Eric Flashcards
Innately moral
able to make distinctions between right and wrong presented in a favourable fashion
Emotional response to Eva’s death shows he was morals through stage directions ‘[involuntary] My God!’, couldn’t suppress emotional reaction
He wouldn’t choose to reveal his emotions in patriarchal society which condemns feminine traits
Shows how emotion is a human trait thus necessary for society to improve
Contrasts mr bs reaction ‘yes yes. Horrible business’ and sd ‘rather impatiently’ very dismissive
Socialist views
Condemns father’s capitalist views of his workers and challenges this ‘why shouldn’t they try for higher wages’ able to empathise with working class and the need of ridding society of exploiting labourers
Eric is morally superior from other characters separating them, audience should align themselves with him
Aware of hypocrisy and corruption
Upper class internal hypocrisy and corruption is acknowledged by him
Initially sees mr bs hypocrisy in the determination of wanting to achieve ‘lower costs and higher prices’ yet denying Eva and her workers a higher wage, ‘why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’ as ‘We try for the highest prices’ realises there’s no meritocracy and that a good worker doesn’t constitute better treatment and that capitalism exists fundamentally to exploit workers and create profit. Mr b is hypocritical for hiding views from the inspector ‘[laughs bitterly] I didn’t notice that you told him it’s very man for himself’ laughs bitterly because he realises mr bs hypocrisy yet there’s no humour to be found in morales capitalism which mr b abides by
Anyone is capable of immorality
Originally portrayed as someone with a moral compass disproves of mr bs individualists business rhetoric. Revelation of Eric’s rape Eva shows anyone’s capable of sin
His alcoholism could be a symbol towards the distress his family puts on him due to their hypocrisy and materialism
Even Eva who is the exemplar of morality is forced to do immoral prostitution out of desperation
‘Half shy half assertive’
Foreshadows his alcoholism, behaving uncomfortably
‘Shy’ ‘assertive’ opposite characteristics suggest he’s a complicated and troubled character who carries two identities
‘You’re not the type of father a chap would go to when he’s in trouble’
Shows his anger with his fathers sheer obsession with money compared to his family’s well being
Personal shows their relationship
Shows how he’s an emotional character
Could make him look weak as he’s too dependent on his parents
