👦🏻 eric

Question 1

• eric
• highlights his upper-middle-class upbringing, from which he is used to having what he wants. He sleeps with Eva because she was good-looking. He would not treat a women in his own social class this way, but feels like he can with Eva because she is lower

Answer 1

‘I wasn’t in love with her or anything - But I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport.’

Question 2

• eric
• verbally attacks his mother
• pronoun ‘you’ to make sure she knows she causes her death and wants her to know that her actions have personal consequences for him and her

Answer 2

‘You killed her! […] your own grandchild - you killed them both - damn you.’

Question 3

• eric
• socially aware and socialist
• don’t share a close relationship with parents anymore as they have different personalities
• goes against social norms. openly contradicts his father in front of people - a serious faux pas (mistake/impolite)

Answer 3

‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’

Question 4

• eric
• birling is not the ideal guardian or head of a family as a father figure
• If sons cannot turn to such wealthy industrialists in times of trouble then how can society rely on such people.
• despite Birling having made money and won titles and important positions he is a failure as a father. Poor in emotional intelligence and communication skills. Perhaps the poor parenting from Birling contributed partially to the void that Eric might be feeling which he attempts to fill by alcohol and other things.

Answer 4

‘Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble – that’s why.’

Question 5

• eric
• represents cracks in the family
• uncomfortable, separated, shy and unsure around family whom he is supposed to be very close with

Answer 5

‘[Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive]

Question 6

• eric
• rage is such that he comes close to doing something to his own mother causing his father to warn him to ‘get back’
• Mrs Birling is clearly an ignorant woman with very limited life experience restricted primarily to socialising with the rich and having little understanding of the majority of British people at that time.
• she was far from a great parent who could not show understanding of Eric
• Eric has long-term deep rooted issues and grievances with his mother

Answer 6

‘You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried.’

Question 7

• eric
• first impression is slightly drunk
• alcohol problems which cause him to having sexual relations with Eva Smith and fathering a child with her
• being pregnant and feeling unable to provide for her future child contributed heavily to her depression and eventual suicide. Alcohol though in the context of these particular words of Eric can make you ‘laugh’, ultimately leads to tears and sadness overall in the end in this story.
• also shows his immaturity

Answer 7

‘I don’t know – really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh.’