eric

• Who is Eric Birling in the play An Inspector Calls?

  He is the son of Mr and Mrs Birling.
• What is Eric Birling's employment status?

  He is employed by his father at Birling and Co.
• How is Eric Birling portrayed in terms of his drinking habits?

  He is portrayed as having a drinking habit.
• What does Priestley suggest about Eric's drinking habit?

  It may be an attempt to drown his sorrows.
• How old is Eric Birling according to the stage directions?

  He is in his early twenties.
• What character traits are associated with Eric Birling?

  He is half shy, half assertive, and naive.
• What does Eric symbolize in the play?

  He symbolizes redemption and the capacity to change.
• How does Priestley present Eric in relation to Mr Birling's attitudes?

  Eric opposes Mr Birling's capitalist attitudes.
• What increases the audience's sympathy for Eric Birling?

  His lack of a good role model as a father.
• How does Priestley portray the societal norms affecting Eric's behavior?

  They are depicted as reasons for his immoral behavior.
• What is Eric's attitude towards the suffering of the lower class?

  He is naive and ignorant of their suffering.
• How does Eric show remorse for his actions?

  He accepts responsibility but not sole responsibility.
• What does Eric represent in terms of moral potential?

  He represents a source of optimism for change.
• How does Eric's emotional response to Eva's death reflect his morals?

  His involuntary reaction shows his moral nature.
• What does the adverb "involuntarily" suggest about Eric's character?

  It indicates he cannot suppress his emotions.
• How does Eric's society influence his emotional expression?

  He is conditioned to suppress emotions in a patriarchal society.
• How does Eric's reaction to Eva's death contrast with Mr Birling's reaction?

  Eric shows emotion, while Mr Birling is dismissive.
• What does Eric's condemnation of his father's capitalist views reveal?

  He empathizes with the lower classes' struggles.
• How does Eric's capacity for empathy set him apart from other characters?

  It shows he is morally superior to them.
• What does Eric recognize about the capitalist system?

  It exploits workers and lacks meritocracy.
• How does Eric perceive his father's hypocrisy?

  He sees the contradiction in his father's actions.
• What does Eric's "bitter" laugh signify?

  It signifies his realization of Mr Birling's hypocrisy.
• How does Priestley depict Eric's discomfort with his family's privilege?

  Through stage directions indicating he is not at ease.
• What does Eric's interruption of his father's speech reveal about him?

  He disapproves of the transactional nature of marriage.
• How does Eric's character illustrate the theme of immorality?

  His actions show that sin can affect anyone.
• What does Eric acknowledge about the behavior of "respectable friends"?

  They act immorally, yet he does not stand up to them.
• How does alcohol function in Eric's life?

  It serves as a coping mechanism for his family's hypocrisy.
• What lesson does Priestley convey about standing up for reform?

  Everyone should unite against immorality.
• How does Priestley portray Eric's upbringing?

  He depicts it as lacking care and compassion.
• What does Eric's relationship with his parents suggest about his behavior?

  It suggests he is a product of poor parenting.
• How does Mr Birling's speech influence Eric?

  It shapes Eric's values and attitudes towards women.
• How does Priestley normalize Eric's immoral actions?

  By showing that upper-class men use prostitutes.
• What societal context influences Eric's behavior?

  Women were seen as inferior in 1912 society.
• Why is Eric's narration about Eva likely unreliable?

  He may bias his story to appear less guilty.
• What does the pronoun "it" imply in Eric's narration?

  It allows the audience to interpret his actions.
• How does Priestley manipulate audience perception of Eric?

  He encourages them to see him as redeemable.
• What does the euphemistic phrase "that state when a chap easily turns nasty" suggest?

  It normalizes Eric's lack of restraint due to alcohol.
• What does Eric's narration suggest about its reliability?

  It is likely to be unreliable
• How does Eric's biased telling affect the audience's perception?

  It allows them to ignore unwanted truths
• What does the pronoun "it" signify in Eric's statement?

  It allows audience interpretation of his actions