Eric

• 'Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?'


  Eric challenging his father's capitalist views

  Early on-set of socialist ideologies foreshadows Eric's later change to become a better social citizen
• 'We all helped kill her'


  Accepting social responsibility

  Doesn't deny that he is guilty
• 'I still feel the same about it' 


  Remorseful

  Doesn't take the easy way out like his parents showing his independence
• 'She was a good sport' 


  Patronises the lower class

  Insulting when relating to what he did to Eva

  Eric was content to use her at the time

  Game-like connotations that objectifies Eva
• 'I didn't even remember - that's the hellish thing'


  The vagueness of the sentence may reflect that his recollection of the event is effected because of his drinking

  OR it could be symbolic of the fact that he doesn't want to talk about his actions in front of his parents due to the shame he carries with it showing that he is remorseful and regrets what he did
• 'You're not the kind of father a chap can go to when he's in trouble'


  Reveals the lack of love in the family as the capitalist ideologies have a choke hold on the thoughts and actions that are present with the Birling's
• 'My child - your own grandchild - you killed them both - damn you'


  Highlights the tragic irony of Mrs Birling being responsible for the death of her own grandson as she turned Eva away due to her prejudice for the lower classes

  Suggests that everyone is a kind of family and echoes the Inspectors words - 'We are members of one body'
• 'It's what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters'


  Inclusive pronoun 'we' reflects his attempts to get his family to accept their social responsibility

  Contrasts the individualistic nature of his father which is a theme that runs throughout the play