eric

Question 1

1 “He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out”

Answer 1

-usage of a short sentence highlights finality of argument - MB had the ability to help her + chose not to instead
-harsh use of vocab in “throwing her” shows difference in perspective between generations
-MB just viewed it as business as opposed to E who recognised the catastrophic ramifications of the actions

Question 2

1 “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices”

Answer 2

-rhetorical question shows how E is developing his “half assertive” side due to the introduction of socialism - now directly questioning his father
-questioning language highlights immortality of capitalist system
-alliteration on “possible prices” compounding how E has realised the exploitation that individuals like MB perpetuate in order to acquire wealth

Question 3

2 “He’s been steadily drinking too much for the last two years”

Answer 3

-S reveals E’s drinking problem highlighting hidden tensions within family
-“steadily drinking too much” - pattern of self-destructive behaviour
-hints at E’s deeper unhappiness + lack of support from parents
-priestley critiques upper-class family structure - S knows him better than parents

Question 4

3 “She wasn’t the usual sort” “I hate these fat old tarts”

Answer 4

-usage of “usual” implies visiting prostitutes was the norm
-hypocrisy as E frequently visited palace bar
-derogatory language defines women by physical features
-prostitution symbolic of exploitation of women by upper-class men

Question 5

3 “I threatened to make a row”

Answer 5

-euphemistic language - he’s essentially describing the assault but cannot bear to face that fact, instead calling it a “row”
-coercive imagery of “threatened” shows unjust power wielded by those in high society

Question 6

3 “And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her - and that’s what matters”

Answer 6

-E’s acceptance that he played a part in E’s death exposes a damning view of generation gap where the young accept their wrongs unlike the old
-collective pronoun “we” shares responsibility - reminiscent of inspector saying “we must share something”
-hyphens create pauses as E is repulsed + disgusted by his parents
-his anger consequently causing him to choke on his words