Eric

• Who are Eric Birling's parents?

  Mr and Mrs Birling
• What is Eric Birling's employment?

  He works for Birling and Co.
• How is Eric Birling portrayed in terms of his drinking habit?

  He is shown to have a drinking habit.
• What does Priestley suggest about Eric's drinking habit?

  It may be an attempt to drown his sorrows.
• How old is Eric Birling?

  In his early twenties
• What does the stage direction describe about Eric's demeanor?

  He is half shy, half assertive.
• What does Eric symbolize in the play?

  He symbolizes redemption and change.
• How does Priestley present Eric in relation to Mr Birling's attitudes?

  Eric opposes Mr Birling's capitalist views.
• What increases the audience's sympathy for Eric?

  The lack of a good father role model.
• How does Priestley portray society's norms in relation to Eric's behavior?

  They contribute to his immoral behavior.
• What is Eric's awareness of the suffering of the lower class?

  He is naive and ignorant of it.
• How does Eric show remorse for his actions?

  He accepts responsibility for his actions.
• What does Eric reject regarding his responsibility for Eva's death?

  He rejects sole responsibility for her suicide.
• How is Eric portrayed as a source of optimism?

  He shows that anyone can change for the better.
• How does Eric's emotional response to Eva's death reflect his morals?

  It shows he has a moral nature.
• What does the adverb "involuntarily" indicate about Eric's reaction?

  His emotional reaction is genuine and uncontrollable.
• How does Eric's reaction to Eva's death contrast with Mr Birling's?

  Eric shows emotion, while Mr Birling is dismissive.
• What does Priestley illustrate through Eric's condemnation of capitalism?

  Eric's socialist views and empathy for workers.
• What question does Eric ask to challenge his father's views?

  “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?”
• How does Eric's capacity for empathy set him apart?

  It distinguishes him from other characters.
• What does Eric recognize about the nature of capitalism?

  It exploits workers for profit.
• How does Eric react to his father's hypocrisy?

  He expresses discontent and recognizes it.
• What does Eric's "bitter" laugh signify?

  His realization of Mr Birling's hypocrisy.
• How does Priestley depict Eric's discomfort with his family's privilege?

  Through stage directions indicating unease.
• What does Eric's interruption of his father's speech reveal?

  His disapproval of the transactional nature of marriage.
• How does Eric's character illustrate the theme of immorality?

  It shows that anyone can commit immoral acts.
• What does Eric acknowledge about his father's "respectable friends"?

  They act immorally but he is too weak to oppose them.
• How does alcohol function in Eric's life?

  It serves as a coping mechanism for his issues.
• What lesson does Priestley convey about standing up for reform?

  People must unite against immorality.
• How does Priestley portray Eric's upbringing?

  As lacking warmth and support.
• What does Priestley suggest about Eric's moral development?

  It has been stunted by poor parenting.
• How does Mr Birling's speech influence Eric?

  It shapes his values and attitudes.
• What does Priestley imply about Eric's view of women?

  He has been taught to disrespect them.
• How does Priestley normalize Eric's immoral actions?

  By showing it as typical upper-class behavior.
• What does Eric's narration about Eva suggest?

  It may be biased and unreliable.
• How does Priestley manipulate the audience's perception of Eric?

  By allowing them to fill in narrative gaps.
• What does the euphemistic phrase "that state when a chap easily turns nasty" imply?

  It suggests alcohol caused Eric's actions.
• What does Eric's narration suggest about its reliability?

  It is likely to be unreliable
• How does Eric's biased telling affect the audience's perception?

  It allows them to ignore unwanted beliefs
• What does the pronoun "it" signify in Eric's statement?

  It allows audience interpretation of Eric's actions