hypocrisy Eric is able to empathise with the lower classes and can recognise the need for better workplace rights and the need for ridding exploiting labourers
“(Involuntarily) My God!”
Emotional response to the news of Eva’s death demonstrates his innate rectitude (morality)
Adverb ‘Involuntarily’ shows moral nature of Eric - he could not surprise his emotional reaction
This is significant as Eric would not choose to reveal his emotions within a patriarchal society which condemn feminine traits such as excess emotion
“in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
demonstrates Eric’s attempt to distance himself from his actions by switching from first person to third - refers to himself as a ‘chap’
Eric’s trivialisation of such violence through the colloquial use of ‘a chap’ is an attempt to soften the abhorrent nature of his action
“you killed her - and the child… your own grandchild”
Priestly encourages the audience to sympathise with Eric
by placing blame on his mother he attempts to absolve himself from any blame - causes him to be perceived as similar to the older generation as he is avoiding responsibility
