Eric Birling Flashcards
‘state where a chap easily turns nasty’
utilises alcohol as a justifiable reason for his actions
-seems ethical as he didn’t actually get violent= did nothing wrong
-reflection= how he has been brought up
-normalises lack of restraint and self control= LINKS to his alcohol consumption
‘passes port to him’
‘sat downstage’
-symbolic of Birling’s lack of care= selfish
-feeding his son’s addiction rather than helping him
-reason eric is the way he is
‘downstage’= almost hidden
perhaps foreshadowing how he is actually hiding something from his family.
‘it isnt if you cant go and work somewhere else’
-eric= defying his fathers beliefs & embodying priestleys belief
-highlights how the youth are more shapeable and willing to change
‘youre not the kind of father a chap could go to…’
-poor relationship between the two
-clear that birlings focus is on money and status rather than his son and family
-eric= feels disregarded and forced to turn to alcohol
-audience= sympathetic towards eric and blame is seen to lie with Birling
