Eric

• Who is Eric Birling in the play An Inspector Calls?

  Eric Birling is the son of Mr and Mrs Birling and the brother of Sheila.
• What is Eric Birling's employment status?

  Eric is employed by his father at Birling and Co.
• How is Eric Birling portrayed in terms of his drinking habits?

  Eric is portrayed as having a drinking habit, possibly to drown his sorrows.
• What do the stage directions reveal about Eric's character?

  Eric is described as being in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, and half assertive.
• What does Priestley use Eric to symbolize in the play?

  Eric symbolizes redemption and the capacity to change and improve.
• How does Eric's opposition to Mr Birling's views affect audience perception?

  Eric's opposition to Mr Birling's capitalist attitudes presents him in a sympathetic light.
• What contributes to the audience's sympathy for Eric Birling?

  The evident lack of a good role model as a father increases the audience's sympathy for Eric.
• How does Priestley portray the societal norms affecting Eric's behavior?

  Priestley portrays societal norms as the reason for Eric's immoral behavior, such as his rape of Eva.
• What is Eric's awareness of the suffering of the lower class?

  Eric is presented as naive and ignorant of the true extent of the suffering of the lower class.
• How does Eric express remorse for his actions?

  Eric shows remorse and regret while accepting responsibility for his actions but rejects sole responsibility for Eva's suicide.
• What message does Priestley convey through Eric's character?

  Priestley conveys that anyone can change for the better through Eric's character.
• How does Eric's emotional response to Eva's death reflect his morals?

  Eric's emotional response shows that he has morals, as indicated by his involuntary reaction to the news.
• What does the adverb "involuntarily" signify about Eric's character?

  The adverb "involuntarily" signifies Eric's moral nature, as he cannot suppress his emotional reaction.
• How does Eric's reaction to Eva's death contrast with Mr Birling's reaction?

  Eric's reaction is emotional, while Mr Birling is described as rather impatient and dismissive.
• What generational difference does Priestley highlight through Eric and Mr Birling?

  Priestley highlights the differing attitudes towards the lower classes between the older and younger generations.
• What personal views does Priestley attribute to Eric Birling?

  Priestley portrays Eric as having inherently socialist views.
• How does Eric challenge his father's capitalist views?

  Eric challenges his father's capitalist views by questioning why workers shouldn't try for higher wages.
• What capacity does Eric demonstrate that separates him from other characters?

  Eric demonstrates the capacity for empathy and emotion, separating him from other characters.
• How does Eric's recognition of hypocrisy in society manifest?

  Eric recognizes Mr Birling's hypocrisy in wanting lower costs while denying higher wages to workers.
• What does Eric's bitter laugh signify about his views on capitalism?

  Eric's bitter laugh signifies his realization of Mr Birling's hypocrisy and the moralessness of capitalism.
• How does Priestley portray Eric's discomfort with his family's lifestyle?

  Priestley portrays Eric's discomfort through stage directions indicating he is "not quite at ease".
• What does Eric's eagerness to end the engagement speech reveal about him?

  Eric's eagerness to end the speech reveals his disapproval of the transactional nature of the marriage.
• How does Eric's interruption of his father's speech reflect his character?

  Eric interrupts his father's speech "not too rudely," indicating his powerlessness to challenge his father directly.
• What does Eric's initial portrayal as a positive character suggest?

  Eric is initially portrayed as a positive character with morals, disapproving of Mr Birling's rhetoric.
• How does Eric's acknowledgment of immoral actions by others affect his character?

  Eric acknowledges the immorality of Mr Birling's respectable friends but is too weak to stand up for his beliefs.
• What coping mechanism does Eric use in response to his family's hypocrisy?

  Eric uses alcohol as a coping mechanism for the hypocrisy and materialism of his family.
• What lesson does Priestley convey through Eric's perceived lack of influence?

  Priestley teaches that people need to stand up for reform regardless of their societal position.
• How does Priestley portray Eva's situation in relation to morality?

  Even Eva, who exemplifies morality, is forced into immoral prostitution out of desperation.
• How does Priestley maintain audience sympathy for Eric throughout the play?

  Priestley maintains sympathy for Eric by deflecting blame onto his parents and society.
• What kind of environment did Eric grow up in?

  Eric grew up in a "not cosy and homelike" environment with a "cold woman" for a mother.
• How does Priestley suggest Eric's values are shaped by his father?

  Priestley suggests Eric's values are shaped by Mr Birling's capitalist, individualistic, and patriarchal teachings.
• What explanation does Priestley provide for Eric's immoral actions?

  Priestley provides that Eric's immoral actions are normalized by the behavior of "respectable" men in society.
• How does societal perception of women in 1912 affect Eric's behavior?

  In 1912, women were perceived as inferior, which normalized Eric's immoral actions towards them.
• Why is Eric's narration about Eva likely to be unreliable?

  Eric's narration is likely unreliable due to his biased telling of the story to make himself look less bad.
• What does the pronoun "it" signify in Eric's narration?

  The pronoun "it" allows the audience to fill in the gaps about what Eric did to Eva.
• How does Priestley manipulate audience perception of Eric through his narration?

  Priestley manipulates audience perception by allowing them to retain their own opinion of Eric's actions.
• What does the euphemistic phrase "that state when a chap easily turns nasty" imply about Eric's behavior?


  The euphemistic phrase implies that Eric's lack of restraint is attributed to alcohol rather than a lack of morals.
• What does it imply when Eric's narration is described as likely to be unreliable?

  It suggests that his biased telling of the story may distort the truth.
• How does Priestley manipulate the audience's perception of Eric's actions towards Eva?

  By using the pronoun "it," allowing the audience to fill in the gaps about Eric's actions.
• What is the significance of the euphemistic phrase “that state when a chap easily turns nasty” in relation to Eric's behavior?

  It normalizes Eric's lack of restraint and suggests alcohol caused his actions.