squiffy boi Flashcards
what are the initial stage direction of eric
‘Eric is in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive’ Act 1 stage directions - suggests nervousness and immaturity; Eric hasn’t yet established his own personality - conflicting personality traits.
him being slightly Assertive foreshadows his forceful behaviour towards Eva, and his later behaviour to his parents.
however his shyness demontstraits the fear the younger generation have of the older ones and how he is worried that if he does not get his farthers aproval then he will be abandoned wich is why he often lets his farther inturupt him rather that fighting back wich we know he is capable of in act 3
what ironic quote show MR B doesn’t respect Eric’s inteligence
Eric: yes i know - but still -
Mr B: just let me finish eric youve a lot to learn yet
one interpritation is birling is very self centered beacause he is complaining about how eric cut him off despite him have already finished his point to wich eric tries to respond. this shows how he doesn’t beleive he can do any wrong to anyone yet feels he is wronged. this shows mr briling sees eric as a subordinate rather than an equal.
furthermore “youve a lot to learn” is ironic as eric is much smater than mr birling as he correctly predicts the war however mr birling doesn’t see him as inteligent enough to understand so dissmisses, udermines and cuts him off
what does eric do in act one
Young, immature, and infantilised by parents at the beginning.
Drinks too much at celebratory dinner - Sheila describes him as ‘squiffy’ - also foreshadows drunken behaviour towards Eva Smith.
he respectfully questions some capatilist ideas like the war and being able to keep eva on
what does eric do in act 2
nothing he is off stage symbolysing running away from problems like what the younger generation wants to do however comes back showing how they should face to problems as no one else will
what does eric do in act three
Clearly experienced in using prostitutes : Eva ‘wasn’t the usual sort’ ‘usual’ implies regular habit for Eric.
Admits he made Eva Smtih pregnant after meeting at the Palace Theatre - it was probably rape ‘in that state when a chap easily turns nasty’. But doesn’t really admit responsibility
Stole money (£50 - which was then a vast sum) from his father’s firm (a criminal act) to give to Eva (but probably drank with some of it), but denies theft ‘not really’
Accuses mother of murdering his unborn child [find quote]
In the final act Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents and their values
Shows signs of change at the end of the play and questions capitalism much more agressivley (beacause drunk) suggesting he always held those veiws his true feeling just came out as he can no longer filter them because of the alchahol , but will he really learn the lesson or will 1912 society continue unchanged?
why is eric the way he is
- His relationship with his parents is used to discredit capitalism - he becomes a mouthpiece for Priestley’s views.
- He represents capitalism as theft (he is a thief but denies its significance ‘not really’). Capitalism forces people to work for low wages, whilst capitalists keep the profit. Priestly believes this is stealing from the workers who make the effort - Priestley’s view. Eric steals and keeps most of the money not giving it to Eva - personifies capitalism as theft. Would have been obvious to 1945 audience how significant £50 was (40 weeks wages)
- Eric’s confession is an attack on the power of upper class men/the patriarchy;
- He shows the potential for change - as the younger generation. But it is also questionable whether he’ll really act on the change, which leaves the audience thinking about the consequences of that; and how they can respond differently to the Inspector’s moral lessons in 1945.
- Possible anti- war message - Eric represents the future from 1912- he will (like Priestley) end up fighting in 1st WW, and will either die (likely) or survive but without learning the lessons to prevent 2nd WW - so audience now need to turn to socialist beliefs to avoid future wars. [plus capitalists make lots of money from war]
