Eric is a troublesome
- isolated from the rest of the family
- deeply regrets his actions by the end of the play he says he’ll never forget what he has learnt
Priestley drops hints that eric isn’t alright
- stage directions
- interrupts Sheila and Gerald “suddenly guffaws”
- when G says “unless Eric has been up to something” E acts suspiciously and seriously -“I don’t think it’s very funny” -he says “still uneasy” and also answers “defiantly”
Has been hiding dirty secrets:
Eric’s drunknness and bad behaviour represents the dark side of family life
- heavy drinker
- got Eva pregnant
- had stolen money from his fathers business to support her
These secrets are potential dynamite-if they go out and became public gossip, then B knighthood, Sheila’s marriage and whole family reputation could be blown sky high
Erica not the only one
- Eric meets Eva same place as where Gerald met her
- B ‘respectable’ friends go to the stool bar to find women . They all behave badly but no one says anything .the Play suggests Erica behaviour is normal for a middle class man
But he’s the only one to have serious conesequences:
-Eric’s behaviour was not unusual , Eric lacks self control so his secret goes out
-his parents don’t want a scandal. They don’t care about him as much as they care about what other people think of them
Eric’s laugh interrupts the polite conversation earlier in the play. It’s the same when his behaviour disrupts the polite middle class illusion of respectability . They’re all keeping up appearances -but Eric’s making it obvious that there something murky underneath
Theme:Judgement
G treats Eva/daisy as his “mistress” and ends the affair- his reputation is not damaged. but Eric drunkleu Getty Eva/Daisy pregnant , steals money and brings a scandal on his family
Eric is a villain and a victim:
- Eric feels isolated and unsupported-he’s has to find comfort elsewhere
- he shouts at his mother-“you don’t understand anything.you never did.”- perhaps he’s right.but really yelling . It might be the angriest moment in the play
- he’s the obvious villain of the life, but he accepts responsibility for what he did-“the fact remains that I did what I did”.He criticises his parents for pretending nothing’s happened-“you lot may be letting yourselves out nicely”
Theme -family life
B seems disappointed in his son, and gets on better with G.This must be a crushing blow for Eric
Describe Eric
Eric is …
Irresponsible:” I didn’t even remember-that’s the hellish thing”
Unloved:”you don’t understand anything. You never did”
Sensitive:”my god-I’m not likely to forget”
An alcoholic:”I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”
What quote shows Eric is irresponsible What does this quote show ? What quote shows Eric is unloved What does this quote show? What quote shows Eric is sensitive What does this quote show? What quote shows Eric is an alcoholic What does this quote show?
