Eric Birling
Cards (4)
- '[Eric downstage]' '[not quite at ease]'
- He is marginalised, ostricised, alienated.
- Perhaps separated to not taint their reputation as the family is ahsamed of him, contrasting against sheila who is uplifting the family's status.
- Shows he does not feel apart of the family and is not comfortable with their behaviour nor his own.
- The separation foreshadows Eric challenging his family's corrupt idealologies.
- Perhaps he is uncomfortable due to the burden of secrets and guilt he is carrying.
- Eric -'[Rather noisily]' / Gerald '[quietly]''You're just the kind of son in law I always wanted''Just let me finish Eric. You've a lot to learn yet'
- Contrast between Eric and Gerald - Eric is erratic due to being 'squiffy' bringing shame to the family , whilst Gerald being reserved will protect the Birling's reputation. Mature/Immature.
- Highlights how Gerald is the ideal son for Birling as he echose his idealogies and improvies their social status and reputation.
- Eric is viewed as naive and still needed to be Molded by Mr Birling into his rigid, Capitalist ways.
- 'Squiffy'
- Uses a euphemism to describe Eric as drunk .
- Can't be direct abput it as it is an open secret.
- Shows the shame of Eric's vbehaviour as no one is willing to directly adress it.
- Trivialises the issue and is dismissive, instead of providing the support he desperately needs.
- Symbolic of the wilful ignorance of capitalism and their refusal to help others.
- Shows how only perfection is allowed in the family as they ae class concious.
- '[in his early twenties' '[half shy, half asssertive]'
- Is the characterisation of the younger generation which will symbolise the change Priestly advocates for.
- Young and impressionable + Not fully matured- can be molded towards either ideology
- contasting adjectives creates a sense of confusion as due to his internal conflict of challenging his father's beliefs - Identity crisis?.
- Also as he is harbouring secrets.
- Symbolic of redemption