eric birling Flashcards
first quote:
but don’t forget i’m ashamed of you as well - yes both of you
what does ashamed connote?
a sense of embarrassment, revealing eric’s deep illusionment and embarrassment
what does ‘ashamed’ suggest about society?
people must feel shame in order to make a progressive society
what does eric’s new condescending demeanour towards his parents tell an audience?
he is committed to catalysing change
what does the hyphen do?
simplifies the sentence - alike to the inspectors speech
why does he simplify the sentence?
to get across the importance of collective responsibility to his parents, he had adopted the inspectors style
what is eric’s second quote?
“she was pretty and a good sport”
what are the connotations of “sport”?
evokes connotations of games and amusement, suggesting eric perceived their relationship as a form of selfish entertainment
what does “sport” expose?
the callousness with which he exploited and objectified her, reducing her to a mere form of gratification
what does preistley suggest by his callous treatment towards eva ?
this is how men in the early 1900s treated women
what does eric’s callous alcohol fuelled relationship represent?
it is a microcosm for the toxic dynamics perpetuated by unchecked privilege and substance abuse within the edwardian society
what does the syntax of pretty suggest?
even after death, the tic still possesses power over her to her superficial appearance, as he focuses on her physical prettiness
what does the syntax of pretty reflect?
his shallow perception, reducing her to a mere object of desire
what is the third quote for eric?
“why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? we try for the highest possible prices.”
what is suggested by it being a rhetorical question?
eric is questioning the ethics behind his fathers exploitative attitudes towards business with the lower classes
what is suggested by the turning point of his character?
socialism is enabling him to have power as his power is now rooted in socialism
what does the alliteration “possible prices” suggest?
illuminates eric’s new mohawks on the unjust social systems that have been created and upheld by older generation
what does the repeated sound suggest?
deletion of the systemic bias that favour the wealth accumulation of upper class capitalists lacerating a minimal intervention governmental stance
