Eric Birling

Symbolic meaning

Represents the younger generation and the upper middle class young man

Context and message

• Comment on the behaviour of young wealthy men

• Suggests such men are infantilised which leads to them seizing power where they can find it

• Comment on common views of working class women as there for ‘fun’

Responsibility

• ‘You killed her- and the child’

  • Encourages audience to empathise, attempts to absolve himself from blame

Gender inequality

• ‘She wasn’t the usual sort’

  • Previous experience, reveals norm for Eric, attracted to innocence and ability to exploit

• ‘Pretty and a good sport’

  • Attitude to working class women, ‘good sport’ willingness to sleep with him

Guilt

• ‘I was u that state when a chap easily turns nasty’

  • implies attempt to evade responsibility, behaviour was understandable, anyone would have behaved that way

• ‘I insisted- it seems’

  • Overwhelmed her resistance, immoral actions, distance himself from guilt

Morality

• ‘(Involuntarily) my god!’

  • Emotional, moral nature, reveal emotions, patriarchal society condemns feminine traits

• ‘The moneys not important. It’s what happened to the girl and what we did to her that matters

  • Difference to Mr B’s capitalist views, potential for change, reflects audiences hope for improved society after WW2

Capitalism vs socialism

• ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’

  • Believes capitalist system ought to be fair, moral form of capitalism