Eric Birling Flashcards
what is Eric a symbol of?
symbol of redemption; no matter the atrocities committed he has the capacity to be able to change
how does Erics emotional response to the news of Eva’s death show he has morals?
stage directions- (involuntarily) My God!
couldn’t supress his emotions
he wouldn’t chose to reveal his emotions in patriarchal society (hysteria) but can’t control his distress
emotion is needed for society to improve
How is it shown Eric empathises with the lower classes?
‘why shouldn’t they try for higher wages’
recognises for better workplace rights
doesnt agree with exploiting labourers
morally superior character
how is Eric demonstrated to have discomfort towards his family?
‘not quite at ease’ he isnt at ease with his parents behaviour nor his own
How is Eric shown as weak?
acknowledges Mr Birlings ‘respectable friends’ are immoral but is too weak to stand up for his beliefs so copies them with the rape of Eva Smith
How have Mrs Birling and Mr birling stunted Erics moral development?
he was raised by a ‘cold woman’
and ‘not the kind of father a chap could go to when hes in trouble’
Eric is a product of poor parenting
denied care of compassion so they have condemned him to treating others with the same callousness
How does Eric have unreliable narration?
he says ‘thats when it happened’
leaving listeners to fill in the gaps and believe what they want to, hes a medium for socialist ideas and converted capitalists
How does Eric show guilt?
‘I insisted it seems’ - physically overwhelmed Eva, ambiguous verb ‘it seems’ Erics attempt to forget immoral actions
‘in that state when a chap easily turns nasty’- distancing himself from his actions, ‘a chap’ trying to soften the sharpness of his actions
‘i threatened to make a row’- softened by euphemistic use of a row, Erics attempts to convince himself his actions were to a lesser extent of immorality.
How does Eric portray gender inequality?
‘she wasn’t the usual sort’ ‘she didnt know what to do’
Eric usually visited prostitutes ‘the usual’
hes attracted to Eva’s innocence, could have realised she is a woman he can exploit
‘i hate these fat old tarts’ social norm to pay for sex, symbolic of exploitation of the female lower class
How does Eric present responsibility?
‘you killed her- and the child.. your own grandchild’ audience sympathise with Eric, jointly responsible, trying to absolve himself from any blame
‘you don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried’ undermining himself, repetition and hyperbole created a parody of the sweeping statement, language a teenager may use
How does Eric show capitalism vs socialism and class?
(not too rudely) well, dont do any. Eric is eager to be done with the talk, he realises the marriage is just a transaction, he is powerless so he says it ‘not too rudely’ as he doesnt have the power to challenge his father
‘Why shouldn’t they try fro higher wages’
capitalist system ought to be fair to both employers and employees, moral form of capitalism
