AIC Essay Plans
How does Priestley use Mr. Birling to explore male attitudes towards women in AIC?
How far does Priestley present Eric Birling as emotional in AIC?
In his didactic morality play ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents Eric Birling as changing emotional character, where he was emotionless, emotionally unstable and emotionally mature as the play progresses. He shows how people especially from the younger generation are able to change and redeem themselves, perhaps mirroring his message that they could also change into a fair socialist society.
#1 Lack of emotion and empathy
“I was in a state when a chap easily turns nasty'“
Third person ‘chap’, trying to disassociate himself from his wrongful action, softening the harshness
‘that state’, justifying himself, colloquial language suggests he is unaware
comparison of ‘nasty’ to the seriousness of rape, audience would see his immorality and perhaps reflect on how they are people like that in their society
context - rape was not seen as a crime in 1912, women were therefore inferior to men
Eric abused his power as a upper-middle class man over Eva Smith, demonstrating his lack of sympathy for women
Priestley shows how this was the societal norm, symbolising how capitalists exploit the working class, encouraging audience to change
#2 Emotionally unstable
“(nearly at breaking point) you killed her… and the child she’d have too - my child - your own grandchild - you killed them. Damn you, damn you”
the repeated use of dashes shows his moment of stutter, rush, conveying his strong feelings
audience might sympathies with him
stage instruction shows complete breakdown, unlike generic men in 1912 who are not supposed to express their emotions
the use of multiple pronouns, addressing everyone, especially his mother, signifying his complete disregard of family loyalty
pointing the blame to his mother, projecting his own guilt onto his mother
repetition ‘ damn you’ shows the disrespect he has for his mother, he is so emotionally unstable to the point he is threatening his own mother
context - priestley uses eric’s breakdown to show the audience the result of class prejudice
although emotionally unstable, eric still lacks social responsibility
#3 Emotionally mature
“It doesn’t alter the fact that we all helped kill her'“
pronoun ‘we’ shows collective responsibility, perhaps Priestley suggesting the need for a change in attitude towards working class and accepting social responsibility
by acknowledging and stating this fact in front of his family, it shows his emotional growth and redemption from his past actions
Priestley uses Eric’s change to portray how the younger generation can break away from the traditional capitalistic society