Eric Birling

• "Well.. I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty"


  Uses his upper class power

  "That state" indicates he won't admit his own poor behaviour and phrases it as being normal

  Diminishes his actions childishly rather than seeing them as ruining Eva's life
• "She was pretty and a good sport"


  Their relationship suggests male violence was normalised in this society.

  Objectifies women
• "You're not the sort of father a chap can go to"

  Change in attitude symbolises the hope within the younger generation

  "Sort" suggests capitalist men don't make good fathers as they are too focused on greed to take responsibility for anything else

  Encourages the audience to be critical of individualistic ideas
• adjectives

  sensitive

  regretful

  secretive

  troublesome

  irresponsible