Guilt/Eric Birling Flashcards
1
Q
“I insisted – it seems”
A
- Priestley’s use of the ambiguous verb phrase “it seems” reveals Eric’s attempt to forget his immoral actions, and distance himself from his guilt of raping her
- Reflecting on his actions now when he is exposed, at the time he didn’t.
2
Q
“in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
A
Priestley demonstrates Eric’s subconscious attempts to distance himself from his actions by switching from first person to third person as he refers to himself as “a chap” rather than ‘I’.
-Eric’s trivialisation of such violence of a possible rape, through the colliquial use of “a chap” is an attempt by Eric to soften the harshness of his actions.
3
Q
“I threatened to make a row”
A
Eric’s violent language, “I threatened”, is softened through the euphemistic use of “a row” . Priestley demonstrates Eric’s attempts to convince himself that his actions were to a lesser extent of immorality than they actually were.
