Quotations: Eric Birling

“eric downstage”

• rest of the family is seated upstage which suggests that eric is detached from the rest of the family and also alternatively insinuates the imperceptible (unnoticeable) level of power eric has

• eric is inferior to the hierarchy in the family

• eric is the last character that priestley describes & this mirrors how he is perceived as insignificant / the rest of the family dominate him

• outcast in his own family (manifests his social alienation within capitalist / bourgeoisie society)

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

• opposite characteristics

• suggests that he is a complicated character

• asyndetic listing creates sense that he’s overwhelming and overbearing (alludes to self-righteous superiority that bourgeoisie lifestyle has instilled in him)

• adjective “shy” connotates apprehension and nervousness juxtaposes implications of dominance and confidence with adjective “assertive”

• hasn’t fully accepted his personality therefore “half”

• represents how eric feels abandoned within his affluent upbringing as his parents failed to value him

• priestley is subtly criticising how borgeoisie parents value climbing the social stratum over the emotional well-being of their children. this corresponds with the capitalist regime and he compels the audience to value socialism

• “half shy, half assertive” leads to confused audience as they don’t know what type of character he is

“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?”

• rhetorical question

• sticking up for working class very early on in the play which shows his potential to change and become a socialist

• challenges his own father, which creates tension to show their relationship isn’t the strongest

• foreshadows that eric can become a socialist

• seen as an echo of voice and morals of priestley

• “they” suggests that he still distances himself from the lower class

• values her labour because “she was a good worker”

• resonates with a modern audience and post war audience, also fundamental as it reflects the idea that eric is gradually rejecting capitalist ideology

• eric is growing in assertiveness and his consciousness has awoken as he’s being enlightened to the corruptness of hypocritical capitalist society

• audience may feel more respect for eric as he’s the only member to try and stick up for the working class

“The facts remain that I did what I did”

• understands that he can’t change the past but can improve to change the future

• the repetition of “did” shows priestley can accept that people can’t change past actions, however actions they “did” will allow them to reflect and change their moral viewpoint

• inspector acts as the fatherly figure that mr birling never was and guides him & is his moral obligation

• eric shows that there is a chance of reformation for everyone

• eric and sheila are priestley’s secondary mouthpieces

• challenges audience to reflect on their past actions and how they can improve in the future

“that’s when it happened. I don’t even remember- that’s the hellish thing.”

• eric’s speech here consists of short, simple sentences which suggests that eric sees his actions as outrageous. the sentences seem incomplete & cut-short as though speaking of it disgusts him. moreover, the multiple embedded clause creates a jagged & staccato pace to his speech, as if he is stuttering uncontrollably

• “hellish” gives religious connotations

• realised he’s done something so bad, he now believes he is destined for hell

• shows the audience he is disgraced by his actions

• “I don’t even remember” - due to fact his recollection was affected by drinking or can’t bring himself to tell his parents because he is ashamed, remorseful and regretful

• “it” euphemism to describe sexual assault rather than articulating his actions

“She was pretty and a good sport.”

• “pretty” shows his desire for beautiful features and that they are put above all even social class

• audience questions eric’s moral judgement due to his actions and depiction of eva

• patronising of the lower class

• noun “sport” connotes a hobby or something you do to pass time.

“(involuntary) My God!”

• the use of an adverb demonstrates the moral nature of eric as he couldn’t suppress his emotional reaction, it was involuntary

• he wouldn’t choose to reveal emotion within a patriarchal society which condemns feminine traits, for example: excessive emotion

• priestley conveys that emotion is necessary for societies improvement, wants the audience to react like eric

• contrasts mr birling who was described in a stage direction as ‘rather impatiently’ and dismissed the suicide with ‘yes yes. Horrible business’.

• clear distinction between the younger and older generation and their views on class

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

• he is naive through lack of understanding at the severity of his actions towards eva

• he only cares about himself

• rape was seen as a masculine thing to do at the time

• the determiner ‘that’ implies that eric seems to be referring to a commonly held belief