An inspector calls - Eric Key quotes

“What about war?”

• Eric and Gerald are placed as foils to one another, while Eric goes against his father Gerald goes with him, could illustrate the idea that class is more important then family

• Dramatic irony is used to present Eric as wiser, this further suggests the idea that socialism is a more mature belief than capatalism and so better

“ she was a good sport” (referring to Eva Smith)

• extremely patronising of lower class, ‘sport’ implies connotations of hobbies, something you like but don’t care much about

• Even though Eric is a more progressive charecter he is still incredibly sexist and objectifies Eva, this shows that he still has flaws and also highlights the issues that being a women presents on top of being working class they don’t win in either gender or class

“ you don’t understand anything. You never did”

• Mrs Birling is clearly presented as an ignorant charecter who cares little for anyone other than her own class and lacks empathy

• ‘You never did’ implies Eric has a deeper hatred for his parents that has been prevalent for a while, we are unsure as to what she ‘never understood’

• It could be suggested that she and Mr Birlings were failures as parents and this highlights the often much exaggerated self impressions the upper class have of themselves

“Half shy, half assertive” (stage directions)

• contrasting ideas which suggests that Eric is a layered and complicated character

• It also foreshadows his drinking problems as he seems to be a troubles charecter who carries two identities at once

• Eric is perceived from these directions as not having much control but we see this too be un true as he does hold control over Eva Smith because he is a man and of upper class , thus further highlighted the injustices of society