Eric Flashcards
Highlights flaws of parents
Pressley portrayed the character of Eric Moore, sympathetically in order to highlight morals of laws of Mr and Mrs bailing. Erics growth as a character over the place, juxtapose by the obstinacy and reluctance of the older birlongs to change.
“Half shy half assertive”
“Not quite at easel
Unable to accept his fathers behaviour, but not at ease with his own as well . Eric notices his fathers unscrupulous and inhumane treatment of those perceived as lower class, but he lacks conviction to action these feelings.
Priestley illustrates how he views the younger generation. He is far from the self indulgent character His father is. Before find it harder to assimilate into the house after coming off as awkward. However, he accepts wrongdoing and embraces the socialist ideology and becomes more compelling
Shows compassion
they show signs of compassion towards the lower classes.“(involuntarily) My God!” the exclamative sentence demonstrates Eric’s shock and horror at the suicide. contrasts the response of Mr. and Mrs. Birling and the younger generation in the Edwardian era had more empathy.
adverb “involuntarily” in the stage directions indicates that this is Eric’s natural and honest response to the news and not a pretence
that he is putting on to impress the inspector. genuinely upset.
people were raised to believe that people in the different classes were almost genetically different like different species of animal. s and e are far more open minded than their parents. can accept socialist ideas more easily.
Priestley is perhaps trying to encourage his audience in 1945 to believe that the future of Britain can be fairer and kinder than it was in the Edwardian era because the younger generation are now the ones in charge and they are different to the previous generation.
Responsible
Eric ignores the celebrations of the older generation and says, “We all helped kill her.” Here the use of the pronoun “we” is striking because it shows that Eric has understood the importance of collective responsibility. Rather than trying to blame others or escape blame himself, he accepts that they all played a role in Eva Smith’s death. Stage direction shouting highlights a stark change from timid eric.
“ I did what I did.. and the rest of you did what you did to her”
Personal pronoun issues, personal accountability and responsibility of Eric, taking for his actions. The direct address of you highlights how Erica’s directly shaming his oblivious parents for their disregard of responsibility.
gives the audience hope that the future of Britain can be more responsible than it was in the past. Many watching 1945 would have been of the same generation as Eric and Sheila so might have been encouraged to reflect on their own treatment of the poor. Ultimately, Priestley uses the younger characters to convey the idea that Britain can be a better place than it was in the Edwardian era.n
Misogynistic
Press the highlights Erics treatment of Eva as a microcosm of the wider, goings-on in society to try, and demonstrate the hardships that women face the hands of a privileged man
“ she was in the usual sort”
Usage of usual implies that visiting prostitutes what is the normal highlighting the exploitation of women. Sentiment faded by how Eva is portrayed as innocent, and as a result, Eric felt that he could exploit this fact.
Eric: “ she was a good sport”
Eric values, the fact that she was passive and willing to go along with his demands reference the sport suggest that he sees her as a form of entertainment, rather than a person to be treated with respect.
Distant relationships
In the Edwardian era, Britain was divided by a strict class hierarchy and climbing the ladder was a preoccupation for many middle- and upper-class people.
neglected his responsibility as a father to Eric says, “you’re not the kind of father a chap can go to when he’s in trouble.” dialogue highlights the lack of trust and love in their relationship and that Eric’s troubles might have been avoided if Birling was a more responsible father.
Priestley juxtaposes Mr Burling’s grandiose wealth, and success with failing family life in order to draw attention to the self-serving flaws of the capitalist mindset, and to demonstrate to the audience that money is no substitute for familial happiness.
Despite Mrs and Mr bearings best problems like alcoholism and irresponsibility, plague all levels of society
Oppsosed to capitalism
“ why shouldn’t they try for the highest possible wages? we try for the highest possible prices”
Rhetorical question - developing his half assertive side to the introduction of socialism . As if he is directly, questioning his father and not seeking to hear his ignorant point of view. The alliteration possible prices compounds, how Erica is realise the exploitation of individuals like his father perpetrator get more wealth.
“ you said yourself, she was a good worker”
Eric Fields, people should be rewarded for their hard work. Direct address, you highlights how Eric is directly critiquing his Father’s Day humanising treatment of his workers. He is also combating his fathers S logic with a new fairest socialist reasoning.
“(Laughing) oh for God sake why does it matter whether they give you your night or not you work for nothing”
Stage direction, highlights of stupidity of this mindset . Juxtaposition with Erics despair with Mr Birling’s fixation on money. Double meaning of nothing not only will he work for new money he will have no motivation to work after Eva’s death.
