Eric Birling Quotations

preparation for English Lit Y10 Mocks, An Inspector Calls

Eric is presented as uneasy at the beginning of the play

“not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”

Eric doesn’t treat Eva well

“she was pretty and a good sport”

Eric is shown to challenge his father

“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.”

Eric blames Mrs Birling for Eva’s death

“you killed her” “your own grandchild - you killed them both”

Eric is presented as angry with his parents at the end of the play.

“I’m ashamed of you as well - yes, both of you.”

Eric is presented as having learnt from the Inspector’s visit, even if the Inspector may not have been real.

“He was our police inspector all right.”

Eric recognises that it doesn’t matter if they were all shown photos of separate girls.

“it’s still the same rotten story”

Eric forced himself apon Eva

“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”

Eric is presented as lacking in respect for women and prostitutes

“I hate these fat old tarts”

Eric is presented as not having a close relationship with his father

“you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”

Eric treated Eva inhumanely

“Just used her… as if she was an animal, a thing”

Eric is presented as having accepted his responsibility in Eva’s death and feels passionately about trying to make his parents understand the role they played.

“(shouting) And I say the girl’s dead and we all helped to kill her - and that’s what matters-”

Eric sides with Sheila at the end of the play, showing the generational divide between them and their parents.

“No, Sheila’s right.”