Eric Birling Flashcards
Introduction
Illustrates how people can change and take responsibility for their actions, he committed the rape of Eva Smith and stole money from his father. when he discovered his mother turned Eva away from the charity leading her to committing suicide, and he becomes angry saying ‘you killed her’. Demonstrating that despite his initial brutishness towards Eva he does have a tender side and does care for her. By the end of the play the inspectors influence has moved him to stand on the side of socialism creating another mouthpiece of Priestley’s views.
Beginning
At the beginning of the play the stage directions reveal Eric to be in his ‘early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive’. This structure dramatically brakes the sentence into two through commas to enforce the state of Erics ‘squiffy’ mind and the impression of him been ‘half shy’ and ‘half assertive’. The adjective ‘shy’ has connotations with nervousness which creates a juxtaposition to the dominance associated with ‘assertive’. The contrasts reflects the fact that he is not ‘at ease’ with himself. Suggesting Eric feels abandoned and alone and separate from the rest of his family. Emphasising the lack of parental love Eric has received, demonstrated when Sybil Birling blames him for Eva Smith’s death rather than taking her own responsibility. As well as Eric alienation in the stage is ‘downstage’ whereas his family are seated upwards. Showing Eric to be inferior compared to his family. This reflects on the consequences of a bourgeois society, where people cherish wealth and social status over their own children. For which is the reason to behind why Eric drowns himself with whisky. Which infact his family seem to not notice his drinking problem as the illustrative action of ‘handling the decanter’ and he is a ‘quick heavy drinker’ mirrors how he has been suffering yet no one seems to notice.
Middle
We are presented to Eric’s sympathy later on in the play. ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?/you said yourself she was a good worker. I’d let her stay’. Not only does this long piece of dialogue differ him from the more ‘squiffy’ Eric earlier but we see genuine sympathy from Eric towards Eva. It seems Eric is siding with Eva and believes they deserve equal rights and pay. The rhetorical question reflects how Eric is gradually rejecting capitalist ideology as he begins to mirror and favors Priestley’s more idea of a socialist society. Furthermore demonstrating how Eric has matured as the play has continued.
How he has changed
Originally Eric refers to women as ‘I hate these fat old tarts around the town’. This dehumanizing language implies his hypocrisy. Reflecting a stereotypical man of this time. Who had lack of respect for women. ‘She was pretty’ suggests Eric’s desire for beautiful features instead of ‘fat old tarts’. Questioning his moral judgement as his expectations for how women should look could be viewed as misogynistic and dominant over women. Directly contrasting to Eric’s views later when he tells his mum ‘you killed her/ you killed her- and the child/my child-your own grandchild/dam you’. Eric’s broken up speech and repetition reflects his inability to cope with her death. He is hurt deeply which leads him to reject capitalism. The plethora hyphens imply his lack of control suggesting like his broken sentences his mind is also broken. This contrasts to his character by the end who has changed to the views of socialism and speaks in a proper and formal manner. ‘I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her’. The repetition of ‘did’ reflects how Eric reflects on the past and uses that to change his views in the present. Presenting him as the mouthpiece for Priestley’s views, to voice that things shouldn’t change in Britain after 1945 and the sense of communion between the people shouldn’t revert back to the original state.
Conclusion
Overall Eric conveys the abuse the upper class use on the working class. Alongside his sister Sheila he reflects on his actions and changes. Representing how the younger generation are more open to taking responsibility. He is ashamed of his actions but shows he is capable of change.
