Eric birling

• Eric birling
• Reckless of a young wealthy man
• He transforms near the end the play to be more responsible and that gives us hope for his future
• The audience is encouraged to sympathise with him because he has been brought up by an overbearing mother who controls everything about his life, including his choice of friends.
• Birling's characterisation changes throughout the play as he becomes increasingly aware of the consequences of his actions
• His father is absent from the family home so there are no male role models around to guide him into adulthood