"They can't go and work somewhere else"

• Analysis

  Eric’s statement that “they can't go and work somewhere else” highlights the economic constraints faced by lower-class workers, particularly women like Eva. This reflects the oppressive nature of the capitalist system in which employees are trapped by artificially low wages and limited employment options. This is one of Eric’s key criticisms of the capitalist structure, suggesting that businesses, like his father’s, manipulate the market to ensure that workers cannot escape their exploitative conditions
• Alternative interpretation 


  Eric’s words could also be interpreted as a criticism of the lack of moral responsibility among the wealthy. While he recognizes the unfairness of the system, his view might be seen as somewhat naïve. His belief that workers are “stuck” in such conditions could imply that he sees them as victims without considering how his own actions might perpetuate the cycle of poverty and exploitation. Priestley might be suggesting that even those who sympathise with the working class (like Eric) are still somewhat detached from the full realities of their suffering
• Themes 


  Social Injustice: Eric’s comment directly ties into the theme of social inequality and exploitation within the capitalist system. It shows how the working class is kept in a cycle of poverty with no escape 

  Capitalism vs. Socialism: The quote highlights the tension between Eric's socialist ideals and the capitalist reality of his family's business practices. It showcases the moral conflict that lies at the heart of his character’s development
• Writers intention 


  Priestley uses this line to emphasize the inherent flaws in the capitalist system, as seen through Eric’s critique. He wants to draw attention to the lack of upward mobility for working-class people, particularly women, and the moral decay of the upper classes that perpetuate this inequality. This serves as a critique of the capitalist structures that allow such exploitation to continue unchecked