Eric Birling Quotes And Meaning Flashcards
Eric acts as dramatic irritant to his father challenging his ideology – contradicting him / interrupting / asking questions.
“In his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”
Eric uses a euphemism to describe his sexual assault on Eva Smith: ‘that’s when it happened.’
“And that’s when it happened. And I don’t even remember- that’s the hellish thing.”
Eric’s language is fragmented as he becomes emotional / hysterical. The dashed could also represent the break down in his relationship with his mother.
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything- but I liked her- she was pretty and a good sport-”
When the Inspector leaves Eric emulates the Inspector using the Inspector’s harsh, commanding language. Priestley does this so the Inspector’s presence is felt on stage and a reminder to the audience to look at their own conscience. (“the girl’s dead”)
“(shouting) And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her- and that’s what matters-”
What Eric Birling represents
Eric has the most active social conscience – at the start of play he says: “he could have kept her instead of throwing her out”. This demonstrates that there is potential/hope for the future. At the end of the play Eric shows remorse.
