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Eric Birling - Coggle Diagram
Eric Birling
Admirable
"not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive."
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"half"
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Or his developing character, foreshadowing a possible embodiment of Priestley's Moral Message.
Contrasting Adjectives
Juxtaposition confuses the audience, and makes Eric seem untrustworthy.
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"You're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble," Age
Birling, rather than offering nurturing parental support, creates a barrier through his authoritarian approach.
"father" has formal connotations, so Eric sees his dad as a stranger rather than a member of Eric's kin.
"chap" has positive, friendly, and informal connotations. Eric sees himself as a warmhearted individual, juxtaposed with his dad.
To Eric, he sees the issue of Eva's pregnancy as "trouble", which means that he must take urgent and swift action.
MESSAGE: Eric, in becoming independent from his parents, has accepted the Inspector's teachings. Priestley thus encourages the younger generation to stand up to the capitalist regime as a form of true independence and liberation.
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WHY?! Priestley encourages a positive perception of Eric to a deflection of blame onto his parents who raised him. He makes Eric seem redeemable.
deplorable
"Not really"
It is theft.
Irrational, Eric probably spend 40 weeks of earnings on alcohol.
"A man...has to look after...his family too." Eva called herself Mrs Biring, so Eric still supporting Capitalism.
Ambiguity
The audience question themselves, and seek to fix the issue with the Inspector.
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Message: Where money is involved, it can always be interpreted as theft. People should help others with other means
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Eric suddenly gaffaws
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Or he gaffaws to the expression of love since he remembers Eva. He does not see Sheila-Gerald's interaction as loving, because Eric had a different experience of "love" with Eva.
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Or he is just drunk, even though drunkenness lead him to rape Eva, so Eric is incapable of change.
MESSAGE: They are all patriarchal. Word "suddenly" indicates that he laughed involuntarily, which means that Eric subconsciously reinforces the patriarchy. Since it is in his nature, the audience ask: Can Eric even change? No.
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