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Eric Birling (Key Quotes ("You killed them both", "You'…
Eric Birling
Key Quotes
"You killed them both"
"You're squiffy"
"I have heard the does drink a lot"
"My God- I'm not likely to forget"
"You don't understand anything"
"That's the hellish thing"
"the fact remains that I did what I did"
"damn you, damn you"
"Why shouldn't they try for higher wages"
"That's something your public school and varsity life hasn't taught you"
"I don't think it's very funny"
"I didn't hear you telling the Inspector 'Every man for himself"'
"
Not quite at ease
"
"
half shy, half assertive
"
Key Points
Eric is a troublesome son
He is isolated from his family
Eric is irresponsible- he was so drunk he could not remember "forcing himself" on Eva Smith
He never was loved properly by his parents-they treated him as immature, and his father constantly found faults in him
Priestley suggests Eric isn't alright
The stage directions tell us he is "not quite at ease
Eric is uneasy about the joke between Gerald and Arthur
He is not able to pitch the right mood in the right situation- e.g, laughs at dinner
Eric has dark secrets that represent the dark side of the family life
He is a drunkard
His father only cares about the possibility of a Knighthood
His secrets are dark but only the tip of the family iceberg
Eric is one of many abusive upper class
Gerald also goes to the palace bar, as does "respectable citizens" such as Alderman Meggarty
Eric represents the way the upper class misuse the lower class thinking they are irrelevant
The fact that 'respectable' men such as Alderman Meggarty are involved in use of prostitutes suggests that it is normal for middle class- showing Priestley's criticism of them
He is the only one who would face serious consequences
Eric lacks self control
His parents realise he would drag them into a scandal
Eric has done something illegal
Eric is both Villain and Victim
He feels isolated and unsupported
He accepts responsibility for the crime he committed although he risks the consequences
He yells at his mother, showing he feels no maternal relationship with her
Eric character development
Act 1
Eric is a shy and seemingly uncomfortable character
We see he has better fundamental human rights in response to the workers trying for higher prices
Eric does not seem mature, e.g laughing at dinner
His father is quite harsh on him, causing him to be sulky
We see Eric as a spoilt character
He shows he has no tact at all
Act 2
Eric leaves claiming he has a headache, surprising considering his alcoholism
He comes in at the end to deliver the bombshell - the audience see he is 'the villain'
Eric is viewed negatively by the audience
Act 3
We see Eric as remorseful here
He shows he has a nasty temper
Eric defies his parents, who are terrified at the thought of a scandal
He accepts he was responsible and has to change
Eric cares a lot more than we expect- his child
Eric can be seen by the audience more positively although he was in the wrong, as he defies his parents in a bid to escape the stereotype
Focus on how the audience sees Eric in a different light