Eric Quotes

Question 1

Eric says ‘Your not the kinda father a chap goes to when he’s in trouble

Answer 1

Shows the fractured relationship between Mr Birling and Eric
He doesn’t feel supported in his family
Mr Birling hasn’t given him the chance to develop his own social conscience and continually dismisses Eric’s opinions
afraid to express himself and voice his opinion as he is constantly dismissed and overpowered

Question 2

“Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive”

Answer 2

• represents cracks in the family
• separates Eric from the rest of the Birling’s straight away
• shy and unsure around his own family showing how he is not supported
• weak relationships within the family
• afraid to express himself and voice his opinion as he is constantly dismissed and overpowered
• creates a facade to protect his families reputation
• he is treated like a child

Question 3

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

Answer 3

- shows at the start of the play some social awareness 
Socialistic views 
- he is advocating for equality 
- goes against social norms 
- openly contradicts his father

Question 4

“Well, I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty - and I threatened to make a row”

Answer 4

Eric explains the events while excusing the way he behaved
Using euphemistic language - being a man and being drunk justifies terrible behaviour
- the use of the noun “when” and “easily” suggests that if an upper class man is “in that state” violence + abuse is inevitable, almost excusable. He is normalising the disgusting actions of upper class men

Question 5

“I don’t give a damn”

Answer 5

• openly dismisses his father
• shows he doesn’t respect his father
• tired of his parents lack of taking responsibility
• shows the breaking point of Eric’s relationship with his parents

Question 6

“You killed her. She came to you to protect me- and you turned her away - yes and you killed her - and the child she’d have had too - my child - your own grandchild - you killed they both - damn you, damn you”

Answer 6

• a vile consequence of Eva’s suicide is the death of her unborn child. Eric explicitly describes what they did to Eva + is overwhelmed with emotion
  Repetition of ‘child’ conveys the death of innocence. Eric highlights that by killing Eva they killed their own family - their ‘grandchild’
• same is true for the repetition of the verb “killed” - The Birlings didn’t simply fire or refuse to help Eva, they ended her life.
• Eric is expected to speak to his parents with respect. This shows how the power dynamics in the family have changed. The stuttering sentences show Eric struggling with the consequences of his family’s actions.

Question 7

“You’re beginning to pretend now that nothings really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. This girls still dead, isn’t she?”

Answer 7

• Mr & Mrs Birling if they aren’t going to get caught then they believe their behaviour was acceptable, whereas Eric can’t see it that way.
• divide between parents + children is shown in the use of pronouns with Eric using “you’re” compared with “I”
• verb “pretend” refers to how the entire upper class behaves - they act in a certain way, then “pretend” it was acceptable behaviour
• audience feels anger at the speed in which Mr + Mrs Birling revert to their old behaviour. The Inspectir has been off stage for only a few minutes.
  Although Eva is “still dead” they already see it as “nothing really happened” - flippant behaviour